Accompaniment of another musician is an art in and of itself. Once you've learned How to play, Where and When take on increasing importance. Illustrating lyrics and setting the groove are parts of the story. So is finding work, and for songwriters, finding (and keeping) your band members. Slide guitar tips and techniques (beginning to advanced) will also be included in examples along the way. Multiple dimensions of slide technique will come into play from melody to rhythm, various tunings, blues to country to pure sound generation. All levels - Bring instruments and slides.

Joel Tepp is a familiar face as a multi-instrumentalist and accompanist at Northwest concerts, and beyond. He has regularly added his slide guitar, harmonica and clarinet stylings to the music of Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, Danny O'Keefe, Iain Matthews and many others. In addition, his recording credits include Jerry Garcia, Crazy Horse, Wendy Waldman, John David Souther, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, several major films, television shows and much more. In his early years, he learned from the masters, not through recordings but by accompanying them on tour and gaining his musical knowledge face to face, one on one. His teachers and departed friends include Johnny Shines, Bukka White, Earl Hooker, John Lee Hooker, Sippi Wallace, Magic Sam and Shakey Jake.

Intermediate - Guitars Welcome

The joy you can get exploring and discovering exotic tunings is undeniable, but my goal in this workshop is to demonstrate to the current generation of fingerstyle guitarists the advantages of arranging and playing in standard tuning. Using blues and ragtime licks and chord progressions along with some basic chord theory we’ll examine traditional finger style with its steady bass line and syncopated melodies. Depending on the level of who signs up we can get into moving bass lines and alternative chord positions up the neck. I’ll show how certain licks can be used for many songs in different keys and tempos and we’ll work on finding and keeping a nice groove. Time permitting, we can explore how to apply what we’ve learned to traditional open tunings where the guitar is tuned to the notes of a major triad. Please bring instruments.

Acoustic guitarist Dale Miller was born in Washington D.C. in 1944. He started playing guitar during the “folk boom” of the late 1950s. After hearing John Fahey in the mid 1960s, he began to specialize in solo steel string guitar playing. Throughout the 1970s he toured the world and was the best selling American based artist for Kicking Mule Records. In the 1980s he left the road and became part owner of a small guitar shop in San Francisco. He sold his interest in 2000 and has been playing on stage more frequently since then. One of his 1970s LPs has been reissued on CD and he has recorded two critically acclaimed CDs on his own Dale Miller Productions label. In 2006 he contributed the lead off tune to a John Fahey tribute CD on Tacoma Records - the label Fahey founded. Miller has applied traditional finger style techniques to everything from country blues to opera arias. Many professionals cite him as a major influence.

Intermediate - Guitars Welcome

John will demonstrate how to perform percussive ideas on an acoustic guitar using a modified housepainter’s paintbrush and other unique ways of approaching the instrument. Tuning such as DADF#AD and DADFAD will be demonstrated with related compositional progressions. Alternating two-finger scale exercises, tremolo and thumbpick versus thumb examples will be explored. Melodic development and dynamic contrast within performance is discussed. John will also reveal his unorthodox three-stroke rasgueado technique. All levels--guitars welcome. Recording devices okay.

Veteran guitarist John Danley of Nashville is releasing his 7th CD “Amber Dispositions” on the West Coast. Danley is an accomplished composer who remains a regular contributor to National Public Radio, television and film. He has appeared alongside such notables as Reese Wynans, Iris DeMent and David Gray. Dubbed “Best Guitar Hero” by the Nashville Scene 2002 and described as having “a vision of music that is startling and brilliant” by the Nashville Rage, Danley plays an original blend of acoustic fusion derived from classical, flamenco, folk, experimental and jazz genres.

All levels - Guitars Welcome

Looking to add some more interest to your own arrangements and performances? Bill will present a two part workshop on developing a more dynamic style of your own that reflects your musical influences. He will spend the first part of the workshop demonstrating some of the techniques that he has learned and developed along the way, and will discuss how they drive his own writing and arranging skills. Some examples: 1) moving your bassline beyond “1 and 3” & other common patterns 2) combining syncopated and interesting bass lines with melody smoothly 3) dissecting arrangements to understand counterpoint 4) “guitarcussion” and other special effects for subtle interest.

After these discussions, Bill will use the second half of the workshop as a “master class”. This format will allow selected participants to perform one of their own arrangements or compositions, and receive feedback and ideas in front of a supportive group. Interested participants should bring their guitar. Recording devices welcome. If possible, send a mp3 or recording of the particular tune to Bill prior to the festival for him to study. Bill will offer ideas on technique, composition and arranging in three 20 minute sessions.

"... An amazing touch, killer tone and a sense of taste that can't be beat." -Vintage Guitar Magazine

Applauded by critics and guitar enthusiasts alike for his composition, tone, emotion and smooth "multi-part" style, Tennessee guitarist Bill Mize is a past winner of The National Finger- style Guitar Competition at The Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas. Bill's music is featured on the Grammy-winning recording, Stellauna, as well as popular guitar compilations Windham Hill Guitar Sampler by Windham Hill Records and Masters of the Acoustic Guitar by Narada Records. His original music is difficult to peg, but has been described as varying from delicate Appalachian highland melodies to greasy Memphis grooves.

