Mountain Top Music Center

Mountain Top Music’s Summer Schedule is available – visit www.mountaintopmusic.org to select every musical opportunity!
Here’s an example of an adult (or teen) music class:
Jazz in the Fabulous Fifties at Mountain Top this summer – Offered at the Majestic Theatre building in Conway Village!

Mountain Top Music presents “The Fabulous Fifties” this summer, as part of its Jazz History series of weekly music appreciation lectures, discussions, and listening sessions for adult and high school students and jazz fans in the community. Starting Wednesday, July 1st, this series is open to the public, and drop-ins are welcome at any or all of the eight weekly sessions to be held Wednesday nights from 5:15 to 6:30 pm in the “Little Majestic Theatre Listening Room” in MTM’s new building in Conway village. There will be no charge for anyone who wishes to “try-out” a class for the first time; thereafter, the cost is $12 per person for each session, or a discounted price of $80 for the entire series.

Led by sax/clarinet performer Mike Sakash, this summer’s course focuses on the great mid-century jazz innovators of the 1950’s such as Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Dave Brubeck, Chet Baker, Clifford Brown, and Sonny Rollins. While many of the influential musicians of the 1930’s swing era and the 1940’s be-bop movement were still active, it was this younger generation of jazz artists who introduced new and now iconic styles of music, while established big band icons such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie refined their styles, influenced by this new approach. In-class listening, live demonstrations, and easy-to-understand discussions allow attendees to interact with the group at their own level in an engaging and friendly setting. No question is too simple to pose and no previous jazz experience is required – no homework or tests either! Just bring a love of great music and the wish to learn more about this very special musical genre from an expert teacher and musicologist.

Sakash currently performs locally and with the 18-member Portland Jazz Orchestra, and teaches jazz on both saxophone and clarinet at Fryeburg Academy and Mountain Top Music. He holds a degree from the University of Massachusetts in Saxophone Performance, African-American Jazz Studies, and Music Education, and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media from the Eastman School of Music. Before coming to the Valley, he was an Associate Professor at Washington and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. He is currently the Chairman of the award-winning Music Department at Fryeburg Academy.

No advance reservations are needed to attend class; drop-ins are welcome. For more information on the summer jazz series, see www.mountaintopmusic.org or call Belle at the Mountain Top Center, (603) 447-4737.