Pro Music Performance - Drums

ENSEMBLE

In this level, you will be equipped with engaging performance skills and you will familiarise with the professional practices required to perform with a band in a variety of live and studio scenarios. You will learn to perform different styles of music, to make creative use of the techniques acquired so far, and to compose and arrange original music.

Learning Outcomes:

• Perform pieces of music in a variety of ensemble settings
• Read and notate melodic and rhythmic phrases
• Arrange music according to creative briefs
• Demonstrate an understanding of the features of different contemporary genres of music
• Use musical knowledge to enhance the quality of performances
• Interpret the audience’s reaction to your performance

Faculty

Marios Menelaou

Marios Menelaou

 

Marios Menelaou was born and raised in a tiny Mediterranean island, Cyprus. Laying in the crossroads of three continents, Africa, Asia and Europe, he has been influenced since young age to a variety of musical traditions.

At the age of 13, he was introduced to guitar and later on, at age 16, fell in love with the bass guitar. He started studying intensively with famous Giannos Savvides as well as following jazz workshops and private classed from New York musicians Ari Roland and Chris Byars.

In 2010, Marios moved to the Netherlands and studied Bass guitar in the Conservatory of Amsterdam. There, he learnt new techniques with professors Charty Angenois, Theo de Jong, David de Marez Oyens and Lene te Voorwis . Beyond jazz bass guitar,  Marios also studied four years Karnatic techniques on improvisation and composition.  In his years in Amsterdam, Marios was influenced and fused music from jazz, middle eastern music and african music. In 2015, he was awarded a scholarship at ISI Despensar University in Bali Indonesia where he studied Balinese Gamelan and became a gamelan player.

On his musical journey, Marios met a plethora of genres and musicians and he performed in many festivals such as the Afro Vibes Festival in the Netherlands, Aglagazz, Feggaros in Cyprus and many others in Europe.

In the Netherlands, he has been the founding member of Astrophunk and back in homeland Cyprus, he co-founded the jazz trio Lp3 where their first album “The underdog” was released in November 2017.

Teaching has been an integral part of this journey : he has been providing private lesson in bass guitar, music theory, harmony and ensembles. Has has also been a teacher in the National Conservatory of Cyprus.

MUSIC THEORY : CONTEMPORARY HARMONY

In this level, you will be introduced to harmonic concepts such secondary dominants and passing and auxiliary diminished chords. You will analyse the use of different ornaments and techniques employed in select repertoire from the bebop genre. Additionally, you will learn the concept of modulation and will delve deeper into chord scale theory. Further, you will study harmony derived from the melodic and harmonic minor scales, their modes and the application of these modes in different chord progressions. This level also aims at giving you a thorough understanding of major and minor pentatonic scales, including interesting pentatonic scales from world cultures. Lastly, you will also learn the basics of composition and arrangement.

Learning Outcomes:

• Analyse the use of melodic techniques in select repertoire
• Apply passing and auxiliary chords to existing chord progressions
• Modulate to different keys using pivot chords, tone centred modulation and motivic development
• Build all chords of harmonic and melodic minor scales
• Construct all melodic and harmonic minor modes
• Familiarise with principles of composition and arrangement

EAR TRAINING

In this level, you will get acquainted with different 7th chord qualities, modes of major scales, melodic and harmonic minor scales, as well as modes of the pentatonic scale. You will also work on transcribing melodies and chord progressions, as well as sight singing melodies in select major and minor keys.

Learning Outcomes:

• Aurally recognise at least eight different 7th chord qualities
• Aurally recognise the sound of all modes of the major scale, melodic and harmonic minor scales and modes of the pentatonic scale
• Sight sing melodies in select major and minor keys
• Transcribe melodies and chord progressions

HISTORY AND CONTEXT OF GLOBAL COMMERCIAL MUSIC

In this level, you will learn about different genres such as disco, gospel, Krautrock, late 60s and early 70s jamaican ska, reggae, dancehall, rocksteady and dub. You will also go on to learn about the origins of 80’s soft rock, hip hop and the rise of EDM.