Intermediate - Guitars Welcome

The guitar is one of the first instruments in Argentinean tango where the role of the guitar was to accompany singers and other instrumentalists. This workshop will concentrate on solo Tango playing (as opposed to ensemble playing) and will serve as an excellent introduction to this beautiful music.

From the Netherlands, Kay Sleking initially started his musical training in classical guitar, but his passion for Tango music inspired him to take lessons from the Argentinean tango guitarist Coco Nelegatti. He also took lessons from (among others) the tango guitarists Edgardo Acuna and Cesar Angeleri in Buenos Aires. He later became the first Tango guitarist to graduate from the Rotterdam Conservatory. Soon after his successful graduation (he received the ESSO prize for young musical talents), Kay Sleking became closely involved with the Argentinean Tango department of the Rotterdam Conservatory as a teacher. Kay Sleking has performed with musicians Leo Vervelde, Victor Hugo Villena, Julio Cobelli, Nestor Vazand Alfredo Marcucci in Europe. In February 2006 he performed on the prestigious tango festival in Buenos Aires and released his solo CD ´Guitarra Y Tango´.

Intermediate/Advanced - Guitars Welcome

  Performance and Interpretation: Giving your compositions and arrangements that final polish.
Using examples from his own compositions and arrangements, Grammy® Award-Winner Ed Gerhard will demonstrate techniques that will give your compositions and arrangements that final polish. Ed will focus on the basics, like tone, timing, phrasing, dynamics and critical listening with a healthy dose of philosophy and humor thrown in.

From sold out tours of Japan to festivals in Italy, Ed Gerhard's music has touched concert audiences all over the world. Gerhard stands out among instrumental performers for his ability to captivate audiences of any size with a combination of virtuosity, generosity and humor distinctly his own. Performing on 6-string, 12-string, slide guitar or Hawaiian Lap Steel, Ed blends musical intensity with a sly sense of humor. His distinctive touch is unmistakable. Whether performing a lush, sensual ballad or a haunting, bitter lap steel melody, Gerhard will mesmerize an audience with a song, crack them up with an improvised joke then have them lost in the depths of the next piece before they know it. Gerhard's eight releases are applauded both for the beauty of the music and for their superb, audiophile quality. The Sounding Board says of his latest release “Sunnyland,” “This highly anticipated new release delivers with flying colors. Each track resonates beautifully with crystal clear perfection." His music has been featured in the Ken Burn’s film Mark Twain. Gerhard has recently been awarded the coveted GRAMMY® for his inclusion on the compilation CD “Henry Mancini; Pink Guitar.” It won Best Pop Instrumental Album of the Year. He arranged and performed Moon River. He tours extensively in the USA, Europe, Japan and Korea.

All Levels - Guitars Welcome

In this workshop, students will work on their bluegrass flatpicking skills by learning a traditional fiddle tune and its rhythm accompaniment. Emphasis will be on producing a pleasing tone and smooth rhythm. Intermediate to Advanced level. Please bring your instrument.

Grammy-winning guitarist Scott Nygaard was an editor at Acoustic Guitar magazine for more than eight years. He has written more than 100 lessons and articles for Acoustic Guitar, Play Guitar!, Strings, and Guitar World Acoustic; has taught guitar at music workshops from Fairbanks to Finland, is the author of the Stringletter Publishing/Hal Leonard book Bluegrass Guitar Essentials and has recorded an instructional DVD, Bluegrass Lead Guitar, for Stefan Grossman’s Guitar Workshop. He has performed and recorded with Tim O’Brien, Darol Anger, Chris Thile, Jerry Douglas, and many others, and has released two solo albums, No Hurry and Dreamer’s Waltz (Rounder). He currently performs and records with Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings, Chris Webster, the Anonymous 4, and the Scott Nygaard Band. He can be found on the Web at www.scottnygaard.com and www.myspace.com/scottnygaardguitar.

Intermediate/Advanced - Guitars Welcome

In this workshop, participants will learn how to expand their fingerstyle playing with alternate tunings and “extended” techniques. The foundation of the class will be about showing the common territory between various tunings (including Drop-D, DADGAD, D-Minor, G-Minor, Gsus4 [“Orkney”], etc.) as well as how they relate to standard tuning. Students will leave the workshop with a greater understanding of how to apply their existing knowledge of the fingerboard to alternate tunings. Teja will demonstrate these concepts with specific excercises and several of his original compositions (which will be supplied in TAB and notation). Several of these examples also include non-traditional guitar techniques, such as two-handed tapping, behind-the-nut string bending, and percussive passages, which will also be discussed. While the workshop is ideal for intermediate fingerstyle players, it will also be inspiring for beginners, and give new ideas to players of all styles who feel like they’re “stuck in a rut” with their own playing. Bring your guitar and a tuner.

