Update: New class, "Accompanists and Soloists". Instructor TBA.


These classes focus on technique specific to the instruments and are tailor made for the participants involved.

Clarinet technique - John Kraus
Flute technique - Joanne Averill-Rocha
Saxophone technique - Ernie Tollar
Brass technique - Jason Logue
Upper string technique - Parmela Attariwala

Guitar technique - Michael Occhipinti
2008 JUNO Award Nominee Michael Occhipinti will work with students interested in blues, jazz, and popular music to expand their vocabulary as soloists and improvisers on the guitar. Michael will encourage students to make use of the entire fret board and expand their knowledge of chords and scales, and they'll touch on new ways of practicing and on developing an individual voice on the instrument. This course is best suited to students who are able to play in bands and who are comfortable reading chords and familiar sounding melodies from lead sheets.

Upright bass/electric bass technique - Louis Simao
Both electric bass players and acoustic bass players will benefit from this class that will focus on creating interesting bass lines from lead sheets, outlining chords, and developing strong rhythm and technique in a variety of musical styles including jazz, Latin, and funk.

Brass ensemble - Jason Logue
Trumpeter Jason Logue will lead this ensemble employing trumpets, horns, trombones, euphoniums, tubas, and percussionists in various combinations. This ensemble will explore a varied symphonic repertoire for brass .

Chamber music groups - Selected Faculty coaches
One of the greatest opportunities OMC offers is the chance to make music in small ensembles. Coached chamber music sessions are for instrumental participants at intermediate or advanced levels, and for advanced singers. Groups may be pre-formed or will be formed by staff. A Chamber Music form, which must be completed, will be sent to you if you register for this course.

Jazz combos - Selected Faculty
These groups will focus on playing jazz in a small ensemble setting, and students will be encouraged to improvise even if it's new to them. The group will tackle a broad range of jazz repertoire, from traditional "standards" to contemporary jazz. A Jazz Combo form, which must be completed, will be sent to you if you register for this course.

New Orleans Style Funk Band - Jason Logue
Combining traditional New Orleans style marching bands with New Orleans jazz and funk, this ensemble emulates groups such as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band in combining brass (trumpets through to tuba or sousaphone), saxophones, and drums to perform a repertoire that will have all the musicians moving their feet.

Percussion ensemble - Barry Romberg
Renowned drummer Barry Romberg will lead this course for the beginner to intermediate level percussionist who wants to try something new and fun! Students will receive instruction in basic percussion technique and sample patterns that can be organized into improvised pieces of music, and music specifically orchestrated for percussion ensemble may be performed.

Woodwind ensemble - John Kraus
This course is for woodwind players including flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone and bassoon. We will explore ensemble work and arrangements for the combination of woodwind instruments we have.

World Music ensemble - Ernie Tollar
Ernie Tollar is a key member of many ensembles that fuse music from different cultures, and for this group he will expose students to a repertoire that may draw on everything from Indian music to Greek Music to Arabic music to jazz. No experience in music from any of these cultures is required.

Choir for All - Conductor: Christine van der Bank, Accompanist DJ Clary
All participants, regardless of vocal experience, are encouraged to take part in the traditional large choir - a great mid-morning change of pace. A variety of choral repertoire will be rehearsed and performed at the Saturday evening final concert.

Introduction to Arabic vocals - Maryem Tollar
Maryem Tollar's compelling voice is featured on the Gryphon Trio's 2008 JUNO nominated CD Constantinople. For this class, Maryem will introduce students to vocal techniques, scales, and melodic ideas found in Arabic and Middle Eastern music. No experience with these traditions is necessary.

Jazz choir - Suba Sankaran
Renowned vocalist Suba Sankaran will conduct this choir that performs a broad jazz repertoire, including vocal improvisation with scat singing

Musical theatre (scenes from Into the Woods) - Susan Newman, Accompanist DJ Clary
Scenes and/or selections from Stephen Sondheim's musical "Into the Woods" will be prepared, memorized and staged. Bring costumes and props that you think might be appropriate.

