Music & Dance

 Go crazy with Ukulele! Join our beginner’s course! Want to discover the hottest, happiest musical instrument around? Here’s your chance to learn to play the ukulele. This little instrument is versatile and a blast to play (with regular practice, of course). On it you can knock out folk tunes, rock, samba, blues, pop, jazz, country, reggae, classical music as well as songs grandma knows. The ukulele can go most anywhere with you because it’s small and lightweight. Our beginners’ ukulele course is meant for people with no musical background – including people who think they are musically challenged! And, you don’t even need to know how to read music! You will learn the essentials of playing ukulele in a relaxed setting from a popular and seasoned ukulele instructor who loves to bring the aloha of this wonderful instrument to one and all. Using familiar songs, he introduces you to chords, strumming and fingerpicking…truly a fun way to learn the ukulele. You will need to have a playable ukulele and an electronic tuner. If you need to buy a ukulele, Friendly River Music in Cornish, Midtown Music in Biddeford and Ear Craft Music in Dover, NH are offering discounts on ukuleles to our students. Duncan Perry, a multi-instrumentalist, has been playing ukulele for over 12 years. He is a popular and experienced teacher and performer who offers classes up and down the Southern coast of Maine.

4 classes – Mondays, 2/8-3/1, 6:00pm-7:30pm, virtual, $75 

NO DROP INS DUE TO COVID-19 

Do you like to dance and have a good time? Come on out and give line dancing a try! This class is tons of fun and a great way to get some exercise without knowing it. We will learn choreographed dances to the newest music, some country and much more. Our class will start super simple and we will kick it up a small notch at the end for those who really like a challenge or have already done this before. No experience or partner necessary. Students are asked to wear shoes without grips on the bottom. Melissa Adams has been dancing for more than 25 years and began to teach five years ago to share her passion with others.

8 classes – Tuesdays, 2/23-4/13, 5:30-7:00pm, GMS, $90

 In just a few hours you can learn enough secrets of the trade to give yourself years of musical enjoyment. How do we do it? While regular piano teachers teach note reading, piano professionals use chords. You can learn all the chords you will need to play any song in one session. Any song! Any style! Any key! Topics include: how chords work in a song, how to get more out of sheet music by reading less of it, how to form the three main types of chords, how to handle different keys and time signatures, how to avoid “counting” and how to simplify over 12,000 complex chords. Beginners can print out a free pamphlet on reading music by going online to http://www.pianofun.com/downloads/notes.html.

Don Pride is a professional musician, teacher and composer who plays throughout the United States. He is a member of the Portland Jazz Orchestra and leads The Don Pride Band. Don teaches at the University of Southern Maine, St. Joseph’s College, the Portland Conservatory of Music and in his private studio.

Tuesday, 4/13, 6:00pm-8:30pm, GMS Band Room, $59 (includes $29 book fee)

Have you ever wanted to learn the guitar but simply find it difficult to find the time? In just a few hours you can learn enough about playing the guitar to give you years of musical enjoyment. This crash course will teach you some basic chords and get you playing along with your favorite songs right away. Bring your acoustic guitar. Class limited to 9 students. Students age 13+ are welcome. Don Pride is a professional musician, teacher and composer who plays throughout the United States. He is a member of the Portland Jazz Orchestra and leads The Don Pride Band. Don teaches at the University of Southern Maine, St. Joseph’s College, the Portland Conservatory of Music and in his private studio.

Wednesday, 4/14, 6:00pm-8:30pm, GMS, $59 (includes $29 book fee)