Well-rounded music education and epic views.
REGISTER HEREWe offer instruction for first-time beginners to the advanced performing musician
looking to gain more knowledge on their applied instrument.
Experience river adventures, bike trails and more!
REGISTER HEREBuena Vista is located in central Colorado between Salida and Leadville in the Upper Arkansas River Valley. This charming rafting town sits at an elevation of 7,965 feet (2,428 m) and offers free camping with majestic views of the Collegiate Peaks and boasts unlimted adventure with rafting, fishing, hiking, biking and much more. Located just 2.5 hours from the Denver International Airport, 2 hours from Colorado Springs and Crested Butte and just 1.5 from Breckenridge, Buena Vista will not only inspire you, it will put a song in your heart.
12pm to 4pm – Welcome Packet Pick-Up & Registration
Located at Coletrain Music Academy | 900 S. Main Street
5pm to 7pm – Group Class & Jam
Located at Coletrain Music Academy | 900 S. Main Street
7pm to 8pm – Band Lab | Practice location will be determined by each group
10am – 12pm – Fiddle Workshop
Located at Coletrain Music Academy | 900 S. Main
10am – 12pm – Guitar Workshop | Location TBD
1pm – 2pm – Lunch / Personal Break
1pm – 3pm – Mandolin Workshop
Located at Coletrain Music Academy | 900 S. Main
1pm – 3pm – Song Writing Workshop | Location TBD
3pm – 4pm – Personal Time
4pm – 6pm – Group Class, All Instruments
Located at Coletrain Music Academy | 900 S. Main
6pm – 7pm – Band Lab | Practice location will be determined by each group
10am – 12pm – Mandolin Workshop | Located at Coletrain Music Academy | 900 S. Main
10am – 12pm – Guitar Workshop | Location TBD
12pm – 1pm – Lunch / Personal Break
1pm – 3pm – Fiddle Workshop | Located at Coletrain Music Academy | 900 S. Main
1pm – 3pm – Song Writing | Location TBD
4pm – 5pm – Group Class | Ivy Ballrooom inside the Surf Hotel
5pm – 6pm – Evening Band Lab | Ivy Ballrooom inside the Surf Hotel
6:30pm – 8:30pm – Student Recital & Ensemble Performance | Ivy Ballrooom inside the Surf Hotel
Coleman’s love affair with music began very early on. His mother Karen, a professional ballerina says Coleman has been responding to music since before he was born. Fostering his love of music, his parents bought him his first violin at the tender age of 3 at which time he began studying the Suzuki Violin Method. During his formidable years in the Suzuki Program, Coleman became one of the youngest people ever accepted to the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra, eventually having solo performances with the Dallas Fort Worth Pops Orchestra. Coleman Smith has a degree in music performance and minor in music pedagogy. He has over a decade of experience both teaching and running music education programs and in 2018 launched Coletrain Music Academy in Buena Vista, Colorado. Coleman is also a founding member and fiddle player in the Internationally aclaimed and award-winning band Rapidgrass, established in 2009. Currently, when Coleman is not teaching he travels the world performing including an annual tour throughout Europe and India. LEARN MORE HERE
Born and Raised in New Jersey, David Lawrence specializes in the gypsy jazz and blues genre and is the band-leader for ‘LAPOMPE’ and New Orleans Blues inspired ‘Royal Street Ramblers’. With these projects David has headlined the prestigious City Park Jazz summer concert series, performed at the Five Points Jazz Festival, Bohemian New West Fest, Westword Music Showcase and many more. LAPOMPE has been nominated by multiple publications for best jazz band on the front range and David has been featured on several radio Stations including KUVO Jazz. He has also recorded multiple albums including two full-length Albums with LAPOMPE and an all-original Singer-songwriter EP under his ‘David Lawrence’ solo project. Slated for release early Fall 2019. LEARN MORE HERE
David Lawrence’s Gypsy Jazz clinic was a wonderful feature of the 2019 CMA Summer Workshop. David is beautifully proficient in this style of music and for those who are just starting, it is important for your first exposure to be done well and in a welcoming environment. The class was approachable for the newcomers and provided something for all levels. The key rhythm style “La Pompe”, also the name of David’s band, was explained and taught clearly. This technique is the heart beat pacing Gypsy Jazz and requires one on one time with a very good teacher to get it right from the beginning. David is that teacher. The new comers were taught a simpler rhythm as a stepping stone to the whole. For the more advanced students, David provided a great rhythm checkup, especially for those who might have strayed. Each student was given a clearly illustrated book of real life chords designed to allow you to work towards efficient chord transitions. This again is why a clinic is so important, the same fingering will not work for everyone. All of our hands are different, if a chord shape isn’t working for you, a great teacher will help you find one that does. This critical feedback will give you hope and make your sound unique to you. It is something you wont get from YouTube. The song offerings gave opportunities for all levels. Like all the CMA classes, the emphasis was on making music with friends. David’s classes were no exception. You are learning to collaborate and arrange (i.e. have fun and more fun) with friends. Once again David provided ideas for blending styles and making songs your own. Overall a great short stop for directions on your never ending journey through music.
Matthew Maloney
I had an amazing time. Each day I learned things that totally reshaped the way I thought as a musician.
Emily King / Flutist
My daughter learned so much and truly thrived in her first open jam session.
Anne Hesh / Student's Parent
Best music workshop I've ever attended! The instructors were super pro and the scenery was spectacular!
Gary M. / Fiddle Player