SHARON BAPTIST MUSIC ACADEMY

116 Britt Street, Smithfield, NC

Summer 2010, July 8-Aug. 26

OUR PURPOSE

Sharon Baptist Church recognizes music as a gift of God and seeks to elevate the level of musical development in Smithfield and surrounding areas by offering opportunities for budding musicians to discover and develop their talents. This summer program is a pilot project from which it is our hope that a permanent year-round music academy will result. Our main goal is to provide instruction in a safe, Christian environment that would enable both children and adults to serve in musical capacities in local churches and to enjoy the satisfaction of performing and appreciating the art of music.  

 

OUR LEADERSHIP

Todd Johnson, Music Director at Sharon, is Director of the program and is also serving as piano and keyboard instructor. He has served as a church musician in Wake and Johnston Counties for over 20 years and is currently working on a Master of Divinity degree (with music and worship concentration) at Campbell University Divinity School. Todd is an experienced, largely self-taught pianist and organist who sets high standards for himself and for those under his tutelage, while at the same time emphasizing that music is something to be enjoyed. He studied piano under Jessamine Bryan, organ under Susan Horton, and voice under Dr. Robert Piper. In addition to his work at Sharon, he also serves as music teacher at Neuse Charter School in Selma. He lives in Smithfield with his wife Donna, three children (Abby, Cliff, and Kevin), Yorkshire terrier Lady Diamond, and cat Gracie.

Julie Stewart will be our vocal instructor. Julie is the owner of Kindermusik of Clayton & Voice of Clayton. She has 40+ years of vocal training and performance experience. She is a graduate of Kent State University with a degree in Gifted and Elementary Education and a minor in vocal performance, and a graduate of Kindermusik University in all curricula. She has been recognized as a Maestro Educator by Kindermusik International five different times, placing her Kindermusik Studio in the top Kindermusik Programs worldwide. Julie studied with renowned vocal coach Fran Shafter and continued her study of vocal and choral music through a variety of continuing education avenues. For 18 years she has taught voice to children 8 years old through adults, and she also directs the Johnston County Home Educators (JCHE) Home-School Chorus. She is actively involved in the music ministry of First Baptist Church, Clayton, where she has directed children’s choirs, an Orff choir, and music for Vacation Bible School. Julie and her husband Ken have two grown daughters, Rosalie, 27, (married to Paul) and Kendra, 25. In addition they have two Siamese cats, Keishi and Grizzabella, and one solid black cat, Ozzie. Julie resides in Zebulon, North Carolina, out in the rural part of Johnston County, or, as she puts it, 'in the county.'

Andrew Tatum will be our guitar instructor. Andrew is Youth Minister at Centenary United Methodist Church in Smithfield and is currently finishing a Master of Divinity degree in Historical and Theological Studies at Campbell University Divinity School. He has been playing guitar in many contexts for over ten years. Although largely self-taught, he has studied under Carl Cartee. Andrew specializes in folk, Celtic and other acoustic guitar styles.  Over the past five years he has played with many local musicians including David Calvert and Giles Blankenship, as well as national and international musicians, including Building 429, Louis Conte and Lou Santiago, Jr.  He has also recorded lead and rhythm guitar for David Calvert on "The Resistance E.P." and on the upcoming "Wedding Song E.P." He has taught guitar in a variety of settings, from individualized instruction to group instruction for up to five students.  He continues to hone his own guitar playing skills and looks forward to the opportunity to take on more students of his own. He lives in Raleigh with his wife, Lydia (a youth minister at Trinity Baptist Church in Raleigh), their son David, and a five-year-old foxhound named Tucker.

 

OUR PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION

We will strive to be more student-driven rather than teacher-driven in our instructional approach. Toward that end, our instructors will tailor their teaching to the needs, desires, and skill level of each student. During this inaugural session, the Academy will accept students in the following areas:

 

Guitar

• For beginning and intermediate students.
• Offered on Monday and Wednesday mornings, beginning July 12, or by special appointment.
• Students may choose either private lessons or group lessons with 2-4 students.
• Beginning and intermediate students would receive introduction or re-introduction to basic guitar anatomy (parts, handling, etc.), basic chord forms & scales, rhythm techniques, strum patterns, and basic music theory. More advanced studies would include work in more technical forms of play, collaboration, and improvisation.
• Materials—No specific book is required, but the following work is recommended, especially for beginners: Bruce Buckingham, Guitar Basics: Essential Chords, Scales, Rhythms and Theory (Hal Leonard, 1997). It can be purchased for around $12 on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Basics-Essential-Rhythms-Private/dp/0793571316/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top.

