Summer in the Arts Evening Arts Camp
Our evening workshops for adults and high schoolers are for those who have always wanted to explore or grow artistic skills in art, singing, or learning to play an instrument. Class offerings include a one-night destressing through art workshop, new sight-reading music class, sign language, beginning/intermediate guitar, cello, calligraphy, learning to read music, and more! Class times are held in the evenings between 5-8pm to accommodate daytime work schedules. See the course descriptions below.
Course cost:
- 1 Class: $50
- 2 Classes: $85
- 3 Classes: $100
NOTE: The art class is one night only! (Choose Tuesday or Wednesday) Cost is $40 and registrants can sign up for ONE additional class for $45.
Workshops include......
Beginning Guitar
A course designed to learn the basics of guitar playing including basic chords. Supplemental materials will be provided throughout the week of camp so that students can continue to work on guitar technique after camp week!
Intermediate Guitar
This course assumes that participants have some prior knowledge and experience on guitar and knows basic chord structures. Students will learn how to compose simple short songs and will also receive supplemental materials to continue building upon after camp week.
Beginning Bass Guitar
In this course you will learn the basics of playing the electric bass, to include fretting and plucking hand technique, an introduction to learning the notes on the bass fretboard, and how to break down common chords into chord tones that are used to create cool bass lines. You will be introduced to the Nashville numbering system and taught rhythmic development necessary – all the essential ingredients for a simple groove. The course objective is to have you play a simple bass line through chord progressions in a typical I IV V rock song. The student will leave with exercises to practice at home to continue to develop their bass skills.
Intermediate Bass Guitar
This course is for those intermediate bass players or those who may have “played” the electric bass without a lot of formal instruction and want to gain an understanding of music theory and fingerboard harmony in order to create interesting bass lines. We will give you the tools you need to improvise bass lines through common chord progressions, learn some best practices for accompanying drums as part of the rhythm section and send you home with a set of exercises and a recommended practice regimen.
Cello for Beginner Adults
Designed for adults with no prior experience on a stringed instrument, this class will provide an exploratory session on playing the cello. In addition, we will listen to and learn about some of the most beautiful works composed for cello. Instruments will be provided. "sponsored in part by Day violins"
"How to Destress Your Day with Art" - Bev Sharrard (One Night Class!)
Come explore with me the fun and easy form of neurographic art. Learn a relaxing way to de-stress from your day and create art at the same time. No experience needed just a desire to learn something new. I will be teaching this two hour class on two different nights. Same class both nights, pick the date that works best for you. This class is for everyone, teens and adults, men and women. Cost is $40.
Learn to Ring!
Handbell ringing is an art all its own! And, you are never too old to learn to ring. Handbells come in a variety of sizes and octaves and teamwork is essential. Each evening of camp, participants will learn the basics of ringing, and will learn to read basic music notes and rhythm patterns. By the end of the week, this handbell group will know a few short songs and will be much more confident in musical skills.
Introduction to Sight Reading for Singers with Cale Pritchett
Are you a singer who struggles with how to read music? Would you like to improve your ability to read new piece of music and hear and sing your specific part? Then this class for you! Designed for singers in middle school, high school, and adults who participate or want to participate in choirs or bands, this class will teach you the foundations and fundamentals of sight singing. Lessons include:
- How to sing and identify a major scale
- How to read notes on a treble and bass clef
- How to read basic rhythms and time signatures
- Solfege Symbols/Numbering and how to use it to make sight reading
easier - Interval training - how to listen and know the internal between 2
notes - Keys - how to identify which key a song is in (which major scale are
we using)
Learn to Communicate Through Sign Language!
This is a course designed to teach basic sign language, so that it can be utilized as a communications tool in the arts. This course will cover fingerspelling, basic vocabulary and grammar structure.
Calligraphy Class
Add some ‘creative flair’ to your writing by taking on the skill of calligraphy! This class will teach the basics of calligraphy including grip, types of strokes, and how to use various tools.
Beginning Piano Lab
Adult beginners will learn the basics of piano to include how the keyboard is arranged, basic hand position, and beginning note reading skills. Participants will also come away knowing how to play simple songs.
Intermediate Piano Lab
This class is for those who have at least one year of experience on piano. The course will focus on piano solo playing based on ability level using pop and rock music styles.
Meet Your Instructors
Ashley Driscoll, Strings
My name is Ashley Driscoll, and this summer I will instruct Orchestra Adventures, the Beginning Strings elective, and the Adult Evening Cello class. Currently I am the Orchestra Director at Independence High School in Brambleton. Within the Loudoun community, I have taught public school orchestra and served as a youth symphony conductor to students in elementary through high school, and have taught private cello lessons to students from age five through retirement. Music is a wonderful way to express ourselves, connect with others, and attain personal goals. I look forward to making music with this year’s program!
Cale Pritchett, Intro to Sight Reading
Cale is the Youth Praise Team and Faith Ringers director at Arcola, and is an active member of the music ministries; you may have seen him onstage as Max Detweiler or Gaston in a recent Arcola production! He is a graduate of Coastal Carolina University with a degree in Art Administration and of George Washington University where he got an MBA.
Joe DeFranco, Beginner and Intermediate Bass Guitar
My name is Joe DeFranco and I have the pleasure of being retired from corporate life and focusing full time on playing and teaching music! This year at the Summer in the Arts I will be teaching bass – either electric or double bass – for anyone who wants to learn to play the bass or simply improve their skills. I love playing live music and sharing my joy of music with my students. Whether I am playing with a band on stage, at church or simply at an informal jam session with fellow musicians, playing music fills my soul and immediately replaces the cares of this world with pure joy and gratitude! Come learn to join in on the fun of laying down the boogie!
Scott Rosner, Beginning and Intermediate Guitar
My name is Scott Rosner, this year at Summer in the Arts I am teaching beginner and intermediate guitar. I love the arts because they have the ability to make you laugh, make you cry, make you think, make you look, and make you realize that we are all fundamentally the same and in this together. There’s nothing better than a great song, movie, painting, or dance to say the things that words just can’t say. Plus, everyone looks cooler with a guitar in their hands.
Bev Sharrard, "How to Destress Your Day with Art"
I am a self taught artist and have been painting for over 30 years. Painting brings me joy and a way to express my creativity. I love to teach others and help them discover their hidden talents. If you have the desire to learn to try new things and create with multiple art mediums, this class is for you.