Beginner Guitar – 5 Week Class
Are you interested in jamming to your favorite country or rock artist? How about some solos with Blues legends? Or would you like to accompany other musicians in your family? Join our group beginner guitar classes to learn how to play and learn about guitar history and styles. We’ll work on strumming patterns, fingerpicking, basic open chords, how to read tabs and music, how to tune your instrument, how to improvise and last but not least we will learn to play popular songs in different genres! No experience required! For students aged 14 to 100! This 8 week course is perfect for those who have never played or looking to master the basics.
- Ages: 12+
- Price: $60
- Start date: July 13
- End date: August 10
- Thursdays 2:00-3:00 pm
- Instructor: Onur Alakavuklar
Intermediate Guitar – 5 Week Class
Are you interested in playing more than open chords on guitar and strumming simple rhythms? Join our intermediate guitar class to improve your finesse on guitar techniques, learn more about guitar styles and history of the guitar in various genres. In this course, we will work on legendary guitar solos, how to internalize and play complex-compound rhythms, and last but not least play as an ensemble. Following the Beginner Guitar Class, we will learn power chords and how to move around the fretboard smoothly, learn the basic Major and Minor bar chord shapes and reading staff notation over the first position, improvising over the pentatonic scale and more! Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of the fretboard and fundamental open chords (Am, C, G, D), common time signatures and tab reading.
- Ages: 12+
- Price: $60
- Start date: July 13
- End date: August 10
- Thursdays 3:00-4:00 pm
- Instructor: Onur Alakavuklar
Ukulele Ensemble – 5 Week Class
No experience required! We’ll work on strumming patterns, fingerpicking, basic open chords, how to read tabs and music, how to tune your instrument, how to improvise and last but not least we will learn to play popular songs in different genres! For students aged 14 to 100! This 5 week course is perfect for those who have never played or are looking to master the basics. Students will be able to use CMS ukuleles during their class – no instrument required.
- Ages: 12+
- Price: $60
- Start date: July 13
- End date: August 10
- Thursdays 4:00-5:00 pm
- Instructor: Onur Alakavuklar
Songwriting – Workshop
The goal of this 3-day workshop is to build a student’s confidence in their songwriting skills and processes as well as leave the workshop with their own original song. Beginning musicians are welcome, however having some music experience is encouraged. Students will learn the basics of songwriting and will be guided as they create their own song. Pianos will be provided. Bringing your own portable instrument is welcome, but not required.
- Ages: 14+
- Price: $72
- Session days: June 19-21
- Time: 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
- Instructor: Nichole Thompson & Steve Trosin
Adult Strings
Have you always wanted to make your own music but have not had the time or the opportunity to learn an instrument until now? This class is for you. This will be a fun, non-threatening environment designed for students of all ages – the goal: to make beautiful music!
New to the Community Music School? Try your first class free with no commitment! Email CMS Manager Colleen Monahan at colleenm@jacksonsymphony.org to set up your trial.
Students must provide their own instrument, if you are in need of a rental, we can assist in setting that up through SHAR Music.
- Age: 18+
- Price: $50
- Start Date: July 10
- End Date: August 7
- Mondays from 5:30-6:30 pm
- Instructor: Jed Fritzemeier
Jed Fritzemeier, Instructor
Since 2019, Jed has been the Director of the Community Music School and Director of Music Education for the Jackson Symphony Orchestra. A performing bassist, Jed plays with the orchestra in addition to free-lancing throughout the area. He was a public school orchestra teacher for 34 years finishing his career for the Chelsea School District, Chelsea, Mi. Jed was Teacher of the Year for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association and the Michigan American String Teachers Association in 2008. In addition to the Jackson Symphony Orchestra, his performance credits include the Michigan Opera Theater, Toledo Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Racine Symphony, Racine, Wisconsin, South Dakota Symphony, Sioux Falls, South Dakota and various festival orchestras, jazz ensembles, rock bands, polka bands since he was 15 years old.