Long & McQuade Learning Series - Kanata, ON

Wednesday, March 12 | 6:30 PM

Chris Stephenson Presents: The Rhythm Trees Live Drum Clinic           
With Chris Stephenson

This drum clinic will focus on Chris's upcoming drumming course/book titled The Rhythm Trees. This concept is a systematic approach to understanding the fundamentals of rhythm and learning drums in a fun and digestible way, in order to have creative freedom behind the drum set.

 

At 18 years old, Chris began his drumming career as a professional touring/recording artist, enjoying two JUNO nominations and over a dozen world tours. With his experiences as a professional artist and masterclass clinician, Chris is now focusing on his knowledge of theory and drum performance in his first educational book, The Rhythm Trees. Having studied under the likes of Alex Landenburg, Thomas Lang, Chris Coleman, Benny Greb, Matt Garstka and Aquiles Priester, Chris has developed his own approach to drumming in hopes to influence, educate and inspire drummers locally and globally. Chris proudly endorses Los Cabos Drumsticks, Mapex Drums, and Murat Diril Cymbals.

 

Thursday, March 20 | 6:30 PM

Guitar Basics and Beyond
with Fred Donkor

In this clinic, Fred will provide valuable beginner/ intermediate guitar tips to aspiring guitarists.

 

Topics include:

•    Advanced finger drills across the neck, how to play scales & relax

•    Barre chords

•    How to switch between barre chords

•    Advanced strumming patterns

•    Having fun with boogie blues

•    The blues scale

•    More soloing basics

•    How to sing and play         
     

Attendees are encouraged to bring their guitar!

 

Fred Donkor is a Berklee College of Music graduate and music teacher with the OCDSB. He is also an active freelance session musician & private instructor in the Ottawa area.

On the recommendation of Vernon Reid (guitarist from Living Color), he received a private invitation to audition for the Spin Doctors (on Epic Records) in NYC.

 

Wednesday, March 26 | 6:30 PM

Stepping Outside: Jazz Concepts (For the Non-Jazz Guitarist)
With Garrett Warner     

Catered to the non-jazz guitarist, Stepping Outside: Jazz Concepts introduces jazz improvisation concepts in an accessible format. Tackling the big J word doesn't have to be scary!
 

Attendees are encouraged to bring their guitar!

 

Topics include:

• Spicing up your pentatonics
• Modality
• Playing the changes
• Soloing over non-diatonic harmony
• Developing language

 

Some knowledge of applied music theory, such as knowledge of the major scale, pentatonic scale, and key centres, would be beneficial for this clinic. Attendees are encouraged to bring their guitar!

 

Ottawa’s Garrett Warner is a highly versatile guitarist, composer, and educator. Since arriving on the scene, Garrett has made a name for himself as both a sideman and bandleader. He was fortunate enough to study under Roddy Ellias at Carleton University where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree with honours in composition and guitar performance.

 

He maintains an active performing schedule, including regular appearances as a bandleader and sideman at internationally renowned festivals such as RBC Bluesfest, TD Ottawa Jazz Festival, Sighisoara Blues Festival, and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Garrett has also had the pleasure of working with Juno nominees Petr Cancura and Angelique Francis, in addition to Canadian hip-hop heavies Blakdenim, jazz legend Roddy Ellias, evocative folk-jazz quartet Side-Eye & Grace, and most notably a collaboration with Daryll “DMC” McDaniels of Run DMC. Garrett's sophomore release, due out in Spring of 2025, contains 6 soul and Americana-inspired tracks performed in an instrumental, jazz-adjacent idiom.               

 

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RSVP and inquiries: [email protected]