This program is designed to expose advanced level students to a series of challenging musical situations and materials which are presented in a professionally demanding setting in the rehearsal room, recording studio, and recital hall. Faculty function as music producers preparing for a weekly recording session.
All students, including those currently enrolled at The Collective who are scheduled to take the APP must pass a special audition to be admitted into the program.
This program includes the following courses:
READING PROFICIENCY PROGRAM (9 class sequence – 18 contact hours)
The Colllective Reading Proficiency Program consists of a series of progressive courses on levels from 1 to 5. Students learn sight-reading skills and the ability to interpret music from a wide variety of sources and formats.
Pro Performance Sequence: (40 class sequence – 80 contact hours)
1. PRODUCER'S REHEARSAL
In this class the students meet with faculty and “outside” producers who choose material and set up arrangements and performance guidelines.
2. PRO BAND REHEARSAL
Under the supervision of a faculty “band leader”, students set about rehearsing the material presented in the Producer's Rehearsal. This material will be recorded in the following week's recording session.
3. PRO RECORDING SESSION
Students are given the opportunity to do a live recording of the material previously presented and rehearsed.
4. OVERDUBBING/MIXDOWN SESSION
Students gain experience in practical over- dubbing, or "sweetening" sessions. In addition, ach student meets with the staff engineer and participates in making a reference mix-down of his/her weekly project. Tapes are reviewed and critiqued by the staff producer or another faculty member.
5. ADVANCED TECHNIQUES/TAPE REVIEW
Students work on advanced performance techniques and concepts designed for the serious student who is aspiring to become a professional working musician. Professional performance sequence: The performance sequence is designed to give students a challenging and diverse series of real-life experiences in a short
period of time. This sequence is repeated weekly throughout the duration of the program and culminates with a final recording and public recital. Students leave with dubs of these performances.
ELECTIVE CLASS (8 class sequence – 16 contact hours)
Students may further personalize their plan of study by choosing from the list of elective classes (shown below).
PUBLIC RECITAL (1 class – 2 contact hours)
The final public recital and recording represents the culmination of all the work done in the program. Each student chooses and arranges a number of pieces to perform at the recital and to record in the final recording. Dubs are made of each performance and given to students for their own private and professional use.
Individual Study and Practice:
WEEKLY ELECTIVE PRIVATE LESSONS (9 class – 9 contact hours)
Students may study with an individual instructor or series of instructors of their choice.
DAILY INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE TIME
Students are assigned 2 hours a day during the week, open hours on the week end, and additional hours available at off peak times throughout the week.
*ELECTIVE CLASS COURSE OFFERINGS* These courses are offered every semester-contingent upon enrollment. Elective classes are included in every second-year program: PMP, EIP, and APP. Students in these programs should make a selection from the list below. Students not in one of these programs may add an elective class to their program for an additional tuition fee.
PERFORMANCE SERIES
1. DRUMMERS SOLOING/IMPROVISATION
Students work on developing their musical spontaneity in within given formal structures and contexts. Soloing and improvisation is studied in a number of important styles and settings. Available for non-drum students upon request.
2. ODD METERS Students work in a systematic way to achieve fluency in the less common meters and subdivisions, with a strong focus on musical application in accompaniment and soloing situations. Odd meters in /4, /8, /16*, rhythm scales and rhythmic subdivisions over multiple beats will be among the topics covered in this course.
3. POLYRHYTHMS
The complexity of polyrhythms is laid out in an relatively easy to understand system, which helps students to find musical applications to each set of rhythmic and metric combinations.
4. HARMONIC LINEAR IMPROVISATION
This course goes through a series of sequential exercises designed to help students master common chord progressions and their associated key centers. Chord patterns start with diatonic 7th chords and progress through 251 progressions, altered chords, and chord extensions.
DIGITAL MUSIC PRODUCTION SERIES
1. MUSICIANSHIP
This course links the study of music theory with its practical application aural and keyboard skills. Students apply information studied in class to the piano keyboard. Course topics include scales, chord structures, chord progressions, and song forms.
2. COMPOSITION / ARRANGING
Students learn to apply basic musical concepts to the writing and arranging of original material. Both live and electronic media are used in this course.
3. DIGITAL MUSIC PRODUCTION
Students are introduced to the professional state-of-the-art recording techniques and software, including Pro-Tools, Digital Performer, and Logic.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
1. PERSONAL MARKETING AND PROMOTION This course is designed to help students become self-sufficient in the utilization of contemporary digital tools for the purpose of promoting themselves and their music. Students learn the basics of web, Myspace, and facebook site development and construction and design, using state-of-the-art Adobe Creative Suite software. The goal of the course is for each student to launch there own MySpace or Facebook site, and to understand how to proceed to launch their own web site.
2. DEVELOPING A POSITIVE PERFORMANCE THOUGHT & FEEL This course helps a student to understand and overcome the stresses related to music performance. This seminar is aimed at illuminating the various dynamics that provoke anxiety and introduce concepts which help to develop positive performance thought.
This course also aims at supplying tools to develop basic feels and gain an understanding which enables growth into a refined, original and versatile feel. The main feels that will be examined include, Samba, Partido Alto, 3/4 Samba, Baiao, Cascara, Clave, Songo, Mozambique, Afro Cuban 6/8, Contemporary Funk, 3/4 Funk & Swing.