Learning Outcomes:

• Trace the origins and development of disco, krautrock, hip-hop and EDM
• Identify major artists and political, technological and social events that shaped these genres
• Relate the role played by record labels to the changing sound of music across the different decades

Faculty

Vehrnon Ibrahim

Vehrnon Ibrahim

Vehrnon has had many long term rolls in his career including Vice President of various National FM Radio Networks, a House Music DJ, Frontman of Indian Heavy Metal band Millennium, an Event Director, an Audio Engineer both live and in studios, a Music Producer and Song Writer, a Stage and Lighting Designer, the Creative Director of an Interactive Television Company and a regular Commentator on Music, Culture and Creativity…

Today, Vehrnon continues to work in Live Music Events, Radio and other Media and is also an Independent Music Artist Advisor with “FreeWillMusic” a system designed to help them make and keep more money…

HISTORY AND CONTEXT OF INDIAN COMMERCIAL MUSIC

In this level, you will learn about the development of music in India between the 60’s and the 90’s. You will learn about the birth of Bollywood music, Hindustani and Carnatic music and international influences on Indian music. You will explore the golden age of Bollywood and delve deeper into the careers of Kishore Kumar, RD Burman, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bosle, Manna Dey and Mohammad Rafi. You will also learn about the development of fascination with disco songs, history of Indian DJs, rise of the satellite TV and lastly, indie-pop’s influence on Bollywood.

Learning Outcomes

• Trace with the evolution of Indian film music between the 60s and the 90s
• Identify the impact of prominent musicians on the development of Indian popular music
• Relate the advancement of technology on the evolution of music in India

Faculty

Vehrnon Ibrahim

Vehrnon Ibrahim

Vehrnon has had many long term rolls in his career including Vice President of various National FM Radio Networks, a House Music DJ, Frontman of Indian Heavy Metal band Millennium, an Event Director, an Audio Engineer both live and in studios, a Music Producer and Song Writer, a Stage and Lighting Designer, the Creative Director of an Interactive Television Company and a regular Commentator on Music, Culture and Creativity…

Today, Vehrnon continues to work in Live Music Events, Radio and other Media and is also an Independent Music Artist Advisor with “FreeWillMusic” a system designed to help them make and keep more money…

Mandar Deshpande

Mandar Deshpande

Mandar is an established Bollywood playback singer who is known for his distinct and versatile voice. He has sung for a number of films, OTTs, plays and TV/web channels. He has been working as a faculty member for the Pro Hindustani Vocals course at True School and has also designed courses for their popular music learning app – Learn to Sing:True School. Mandar started learning the Tabla at the age of 4, and later Hindustani Classical vocals and Natya sangeet from various gurus and gharanas. His career as a singer started with him singing covers of songs by Sudhir Phadke and Shankar Mahadevan.

As a playback singer, Mandar debuted with the film Zubaan, starring Vicky Kaushal and Sarah Jane Dias, where he was launched by the singing sensation Gurudas Mann in Punjab. The film was well received at several international Film Festivals like at Bussan & Palm Spring. His most recent work as a playback singer was for the film Monsoon Shootout in which he was released by Times Music. This film was also critically acclaimed and presented at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Apart from this, Mandar has collaborated with the Symphony Orchestra of India (NCPA), and Dharavi Rocks. Along with his passion for designing and teaching modern curriculum for Indian popular music, he has also been busy with his performances and recordings.

Milestones:
1. Best Vocalist award – Yamaha Asian Beat 2006
2. Best Background Score Nomination – Zee awards Commercial Drama 2007
3. Uttunga State level award – Best Music 2013
4. Frontman – India’s First Raag Metal fusion Band Founding member 2006- 2010
5. Judge for IIT Bombay – Mood Indigo – 2017, 2018, 2019

101 SESSIONS

101 sessions are additional learning opportunities outside of your core curriculum that cover a number of relevant topics associated with professional music. You may choose up to three 101 sessions of your interest in each term from the available list