Workshops
As part of the Victoria BC Society's mandate, we provide free workshops during the festival to educate people and nurture skills within our community. Our workshops usually draw from the the talent and experience of the artists we bring to the festival. These workshops are a fantastic way to learn from international legends in an intimate setting.All workshops are held at the Long and McQuade Music Education centre at 2822 Nanaimo Street
in Victoria.
You just need to e-mail Colin McTaggart at Long & McQuade to sign up and confirm attendance in advance:
E-mail: cmctaggart@long-mcquade.com
We recommend you register early to ensure a spot.
This Year's Workshops
Workshop details will be available as soon as the details are confirmed.Past Festival Workshops
VICTORIA'S 13th ANNUAL SKA FESTIVAL WORKSHOP: Reggae Hit Bass Lines
@ Long and McQuade (Sheet Music room) Leroy "Heptone" Sibbles is the man behind many of reggae music’s most famous bass lines and classics, and we are honoured to be playimng this year's festival and graciously hosting this workshop.
Leroy Sibbles is widely known for his work as the lead singer of the Rock Steady group The Heptones and as a solo artist. However, many people are not aware of the huge influence Mr. Sibbles has had on all reggae music as the Studio One Bass player, arranger and A&R rep during the late 60’s and early 70’s. During his time in this role he was responsible for many of the classic reggae bass lines that have been and continue to be used by new artists over and over again.
During his keynote interactive session Leroy will discuss how he created the bass lines and arrangements for songs like "Satta Massagan" , "Declaration Of Rights", "Kutchie" (Pass The Dutchie) , "Queen Of The Minstrels" , "No Man Is An Island" and "Drifter."
He will also discuss how he auditioned artists like Burning Spear, Dennis Brown and provided bass lines for artists like John Holt, Horace Andy, Alton Ellis just to name a few.
If you are a true lover of the history of reggae music, this is a session you won’t want to miss.
VICTORIA'S 13TH ANNUAL SKA FESTIVAL WORKSHOP: Horn Arrangements in Ska Ensembles
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre This workshop features the The Pietasters Horn Section: Alan Makranczy, Jeremy Roberts and Carlos LinaresSince the early 1960s with the birth of ska music in Jamaica horns have always been key instruments in what many people recognize as the definitive signature of the genre.
Traditionally ska bands have always had horns as a part of their arrangements even though the guitar took a greater role in many bands' sound in the second and third waves of ska. This is not the case when one looks at cousin genres rooted in ska, such as rocksteady and reggae, although these genres also use horns.
The Pietasters Horn Section will address the origins and influences of ska as a base going back to Cuban music, American jazz and mento. They will talk about contributing factors as to why horn sections were so predominant in the early wave of ska music and how the role of horns is still so important in identifying the ska genre today.
VICTORIA'S 13TH ANNUAL SKA FESTIVAL WORKSHOP: Music that Inspires Social Change
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre Adham Shaikh is a Juno Award-nominated music producer, composer, sound designer, and DJ who brings his uniquely powerful global sounds to the world stage and screen, not to mention many a crowded dance floor.One of Adham's greatest talents is his ability to use sounds and visuals within his global electronic repertoire to evoke certain emotions from the audience and get important points across through his set.
The idea for this workshop was planted after Adham Shaikh performed a song at a show in Nanaimo that was used to address the crisis of water. His music, visuals and the costumes of his dancer during the set vividly conveyed the crisis. This song was just one of many that used visuals, music and dance to convey various themes.
In this workshop Adham will touch on some of these techniques when selecting to bring each idea to the forefront. He may also talk about what influences him to use music to inspire social change and why his shows leave such a lasting impression on the audience.
Workshop - Trombone Performance with Ska/Rock/Reggae Bands
Unlinked Musician
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre Fri. July 8th 2011 2:30pm - 3:30pm doors at 2:15pm
FREE (Admission by advance sign up at Long & McQuade)
Dave St. Jean is a force in the reggae and ska scene on Vancouver Island and the west coast of Canada. Born and raised in Nanaimo, B.C., Dave has played the trombone professionally for 12-years. Known for playing in Nanaimo’s The Kiltlifters he also performs full-time with Victoria "new roots" band Current Swell. Over the past three years, he has joined them on multiple tours and recorded on two of their albums.FREE (Admission by advance sign up at Long & McQuade)
St. Jean’s trombone resume is impressive playing headlining acts on the Victoria Ska Festival including Fishbone, Neville Staples of the Specials and Toronto-based dub-master/Juno Award winner Dubmatix. With his talent, experience, and on-stage confidence, Dave aims to be the"go-to bone player" in the reggae and ska scene for both recording and live performance with local and touring acts.
St. Jean’s workshop will cover general brass playing, performance and improvisation in ska/rock/reggae bands. He will also demonstrate and discuss stage etiquette as well as what to do when jumping up with other bands on stage.
Other topics will include how to get involved with other bands and branching out in the industry and first time jamming with new groups.
Workshop - TIMELESS TECHNIQUES OF A GLOBAL ELECTRONIC SELECTOR
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre Thu. July 7th 2011 3:30pm - 4:30pm doors at 3:15pm
FREE (Admission by advance sign up at Long & McQuade)
Thursday, July 7, 2011 (3:30pm - 4:30pm) @ Long & McQuade Music Education CentreFREE (Admission by advance sign up at Long & McQuade)
Gaudi’s history is intriguing and musically international. Born in Italy Gaudi’s beginnings were spawned from being a keyboard player in a band called Wild Planet that experimented with fusing new wave and ska together. Groups that he was a part afterwards experimented in electronic, punk and traditional melodies. In the 90s his solo career took off going on tours with reggae artists such as Ziggy Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Mutabaruka, and Third World. The key components to Gaudi’s musical success was innovation through constant experimentation. With a thirst for experimentation and his love for various musical styles Gaudi was able to climb to the top of the charts in the UK after he moved from his native country in Italy in the early 90s.
