CURRENT ON-SITE INSTRUCTORS (as of November 2024)
VIDEO 1: THE MUSICAL ALPHABET. Dennis guides us through the basic building blocks of music: The Musical Alphabet.
VIDEO 2: HALF and WHOLE STEPS. In the second installment, Dennis tells us about Half Steps and Whole Steps.
VIDEO 3: NOTE MAPPING. Dennis' third video in his musicianship tutorial covers Note Mapping.
VIDEO 4: THE MAJOR SCALE. Dennis' fourth video discusses one of the cornerstones of music: The Major Scale
VIDEO 5: CHORD BUILDING. Dennis Demonstrates how to create chords from a Major Scale.
VIDEO 6: CHORD MAPPING & BEGINNING IMPROVISATION: Dennis shows you how to map out chords from your note map, and also gets you improvising on the Hank Williams song 'Jambalaya.'
VIDEO 7: RIDING THE RHYTHMIC WAVE: Dennis introduces the basics of rhythm and how important it is to incorporate it into your improvisation or jamming. Also included are tips to get started singing while playing your fretted instrument.
VIDEO 8: THE 4 CHORD - AMAZING GRACE: Dennis introduces the 4 chord in the key of C (the F chord). This is followed by playing and improvising on Amazing Grace. Also covered is the concept of a 4 bar phrase as well as learning the sound of the 1, 4 and 5 chord by ear.
VIDEO 9: TABLATURE AND RIGHT HAND TECHNIQUE: Dennis introduces us to playing songs via tablature as well as right hand technique. SUPPLEMENTAL
MATERIALS FOR THESE VIDEOS CAN BE FOUND HERE These videos can be viewed below and also appear on our YouTube channel. Woodsongs is proud to present this series and are very grateful to Dennis for his time and generosity.
Dennis Burns
Guitar - basic, classical, jazz, theory / Ukulele / Bass
dennis@boldersounds.com
303-419-8929
Guitar - basic, classical, jazz, theory / Ukulele / Bass
dennis@boldersounds.com
303-419-8929
Dennis has been teaching and performing in the Boulder/Denver area for over 30 years. In 1983 Dennis received his BM degree in classical guitar performance from the University of Colorado. He teaches many styles including classical, folk, rock and jazz improvisation. Dennis has released 3 recordings - A Rose On The Lake (2005), Waltz For Oktober (2019) and most recently Way Over Yonder (2023) which is a mix of Jazz, Country and Gospel in a trio format of guitar bass and drums. He is also the founder of Bolder Sounds, www.boldersounds.com, a sound design company which creates libraries for digital samplers. Dennis also performs chamber music with A Lyric Ensemble, www.lyricensemble.com. ?
SPECIAL NOTE:
As a service to everyone who stayed at home during the pandemic, Dennis kindly created a free video tutorial
series on musicianship for anyone who's ever had the urge to learn music or to brush up on the basics.
As a service to everyone who stayed at home during the pandemic, Dennis kindly created a free video tutorial
series on musicianship for anyone who's ever had the urge to learn music or to brush up on the basics.
VIDEO 1: THE MUSICAL ALPHABET. Dennis guides us through the basic building blocks of music: The Musical Alphabet.
VIDEO 2: HALF and WHOLE STEPS. In the second installment, Dennis tells us about Half Steps and Whole Steps.
VIDEO 3: NOTE MAPPING. Dennis' third video in his musicianship tutorial covers Note Mapping.
VIDEO 4: THE MAJOR SCALE. Dennis' fourth video discusses one of the cornerstones of music: The Major Scale
VIDEO 5: CHORD BUILDING. Dennis Demonstrates how to create chords from a Major Scale.
VIDEO 6: CHORD MAPPING & BEGINNING IMPROVISATION: Dennis shows you how to map out chords from your note map, and also gets you improvising on the Hank Williams song 'Jambalaya.'
VIDEO 7: RIDING THE RHYTHMIC WAVE: Dennis introduces the basics of rhythm and how important it is to incorporate it into your improvisation or jamming. Also included are tips to get started singing while playing your fretted instrument.
VIDEO 8: THE 4 CHORD - AMAZING GRACE: Dennis introduces the 4 chord in the key of C (the F chord). This is followed by playing and improvising on Amazing Grace. Also covered is the concept of a 4 bar phrase as well as learning the sound of the 1, 4 and 5 chord by ear.
VIDEO 9: TABLATURE AND RIGHT HAND TECHNIQUE: Dennis introduces us to playing songs via tablature as well as right hand technique. SUPPLEMENTAL
MATERIALS FOR THESE VIDEOS CAN BE FOUND HERE These videos can be viewed below and also appear on our YouTube channel. Woodsongs is proud to present this series and are very grateful to Dennis for his time and generosity.
Joseph Brenna
Guitar - Acoustic, Electric, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Folk & Classical /Music & Fretboard Theory
joseph@brennamethod.com
720-564-1767 Joseph is a critically acclaimed composer, songwriter, recording artist, and teacher who's equally at ease playing acoustic and electric guitars with jazz, funk, blues, R & B, rock and folk musicians. He trained at Brown University and Berklee College of Music. Joseph invented a revolutionary new way to learn guitar that makes every note, chord, and scale visible right on your fretboard, and in sheet music and chord diagrams. The Brenna Method is a comprehensive system that teaches you songs, trains your ear, teaches music & fretboard theory, and develops guitar technique, so that you reach your full creative potential. Visit the website or click on the Brenna Method video.
