Music
"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything."
― Plato
From music therapy to private instrument lessons, explore new or favorite musical outlets at Bucks.
For courses on music appreciation, click here
GUITAR FOR THE ADULT BEGINNER RMUSC 1168 C01
2/3-3/23 6:30-7:30 pm
The less experienced you are the better! Learn to play chords and simple strumming patterns as well as easy blues scales and get started playing the guitar. In just eight weeks you will learn how to play some simple songs such as “Back In Black” by AC/DC, “Bad Moon Rising” by CCR, or “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath. No experience reading music necessary! Must provide own guitar.
ADULT GUITAR - CONTINUED RMUSC 1169 C01
3/30-5/18 6:30 - 7:30 pm
This class is ideal for returning students as well as those that feel they are not an absolute beginner but not ready for anything too intense. Minimal experience is required. Completion of “Guitar for the Adult Beginner” is not mandatory. Must provide own guitar.
WORLD MUSIC (ETHNOMUSICOLOGY) RMUSC 8823 C01
1/30-3/5 7 - 8:30 pm
You will learn about music and dance from cultures around the globe! We will explore many modern and traditional sounds and styles through discussion, music-making, and movement. Experience cultural and social viewpoints through a musical lens.
We will be traveling to Indonesia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and European regions; depending on time and interest, we will briefly touch on musics in Australia and North America. Students are also welcome to share areas of interest!
(Course cost includes $5 material fee)
Aubrey Maks is an ethnomusicologist, music educator, and musician from greater Philadelphia. Her experience in public, private, and community music education settings includes classroom teaching; adult education; music adjudication for the Mid Atlantic Music Teachers Guild Student Music Festival; and private, group, and community vocal and instrumental instruction, both in the U.S. and abroad. She has extensive performance experience and has served as music director for school shows, community theater, and camp productions in Bucks and Mercer Counties.
Aubrey grew up with music before earning Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Music Theory, History, & Composition (Westminster Choir College of Rider University) and a Master of Arts degree in Ethnomusicology (Memorial University of Newfoundland). Her areas of interest within ethnomusicology focus heavily on musics of Oceania and Asia. She studied modern and traditional Māori musics, culture, and political issues as a graduate and undergraduate scholar before spending the year of 2014-2015 in Aotearoa-New Zealand to learn from local artists, communities, cultural and performance festivals, and at landmark locations. Aubrey is a member of Gamelan Semara Santi (Swarthmore, PA), a traditional Balinese (Indonesia) percussion ensemble under the music directorship of Thomas Whitman and I Nyoman Suadin; she continues to pursue her love of gamelan and Indonesian musics and cultures. Through the course of her studies, she has also been immersed in local language and culture in both Austria and Newfoundland.
Thankful for the many musics shared with her by others at home and around the world, Aubrey consistently incorporates world music learning in her classroom instruction and hopes to contribute to the advocacy of public ethnomusicology.
PLAYING THE DJEMBE DRUM - LEVEL I RMUSC 1194 C01
3/7-4/11 9 am – 12 pm
The Tradition of Rhythms of West Africa
Study with Master Drummer, Jim Davidson trained in Mandingue style.
The Djembe drum is the very popular goblet shaped hand-drum from West Africa. This class will start with the basics of hand drumming stressing technique and clarity of notes. We play multi part African rhythms where each drum plays a different pattern. Together the drummers create rich and interesting percussion music. The most important skill learned is listening to the other instruments and keeping in time, playing together. Playing in a tight drum circle is a transcendent experience and lots of fun with many proven health benefits. Drums are also available for purchase and the rental fee can be applied.
(There is a one-time drum rental fee of $35, payable to instructor, waived if you bring your own full-size djembe) (11” head minimum)
PLAYING THE DJEMBE DRUM LEVEL II RMUSC 1198 C01
4/18-5/30 9 am - 12 pm No class 5/23
The Tradition of Rhythms of West Africa
Study with Master Drummer, Jim Davidson trained in Mandingue style.
This class builds on "Playing the Djembe Drum, the Traditional Rhythms of West Africa." We strengthen the skills learned in the first section and add more advanced rhythms and techniques including: Echauffement variations, call variations, bell parts, and smoothly moving between rhythm parts.
(There is a one-time drum rental fee of $35, payable to instructor, waived if you bring your own full-size djembe) (11” head minimum)
CONVERSATIONS ON RESEARCH FOR THERAPEUTIC MUSICIANS WSMCE 4021 C20
Our mastery level course on research is a two-part study. The first six weeks is actually the National Institute of Health’s course, “Protecting Human Research Participants.” Week 7 offers participants the opportunity to review everything presented in the first 6 weeks and, optionally, to achieve a certificate on the material through the NIH. From weeks 8 through 12, we will work collaboratively on putting together an actual research project from conception to formal proposal.
Private Music Lessons
Private music lessons are offered by special arrangement with Continuing Education’s professional instructors. For registration and/or information, please call the Continuing Education Registration office at 215-968-8409.
The following lessons are available through Continuing Education:
Sessions are available for the following instruments:
- Banjo
- Clarinet
- Flute
- Guitar
- Oboe
- Piano
- Saxophone
- Percussion
- Violin
- Voice
- Trombone/Euphonium
NEWTOWN CAMPUS FEES:
- Six half-hour lessons $175
- Six one-hour lessons $350
- Twelve half-hour lessons $350
- Twelve one hour lessons $700