Piano/Keyboard

·         For beginning and intermediate students. 

• Offered on Monday and Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons/evenings, beginning July 12, or by special appointment.
• Students may choose either private lessons or group lessons with 2-4 students (see section on policies and fees).
• Beginning students will be introduced to the piano or keyboard by the rote method (i.e., “playing by ear”) before tackling the more laborious task of learning to read music. They become comfortable with the keyboard in the beginning and are encouraged to “fool around” with the keyboard (i.e., be creative) during practice time. This way, they are not as likely to become discouraged and lose interest. Intermediate students will focus more on music theory, technique, proper posture. All students will learn to play at least one piece of music at (or slightly above) their skill level in preparation for the SBMA recital on August 29.

·         Materials (available online through Amazon.com @ $10-$15)

• Young Beginners: All-In-One Piano Lessons Book  (Hal Leonard)
• Adult Beginners: Adult Piano Adventures All-In-One Lesson Book (Hal Leonard)
• Intermediate: Hal Leonard Student Piano Library series  

 

Voice

• Private instruction to children 8 years old through adult. Advanced students may opt for a 60 minute lesson.
• Offered on Thursday afternoons, with some evenings to accommodate instructor’s schedule.
• Proper posture, breathing technique, vocal strength and placement, and learning how to project the student’s best sound are all focused on throughout the lesson time. Presentation and poise are also considered as lessons proceed. In addition, all students will receive information on vocal awareness and vocal health to maintain good habits in singing and protecting the vocal mechanism. All students prepare vocal selections for presentation at the SBMA recital on August 29, and other singing opportunities are also considered. Competition may be recommended for those students who are prepared. 

 

OUR POLICIES

 

Registration

 

Registration for the Sharon Baptist Music Academy is required before the first lesson and is considered complete when the registration form and initial check have been received. Summer tuition is based on six (6) weekly lessons.

 

Rates for summer session

 

30-minute private lessons, $130

45-minute private lessons, $190

60-minute private lessons, $250

Group lessons (30 to 45 minutes each), $90

 

Payment

 

Half of the tuition ($65 for most private lessons, $45 for group lessons) is required at the time of registration, although some may choose to pay the entire balance in advance. The remainder should be paid prior to the fourth lesson.

 

Student/Parent Responsibilities

Students are responsible for their lesson preparation, instructional materials, and transportation. Guitar students are responsible for providing their own instruments, and piano/keyboard students are required either to have a piano or keyboard at home or to have access to one for regular practice. Instructors will not be liable for students before or after the student’s scheduled lesson time(s).

CONSUMPTION OF FOOD AND DRINK IS RESTRICTED TO THE KITCHEN AND/OR FELLOWSHIP HALL. Children not receiving lessons must remain in the fellowship hall, nursery, or other designated area and be supervised by a parent or guardian. They may not enter a teacher’s studio unless invited by an instructor and must respect the provided instruments (i.e., pianos, keyboards, guitars, and personal property of others). Parents will be held responsible for any damages. Parents are always welcome to observe an occasional lesson if desired.

 

Absences

Please notify the SBMA coordinator or the instructor within twenty-four hours prior to any lessons that cannot be attended as scheduled. If a lesson is missed without any prior notification the lesson will not be rescheduled. If a student needs to miss consecutive lessons, please inform SBMA so that arrangements can be made to reschedule the missed lessons. If lessons or classes are cancelled by the student’s instructor, the SBMA will reschedule the lesson at the instructor’s discretion provided the student agrees on the rescheduled date. In the event lessons are cancelled by SBMA due to weather conditions or unforeseen closings/delays, students will receive make-up lessons.