VIDEOS:
The Brenna Method
Hear From a Brenna Method Student
Watch Joseph play Acoustic Guitar
Watch Joseph play Electric Guitar
Guitar - Acoustic, Electric, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Folk & Classical /Music & Fretboard Theory
joseph@brennamethod.com
720-564-1767 Joseph is a critically acclaimed composer, songwriter, recording artist, and teacher who's equally at ease playing acoustic and electric guitars with jazz, funk, blues, R & B, rock and folk musicians. He trained at Brown University and Berklee College of Music. Joseph invented a revolutionary new way to learn guitar that makes every note, chord, and scale visible right on your fretboard, and in sheet music and chord diagrams. The Brenna Method is a comprehensive system that teaches you songs, trains your ear, teaches music & fretboard theory, and develops guitar technique, so that you reach your full creative potential. Visit the website or click on the Brenna Method video.
VIDEOS:
The Brenna Method
Hear From a Brenna Method Student
Watch Joseph play Acoustic Guitar
Watch Joseph play Electric Guitar
Ryan Drickey
Fiddle & Clawhammer Banjo for adults
ryandrickey@gmail.com
303-842-4857
For Ryan, music is not only a way of life, it's a way to experience the world in which we live. A lifelong student of musical styles, Ryan immersed himself first in classical music, eventually earning a Masters degree in Violin from the University of Colorado at Boulder. There he studied jazz in addition to classical violin, which began his fascination with American musical traditions. The investigation of his own musical roots has led Ryan back through time: from modern jazz improvisation concepts, though bluegrass fiddling, old-time American fiddle styles, and across the Atlantic to the musical traditions of Ireland, Sweden, and Norway. Ryan is a Fullbright scholar, having spent a year in Sweden teaching American roots music at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm, while learning from Swedish folk masters such as Roger Tallroth, Ale Möller and Ellicka Frisell.
Fiddle & Clawhammer Banjo for adults
ryandrickey@gmail.com
303-842-4857
For Ryan, music is not only a way of life, it's a way to experience the world in which we live. A lifelong student of musical styles, Ryan immersed himself first in classical music, eventually earning a Masters degree in Violin from the University of Colorado at Boulder. There he studied jazz in addition to classical violin, which began his fascination with American musical traditions. The investigation of his own musical roots has led Ryan back through time: from modern jazz improvisation concepts, though bluegrass fiddling, old-time American fiddle styles, and across the Atlantic to the musical traditions of Ireland, Sweden, and Norway. Ryan is a Fullbright scholar, having spent a year in Sweden teaching American roots music at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm, while learning from Swedish folk masters such as Roger Tallroth, Ale Möller and Ellicka Frisell.
Elliott Elder
Bass Guitar, Upright Bass, Guitar, Music Theory, Songwriting & Composition
ElliottElderMusic@gmail.com
(678) 984-9983 Elliott Elder is a bassist, guitarist, and singer based in Boulder, CO. In 2017 he moved from Atlanta, GA to pursue his interest in various music forms. He landed at CU Boulder, where he was able to dive into studying styles like jazz, funk, rock, folk, blues, and pop. Since graduating in 2021 from CU with a degree in Jazz Bass Performance, Elliott has been gigging, teaching, composing, and recording his own music as well as others'. He is currently the touring bassist for Eddie Turner & Trouble, with whom he plays across the US and in parts of Canada. Elliott also regularly performs with bands/ensembles such as: River Spell, The Custom Shop Band, The Steamboat Springs Symphony, Eduardo Cassapia, and The Wild Beautiful Orchestra. His own bands, Elliott & The Elder Council and DIAliens, perform across the front range, featuring his compositions that span from prog rock and jazz fusion to folk and pop.
Bass Guitar, Upright Bass, Guitar, Music Theory, Songwriting & Composition
ElliottElderMusic@gmail.com
(678) 984-9983 Elliott Elder is a bassist, guitarist, and singer based in Boulder, CO. In 2017 he moved from Atlanta, GA to pursue his interest in various music forms. He landed at CU Boulder, where he was able to dive into studying styles like jazz, funk, rock, folk, blues, and pop. Since graduating in 2021 from CU with a degree in Jazz Bass Performance, Elliott has been gigging, teaching, composing, and recording his own music as well as others'. He is currently the touring bassist for Eddie Turner & Trouble, with whom he plays across the US and in parts of Canada. Elliott also regularly performs with bands/ensembles such as: River Spell, The Custom Shop Band, The Steamboat Springs Symphony, Eduardo Cassapia, and The Wild Beautiful Orchestra. His own bands, Elliott & The Elder Council and DIAliens, perform across the front range, featuring his compositions that span from prog rock and jazz fusion to folk and pop.
David Tiller
Guitar / Mandolin / Songwriting
davidtiller1@hotmail.com
971-226-6874 David Tiller has been a professional musician and songwriter touring the USA, Europe, Canada and Mexico over the past 35 years, playing and writing with many well known groups and national artists including Taarka, Elephant Revival, Darol Anger, and ThaMuseMeant. David has performed on over 20 recordings, as both an artist and studio musician. He was a Professor of music (guitar, mandolin and songwriting) at The College of Santa Fe, Regis University, Naropa University, and University of Colorado Denver. David is a Berklee graduate, and has also attended New School of Music, Shenandoah Conservatory, and had the honor of attending North Carolina School of the Arts for High School. David works with all levels of students and tailors each curriculum to individual needs. Whether you're looking to study theory, technique, improvisation, songwriting, rhythm or anything else, David has you covered.