Dweezil Zappa World

 

                          

The following is a sample of proposed workshops by individual instructors:

BILLY HULTING Class:

Musical approach to playing in a rhythm section - a class on how to listen and play together as a more cohesive unit. - All levels

Exercising your musical demons - how to keep your head on straight - The world of music can be very difficult with all of it's mind games.

These very often get in our way of progressing as a musician. Billy will discuss ways to get rid of the "noise" that's holding you back. He will also discuss new ways to think about music by getting rid of bad habits and discuss common barriers musicians face in their quest to play music.

Improving your time - This is a hands on class. You will learn some basic concepts of playing good time and finding a groove. Even if you "can't keep time in a watch factory" you probably have it inside of you. Billy will show you techniques for bringing it out of you. Much of the foundation for this class can be found in the lecture class "Exercising your musical Demons."

Getting (and keeping) a gig - the art of auditioning - all levels. Billy talks about the audition process and how to handle yourself at an audition as well as how to keep a gig after you get it.

Odd-meters - intermediate to advanced - The same method Emil Richards was taught - the basic tools to really understand odd-meter time signatures. This class will show you the (simple) theory behind odd meters and how to really feel them.

Basic music theory - Billy will discuss the basics of music theory including scales, chords, and history.

Mallet technique - how to play marimba and vibes including four mallet technique.

Afro-Cuban Hand Percussion - Congas, bongos, and timbales - patterns and techniques from Cuba.

Brazilian Hand Percussion - instruments and groove patterns from Brazil.

The road - a frank discussion about touring and life on the road.

SCHEILA GONZALES Class:

General class topics:

Theory

Ear Training/Musicianship

Sight Reading

Beginning Piano lessons

Master class on Saxophone, Flute.

Improvisation:

Emphasis on jazz/funk and modal/static chord improv.

How to "change hats" and be true to the style in which you are playing

Scheila will discuss the value of versatility:

Being a multi-instrumentalist.

Being open and true to different styles.

Exposing oneself to as many different performing situations as possible.

Q & A on life on the road as a woman

JOE TRAVERS Class:

Joe Travers has long been a student of Frank Zappa's music as well as the drummers who have have played it. His role as the Vaultmeister for the Zappa Family Trust as well as his role as the drummer in Zappa Plays Zappa uniquely qualifies him as an expert in modern drumming.

Joe Travers will discuss Frank Zappa's use of odd time signatures & play examples of them, breaking them down into discernible chunks. A very helpful reference even for non drummers.

He will discuss Frank Zappa's use of poly-rhythms in his compositions. He'll demonstrate this using The Black Page as an example and will describe how these complex rhythms are used in FZ's orchestral compositions.

Other topics/concepts include:

Connecting melody to complex rhythms.

Writing music with a band and the interaction in writing.

Odd time demonstration.

Solo drum performance.

History as a professional musician/audition process.

Key ingredients to being a "musical" Drummer - dynamics, listening, improvisation.. discipline to playing parts etc.

He will discuss Frank Zappa as a pioneer of technology throughout his career.

Question & Answer session.

PETE GRIFFIN Class

General Topics:

The role of the electric bass in music.

Frank Zappa's basslines. Pete will demonstrate examples of how Frank Zappa regularly demanded things not usually asked of bassists.

Things such as melodies, counterpoint, chords, solos, etc.

Odd-time Backbeat:

Pete has developed his own approach in this area and will demonstrate it through playing examples.

Backing up soloists:

How the bass can completely dictate how a "jam" or solo section can develop.

When to lock into a groove and when to respond to the soloist.

Places where anything can happen (a la Inca Roads). Tension and release, playing over the bar line, and re-harmonizing.

Knowing your instrument and your amplification:

Discuss the nuances of the Fretless bass and extended range basses.

How to create your own unique bass tone. Also how distinctive bass tones are important to the music of Frank Zappa. Why bassists often struggle to create a recognizable individual "sound" and how you can arrive at your own sound by studying other people's tones.

Other topics will include:

Finding yourself through playing other people's music.

When to play the written line and when to come up with your own thing.

