Virtual Voices (May 30-31, 2020) is an online live music masterclass festival bringing professional artist-educators into your home. Each 40-minute workshop is hosted by a different musician, providing a unique learning opportunity and highlighting a particular aspect of the artist's creative work. Attend one session or several. Individual workshops are affordably priced at $10, and all proceeds go directly to the artists. Join us!

SATURDAY 5/30

Saturday, May 30 at 10:00 AM PDT
GLOBAL STANDARD TIME
With Tom Knific
Classically trained on two continents, Tom Knific has traveled the world as a bassist, composer and bandleader. In this workshop, Tom explores how jazz intersects with, influences and has been influenced by world music creating a richer future for our art. 
RSVP | Buy $10 Ticket | About The Artist

Saturday, May 30 at 12:00 PM PDT
NEW COLORS FOR IMPROVISING:
DECONSTRUCTING THE MODES OF THE MELODIC & HARMONIC MINOR

With John Stowell
John Stowell is a unique jazz guitarist whose original take on harmony, chords and improvisation sets him apart. In this workshop, Stowell explores the rich color palette of minor scales and modes, and offers 60 free pages of printed bonus material. Don’t miss it!
RSVP | Buy $10 Ticket | About The Artist

Saturday, May 30 at 2:00 PM PDT
ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENTS PLAYING ELECTRONICALLY:
BASIC PEDALS & LOOPING FOR HORN PLAYERS
With Kate Olson
Kate Olson works as a solo electroacoustic performer in her project KO SOLO, and as a co-conspirator with electroacoustic duo Syrinx Effect. In this masterclass she provides an overview of how to get started with looping and effects using guitar pedals, vocal loopers, and the computer program MainStage.
RSVP | Buy $10 Ticket | About The Artist

Saturday, May 30 at 4:00 PM PDT
BEBOP MELODICISM
With Charles McNeal
Saxophonist Charles McNeal is a master of melodic improvisation. In this workshop, he shares how to use arpeggios, scales, approach tones, voice-leading, repetition and motivic development to instantaneously create your own melodious bebop phrases.“You don’t have to sound like a text book!” McNeal advises. “Learn to create swinging, singable lines that thrill the listener.”
RSVP | Buy $10 Ticket | About The Artist

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, MAY 30
10 AM Global Standard Time with Tom Knific
12 PM New Colors For Improvising with John Stowell
2 PM Acoustic Instruments Playing Electronically
     with Kate Olson
4 PM Bebop Melodicism with Charles McNeal

SUNDAY, MAY 31
10 AM Road Warrior! with Ruth Davies
12 PM Latin 101 with Leon Joyce Jr
2 PM Songwriting For Vocalists with Holly Pyle
4 PM The Juicy Notes! with Dmitri Matheny

SUNDAY 5/31

Sunday, May 31 at 10:00 AM PDT
ROAD WARRIOR! 
TIPS & TRICKS FOR THE TOURING MUSICIAN
With Ruth Davies
Bassist Ruth Davies is a bona fide road warrior, having toured internationally with Charles Brown, Elvin Bishop, Maria Muldaur, Denise Jannah, Dmitri Matheny, Amina Figarova and many others. In this workshop Ruth shares dozens of secrets for life on the road, including tips on planning, packing, instrument care, navigating airlines, airports and ground transportation, and what Ruth calls “living in The Now with Jetlag!”
RSVP | Buy $10 Ticket | About The Artist

Sunday, May 31 at 12:00 PM PDT
LATIN 101
With Leon Joyce
Leon Joyce Jr. is a world class musician, lauded for his work with legends Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson, Smokey Robinson and many more. In this workshop (especially useful for vocalists, bandleaders and drummers), Joyce covers all the basics of samba, bossa nova, cha-cha-cha. and other latin grooves.
RSVP | Buy $10 Ticket | About The Artist

Sunday, May 31 at 2:00 PM PDT
SONGWRITING FOR VOCALISTS
With Holly Pyle
“There are tons of methods and reasons to write a song!” says Phoenix, Arizona-based vocalist Holly Pyle. In this course, Holly shares writing methods, patterns and devices that have proven successful for many of the greatest songwriters, how to discern which genre or method is best for your values and creative needs, strategies for expanding your poetic and musical palette, and identifying and overcoming creative hurdles and writer’s block.
RSVP | Buy $10 Ticket | About The Artist

Sunday, May 31 at 4:00 PM PDT
THE JUICY NOTES!
HOW TO IMPROVISE USING GUIDE TONES
With Dmitri Matheny
Praised as “one of the most emotionally expressive improvisers of his generation” by the International Review of Music, flugelhornist Dmitri Matheny is known for his lyrical, melodic style. In this workshop, Matheny shares his signature “guide tones as goal notes” technique. You’ll learn what guide tones are, why they matter, how to write your own guide tone lines, and how to effectively use guide tones in your improvised solos.
RSVP | Buy $10 Ticket | About The Artist