CLICK
HERE
to view a slide show of Swing Week 2009 with music recorded during
a jam session with both swing and bluegrass students.
Swing
Week 2010 promises to be better than ever! Swing
Week coordinator, Wendi Bourne has hired an amazing
array of talented swing musicians (and a dancer!!), who will
make your week at Augusta a memorable musical experience. Our
instructors will share their knowledge of both Western Swing
(a la Bob Wills) and “Urban” swing (a la The Mills Brothers
& Ella Fitzgerald) in two 90-minute morning class sessions
with the instructors of your choice. Evening activities include
Swing Dances, a Student Talent Show, Concerts, Student Band
Showcase, and of course Jam Sessions. Since our Instructors
stay right on campus all week, students are afforded a unique
opportunity to interact with the Swing Week staff. You may well
find yourself sharing a meal in the dining hall, participating
in a jam session, or having a beer in the Ice House (campus
pub) with one of your instructors. You’ll be talking about music,
playing music, listening to music, dancing to music during nearly
every waking hour. You will be absolutely amazed to see how
immersing one’s self in swing music for an entire week will
benefit your playing and listening abilities. 
Students
need not be proficient in the genre of swing in order to benefit
from Swing Week classes. You should, however, have a basic working
knowledge of your instrument. If you have questions about
which classes are appropriate for your skill level, feel free
to e-mail Wendi Bourne at swing@augustaheritage.com.
Swing Week offers instruction in: Swing Fiddle, Swing Guitar,
Swing Bass, Swing Horns, Swing Vocals, Swing Ukulele, Swing
Dance, and Lap Steel Guitar.
New to our staff this
year, we are thrilled to have Buddy
Spicher [top left],
a recent inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame on our
staff, teaching Swing Fiddle! Also new to the Swing Week staff
is Dick Gimble [middle
left] (son and musical partner of the legendary Johnny
Gimble) teaching Swing Guitar .
We will offer a new class in Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar, taught
by Gerald Ross [bottom
left]. We are blessed to once again welcome Rusty
Mason [bottom right]
as our Guest Master Artist. See complete Swing Week Staff information
below.
 Young
people who are able to maintain an adult level of participation
are welcome. There will be opportunities to form bands, dance,
and socialize with other teenagers at Augusta that week. Swing
Week will run concurrently with Bluegrass Week providing lots
of opportunities for some lively dancing and jamming at night.
To register,
specify “Swing Week,” your instructor and class.
Do
you have questions about Swing Week?
Feel free to call 304.637.1209 or email augusta@augustaheritage.com,
or
email Swing Week Coordinator, Wendi Bourne at
swing@augustaheritage.com.
|
| Swing
Band |
Peter
Ecklund
and
Tom Mitchell
|
Open
to all instruments. Students will work on a piece arranged specifically
for the instruments in the class and will discuss some ensemble
dynamics. All skill levels can be easily accommodated. |
| Swing
Dancing for Musicians |
Mike
"the Girl" Leggett
with
Dan Rosenthal
|
It
is so helpful for swing musicians to know at least the basics
of swing dance in order to know how to play better for dancers.
Come and join this fun class! Open to everyone, regardless of
how many left feet they possess. |
| Performing
In Public |
Ralph
Shaw
|
All
levels |
| "Pizza
Box" Percussion |
Steve
Larrance
|
We'll
supply the pizza box and will have drum brushes for sale (about
$10). Place pizza box on lap and learn the basics of playing the
snare drum. These are great fun at jam sessions, too! |
| The
Number System and Other Cool Stuff for Musicians to Know |
Dick
Gimble
|
Open
to all instruments and vocalists. Have you ever heard someone
in a jam session say "one-six-two-five in the key of G"?
You too can come to understand this and other musical mysteries! |
|
Other
Classes offered this week |
| Augusta
for Kids |
Brittany
Hicks
|
|
