Workshop for young musicians offers up fun while advancing skills

The Music Preparatory Division of Oakland University's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance will host a weeklong Musicianship and Composition Workshop designed to help children and young adults enhance their knowledge of music theory, playing skills and composition abilities.

Students will spend the first hour of session developing their musical ears through sight-singing and notation experiences. In the second hour, they'll build upon basic piano skills, and in the third hour they'll compose a theme and up to two variations on that theme. Musical compositions will be written in the style of Mozart for one or two instruments.

The course will be taught by Jenine Brown, a music theorist, violinist and pianist who taught for five years at the Eastman School of Music and served for two years on the faculty at Ithaca College. With both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in music theory, she is currently a music theory Ph.D. candidate at the Eastman School of Music. She also is a recipient of Eastman's Graduate Student Teaching Award for outstanding classroom teaching.

"Music theory teaches us about the musical language of the major composers," Brown said. "When we create compositions using these composers as our models, we also learn about music theory concepts. For many students, this is a fun and rewarding way to learn."

A knowledge of music notation is required for workshop applicants, and a basic understanding of music theory concepts is encouraged.

This Musicianship and Composition Workshop, scheduled for Monday, July 18, through Friday, July 22, will take place from 12:30-3:30 p.m. each day. Students from ages 12-18 can enroll at a cost of $200 per person. To register or to obtain additional information, call (248) 370-2030 or e-mail to stapleto@oakland.edu.