Rhythm section demonstrations with Joe Travers.

Q&A forum

JAMIE KIME Class:

General Topics:

Beginning and advanced harmony & theory.

Applied fingerboard harmony and rhythm guitar playing.

Beginning and advanced improvisation and musicianship.

Discuss Zappa-specific topics that focuses on analysis of Frank Zappa compositions and common harmonic/melodic elements present throughout.

Guitar-based topics (example: a discussion of FZ's guitarists through his career and the roles they were assigned based on their strengths, etc.).

Other thoughts include a master class-type of approach where several of these topics are consolidated w/ an additional discussion of my role in Zappa Plays Zappa.

Examples of how various eras of FZ music was approached and arranged for the ZPZ ensemble.

Q&A forum.

BEN THOMAS Class:

Vocal Technique Class - All levels

Learn and / or improve upon basic techniques of support, breathing, conditioning, pitch, warming up and cooling down, stamina and tone. Find your true voice, improve your pitch, increase your range and build your tone with proven processes mixed with some new ideas.

Jazz / Funk / Soul Pipes - Intermediate to Advanced

Create a signature vocal tone and timbre that mixes well with jazz, soul and funk styles. This class will focus on rhythm, timing and phrasing, melody and harmony as well as defining classic styles and achieving them within one's own voice. Advanced singers will also learn improvisation through music theory.

Vocal Conditioning - All Levels

Protect your instrument! The human voice is a wonderful tool to express creativity, but it is a fragile one. Vocal conditioning will teach the important elements of warming up and cooling down the voice, increasing stamina and range, how to prevent fatigue, using proper breathing and identifying incorrect techniques and bad habits.

Mouth Bits!

If you've got rhythm, musicality and a strong diaphragm, take advantage of the many unique and peculiar instruments you can fit in the palm of your hand. This course will highlight basic techniques and tricks of the diatonic harmonica, jaw harp, beat boxing, armpit flatulence and other percussive instruments (including your own body). Try it out and you might find you're a virtuoso in the rough!

Life is Percussion

Find the rhythm of life through all things that resonate and respond to a beat. Every thing around us has a natural tone, and we can make music with that tone. This class will help musicians explore the things around them that may or may not be a 'musical' instrument in the classic sense, and will encourage them to compose and create with anything they come across. The class will look for items in and around the camp, assemble groups among the class, and create and perform a song together with their new instruments and band mates.

Intro to Songwriting / Advanced Songwriting

Do you have a melody in your head? Do you have a few chords under your fingers? Learn to harness your creative skills with Intro to Songwriting and create a unique song in no time at all. This course will help guide beginners in learning song structure, basic theory and melody while encouraging more advanced writers to explore jazz theory, voice leading, odd meters and rhythms, dissonance and complex melodies and harmonies.

DWEEZIL ZAPPA Class:

 

Guitar Techniques:

Picking techniques, alternate, sweep/economy, hybrid, the chicken and the spider.

Vibrato, different styles- when to use it.

Fingering strategies, learning to view the guitar neck unconventionally.

Phrasing. The importance of rhythmic contours.

Soloing concepts and strategies:

How to find your true identity as a guitarist.

The "Air Sculpture" approach. How to free your mind and unleash your imagination - capture lightning in a bottle. Abandon pre-composed licks and learn to react in the moment.

Building themes - taking time to engage with the band and the audience.

Pattern recognition - How to step outside of traditional guitar patterns and replace them with inventive new ideas.

Learning new concepts. How to retain large amounts of new info.

Implementing new info, taking risks.

Finding inspiration - outside sources can produce unique results on guitar. Example - learn a drum fill on guitar. Attach notes to the rhythm of your favorite drum fill and analyze the results.

Tone Laboratory - How tone affects your playing and the listener's connection to your playing. Understanding how to get more out of your gear.

Recording Workshop:

Tricks and tips for getting better recording results and better mixes.

Arranging your music properly before recording.

Question and Answer session:

Wide variety of topics can be covered - a few examples - anything guitar related, History of Zappa Plays Zappa, Frank Zappa music, other music, music business, Zappa family, entertainment business and many more...