Rounds, rhythms & circle song improvisation - Suba Sankaran
Versatile vocalist Suba Sankaran will use various rounds and multi-layered rhythms in a call-and-response fashion to help focus on ear-training, blend and balance for choral singers. The Circle Song is a vocal group improvisation extracted from rounds and rhythms and other musical ideas generated through spontaneous invention.

Vocal repertoire (intermediate/advanced) - Christine van der Bank
Participants will sing new and prepared selections, in a masterclass setting. An accompanist will be available, and performance will be discussed by the instructor and the class.

Vocal technique (advanced) - Suba Sankaran
Vocal technique (beginners) - Christine van der Bank
In these vocal technique classes, instructors will lead the class in warm-ups and technical exercises designed to develop vocal skills. General aspects of singing breathing, diction, and posture will be addressed.

African drumming and dance - Fule and Adwoa Badoe
Participants will be exposed to a variety of African drumming styles. Drums will be provided and everyone will have an opportunity to discover and enjoy the world of African rhythm and drumming. This is also an opportunity to experience and explore the rich tapestry of African dance.

Alternative String Styles - Parmela Attariwala
Parmela Attariwala is a versatile violinist who easily crosses back and forth between classical music and a number of different folkloric and contemporary styles of music. For this unique class she will introduce classical musicians to the different approaches to string instruments found in traditional fiddling, jazz and improvised music, contemporary classical music and Hindustani Alaap.

Composition - Michael Occhipinti
Michael Occhipinti welcomes participants with no background in composition to this course where he will introduce students to a number of different approaches aimed at generating melodic and structural ideas. Over the course of the week, Michael will help the students tie their ideas together into a piece or pieces that will be performed by a faculty & student ensemble.

Drum set - Barry Romberg
Barry Romberg is one of Canada's most highly respected drummers, and in this class he'll share his unique approach to the drum set and music and encourage students to think of rhythm and their approach to drumming in new ways. Open to all levels, but students should have a rudimentary understanding of the drum set.

Introduction to Arabic/Indian flute - Ernie Tollar
Ernie Tollar has devoted much of his career to studying the music of India and the Middle East. This course will introduce participants who play traditional flute or penny whistle to the techniques and melodic ideas of Arabic and Indian flautists. No experience with non-Western flute is required.

Introduction to Brazilian guitar - Louis Simao
Multi-instrumentalist Louis Simao has spent many years studying the guitar-based music of Brazil and Portugal, and in this course he will introduce students to the basic chord shapes and finger style technique used in popular Brazilian guitar styles such as the Bossa Nova. This course is open to beginners, although advanced guitarists with an interest in the nylon string guitar traditions of Brazil are also welcome.

Jazz piano - Louis Simao
Louis Simao will focus on helping pianists develop their jazz playing, including chord theory and finding quick ways of voicing chords elegantly from lead sheets, ideas for improvisation, and examining a variety of jazz repertoire.

Accompanists & soloists - TBA
Instrumentalists, vocalists and pianists can enjoy this class. Participants can learn the art of cueing, communication, interpretation and ensemble. Pre-formed partnerships are encouraged, but not necessary.  A Chamber Music form, which must be completed, will be sent to you if you register for this course.

African drumming/dance -Fule and Adwoa Badoe
Children of all ages will get to experience and explore the rich tapestry of African drumming and dance.

Arts & crafts - Marion Roy

Orff - Marion Roy
Carl Orff believed that one learns by doing. He created the Orff approach for music education that encourages the participants to explore the music in a variety of ways. This active and fun approach incorporates singing, movement, playing unpitched and pitched instruments, body percussion, speech, drama, and improvisation.

Children's choir - Susan Newman
For all children ages 5 to 12 years; teens are welcome to join either the children's choir or the adult choir.