This workshop will go into depth about the history of Gaudi’s career and events or experiences that influenced his musical direction. Although influenced by many genres, Gaudi will address reggae and dub music’s influence on his career and his current music.
For DJs and fans of electronic music Gaudi managed to keep contemporary, innovative and engaging to his audiences. It is widely known throughout DJ circles that Gaudi’s performances have always been cutting edge and use a variety of musical fusions, styles and techniques to bring out a sound that is unique to other DJs in the global electronic world (which was in and of itself molded by Gaudi). Gaudi will demonstrate some of the techniques he uses to keep audiences coming back time and time again.
JAMAICAN DUBPLATES AND VERSIONS WORKSHOP
DJ COLLAGE, TANKGIRL
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre Thu. July 8th 2010 1pm - 2pm doors at 12:45pm
FREE (Admission by advance sign up at Long & McQuade)
Thursday, July 8, 2010FREE (Admission by advance sign up at Long & McQuade)
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre (2822 Nanaimo Street) #250-384-3629
1pm – 2pm (ALL AGES/FREE) Admission by advance sign-up at Long & McQuade
On Thursday, July 8th Victoria BC Ska Society welcomes two of the most colorful members of the NW reggae scene to share their knowledge on the art of Jamaican dubplates & riddim versioning. Dancehall MC- DJ Collage (aka Mista Chatman) & reggae selectress DJ Tank Girl will discuss how dubplates are made, and what purpose they serve to reggae sound systems in Jamaica & abroad. They will also be explaining what a "version" is in reggae music and will give live & direct examples on how to "ride di version" inna reggae stylee!
DJ Collage (aka Mista Chatman) is a known reggae vocalist throughout the NW and can be seen performing alongside artists such as Delhi 2 Dublin, Collie Buddz, Yellowman, Inner Circle & more. He can also be seen live on tha mic hosting his Seattle based weekly reggae party- JAM JAM.
DJ Tank Girl is part of the Vancouver based DJ collective- Lighta! and holds down the weekly dancehall party TING at the Astoria in East Van. She has just returned from a month long trip in Jamaica where she acquired many dubplates for the Lighta! Soundsystem.
VICTORIA'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY SKA FESTIVAL WORKSHOP WITH LOS RASTRILLOS! "The Mexican Sounds Inside Reggae"
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre Mexico City’s Los Rastrillos have been on the scene for over 20 years playing irresistible reggae mixed with ska, jazz, and other styles. But what is it that helps make their music have an authentic sound and feel? Clearly there are many different strains of reggae throughout the world and thousands of bands bring their own influences that meld into reggae music that came out of Jamaica. Come to this workshop and learn about the Prehispanic (pre-Spanish conquest) and the Mestizo instruments (after the Spanish conquest) that were intertwined into much of the reggae music you hear in Mexico. Join Los Rastrillos’ Arturo Galvan, Gerardo Pimentel, Enrique Noguez and Ruben Perez and learn specifically how these instruments and stylistic evolutions help make Los Rastrillos’ sound blend into the band we all love and enjoy today.Workshop is free however, advance sign up is required at Long & McQuade. Please contact 250-384-3622 for sign up information.
VICTORIA'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY SKA FESTIVAL WORKSHOP WITH CHRIS MURRAY! "STRUM SKA!" (Ska Guitar Workshop)
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre Victoria BC Ska Society is very proud to host Chris Murray – one of North America’s ska legends to come and teach this not to be missed ska guitar workshop. The workshop will cover the origins of ska and its development through its other closely related musical styles including rock steady, reggae, skinhead reggae and two-tone/modern ska (with focus on the use of guitar in ska music). Chris Murray will also discuss ska musicians that have and continue to influence his playing. Bring your guitar if you like!Workshop is free however, advance sign up is required at Long & McQuade. Please contact 250-384-3622 for sign up information.
Victoria's 9th Annual Ska Festival Dub Production Workshop by Dubmatix Soundsystem
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre Toronto's hottest dub/reggae duoDubmatix Soundsystem will take you on a
trip in learning about the evolution of dub music. The workshop will begin
with a brief history and then touch on dub music's various components.
Afterwards participants will be introduced to how dub is produced and even get some tips from Canada's best about what you need to get started making your own!
Skeleton of Dub Workshop
1. Brief History of Dub
2. Various Types of Dub
3. Key Components of Dub
4. Drum & Bass – The Foundation
5. Producing Dub – From Start To Finish
6. Getting Started in dub – what you need
Sign up for the workshop is required. For more info please call 250-384-3620
Victoria Ska Festival Jamaican Rhythms Workshop by New York Ska/Reggae Stubborn Records legend King Django
@ Long & McQuade Music Education Centre Fri. July 11th 2008 3pm - 4pm doors at 3pm
FREE [ticket locations] Tickets At: Sign up at Long & McQuade Music Education Centre call 250-384-3620 for info)
Workshop participants will explore the elements of different styles ofFREE [ticket locations] Tickets At: Sign up at Long & McQuade Music Education Centre call 250-384-3620 for info)
Jamaican music, with New York's ska/reggae Stubborn Records legend King
Django on all the traditional instruments which make up a traditional ska or reggae band.
Questions that will be addressed include:
What IS ska, rocksteady, reggae (several different periods) music?
What other styles and rhythms inform the playing of these styles?
What are the rhythmic and melodic elements which define Jamaican music?
What are the roles of the different instruments?
© Victoria BC Ska Society 2013. Site design by Greg Szabo & Indivision