High School

The Grand Feature Film Orchestra (GFFO)

We're a non-profit San Francisco Bay Area student/community group based in Vacaville, California.  With a passion for how music, sound effects, and visual media come together to tell stories, The Grand Feature Film Orchestra studies, rehearses, and presents creative original and restored film scores live with the movie. Films from Chaplin, Lloyd, Keaton, Lang, and more, come to life with the music perfectly synchronized with the action on the screen.

This ensemble plays classical and current repertoire. Unlike most classical training, students are guided through improvisation sections in each performance piece. All levels and ages are welcome, and parts are customized for each instrumentalist. This session will focus on The Entertainer by Scott Joplin, The Deserted Garden by Florence Price and a sing-along-play-along of Iz's version of Over the Rainbow to perform on May 20th.

Newbie Notes:

Thursday: 5:30-6:00 PM, Ages 4-7, $125/month with a sliding scale down to $0

Thursday: 6-6:45 PM, Ages 8+, $150/month with a sliding scale down to $0

Friday: 5:30-6:15 PM, Ages 8+, $150/month with a sliding scale down to $0

Basics, Blues and Beyond II (11am-1pm)

For students with 2+ years of experience. All ages are welcome but great for intermediate players. This jazz ensemble is a step beyond just the basics.

Basics, Blues and Beyond I (11am-1pm)

Geared towards students with at least 1 year of musical experience. This class is rooted in the basics of jazz and blues with additional exploration of other genres. This is an excellent experience for those new to small ensemble playing.

New Notes (9am-11am)

For more experienced musicians, this chamber music curriculum reflects the transformation of the turn of the century Classic/Romantic standards into contemporary instrumental music of more recent eras, expanding the envelope of structure as well as some improvisational skills; from rags to riches.

An exploratory chamber music class is for instrumentalists who are newer to their instruments. The focus is on play-based music learning, improvisation, ornamentation, and other explorations of creativity. Chants and dances from around the world; Baroque to folk; and beyond.

In-person instrumental ensemble for budding musicians. Rooted in practices/repertoire from specific music periods and styles and stemming out to student-selected repertoire from any era.