Teja Gerken is Acoustic Guitar magazine’s Senior Editor, and he has been playing the guitar ever since he got a Framus steel-string for his sixth birthday. An active participant in the Bay Area acoustic music scene, he has shared the stage with players such as Alex de Grassi, John Renbourn, Laurence Juber, and Peter Finger, as well as with his mentors, Duck Baker and Peppino D’Agostino. Teja frequently performs in Europe, and he hosts a monthly acoustic guitar showcase at San Francisco’s Bazaar Café. Teja’s two CD's, "On My Way" and "Postcards" have received critical acclaim. He can be found on the web at www.tejagerken.com, www.myspace.com/tejagerken, and www.youtube.com/user/tejaguitar.

All levels - Guitars Welcome

This workshop will look at incorporating bass lines into your guitar playing. This will be especially useful for funk, jazz, bluegrass and singer / songwriter accompaniment. Various exercises for the thumb and plectrum will be highlighted. Often what seems an incredibly complex bass line is actually very simple. It’s where you put the bass that matters most. The key is to learn a little independence, step by step. Intermediate level. Please bring your instrument.

“Nigel Gavin is one of New Zealand’s musical treasures. The eccentric range of his musical projects is matched only be his astonishing virtuosity with stringed instruments and his prodigious musical imagination. Guitarists will be simply astonished by the technique on display here. Nigel’s finger-picking is so fast, so smooth, and so laden with sudden virtuoso explosions that it is damn near impossible to work out either what he’s doing, or how he’s doing it.”

Tauranga Weekend Sun

Intermediate - Guitars Welcome

If you're tired of playing the same alternating bass inspired tunes and arrangements, this is a don't miss opportunity. Critically acclaimed guitarist Rick Ruskin, will conduct a seminar/clinic on the "Other Side" of Fingerpicking. Rick will demonstrate and explain how to set aside the typical clichés that have long been associated with the acoustic guitar in order to get to the heart of how to make one guitar emulate an R&B or pop track. Anyone capable of fingerpicking the simplest melody can benefit from this program. Participants are encouraged to bring instruments, tape recorders and lots of questions.

Rick Ruskin has been playing and producing since the early 70's. His discography spans over 20 releases beginning with his first album on the Takoma label. He tours the United States regularly and performs locally in Seattle often. Rick runs a full service recording studio, Lion Dog, where he produces and records his music and others. He's a frequent contributor to magazines such as Fingerstyle Guitar and Frets.

All Levels - Guitars Welcome

Do you love the playing of Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy, Son House or Delta and Piedmont blues in general? Unlock the mystery of the right hand in blues fingerpicking. In this workshop designed for the beginning blues fingerpicker, you will learn about playing a constant bass with your thumb over a melody line played with your fingers. First we will learn about “dead-thumb” – playing a single string bass, with melody notes played on other strings. Then we will try an “alternating bass” – a bass that travels between two or more strings. The bass in early blues recordings drove the music with a “chug” and a “bounce” that give the music its special rhythmic characteristics. Participants should have knowledge of first position guitar chords…beyond that just a love of blues and a desire to learn is all that is needed. Beginning to intermediate. Bring thumb and fingerpicks.

Pete Madsen has been a part of the Bay Area music community for over 20 years. His guitar playing is based on the styles of early Blues men such as Robert Johnson and Big Bill Broonzy, but he also incorporates influences from modern fingerstyle players like Leo Kottke and John Fahey. Whether playing old Blues or his own inventive compositions, Pete imbues his music and performances with energy, humor and enthusiasm. A master of slide and fingerstyle guitar, Pete Madsen believes in paying tribute to his roots as well as bringing acoustic guitar music into the 21st century. In addition to recording and performing Pete has published numerous lessons and articles with Acoustic Guitar, Play Guitar and Frets magazines. He has written a chapter on slide guitar in the book, Play Acoustic Guitar, and an entire book devoted to slide guitar, Fretmaster: Slide Guitar, both published by Backbeat Books.

Beginner/Intermediate - Guitars Welcome

Slack key guitar is a folk style that demonstrates the beauty and power of simplicity. Created over 150 years ago by Hawaiian cowboys herding cattle on volcanic slopes, it has endured and grown, inspiring new devotees generation after generation. Now this charming music seems to have transcended the boundaries of its island home, with slack key guitarists blossoming all across the mainland of the United States, in Japan, and in Europe. Fran's mission is to inspire you to become a fan of slack key and to learn to play the style yourself. He'll demonstrate the basic elements of slack key using Taropatch or open G tuning. These will include alternating bass, major chords, harmonized scales, slurs, and harmonics. He'll round off the workshop by teaching a simple but complete slack key song. Tablature will be provided. Beginning level. Bring guitars tuned to DGDGBD..

Fran Guidry is one of the off-island players. He lives in Kaleponi (California) and is devoted to slack key guitar. He has studied and performed with some of today's foremost slack key guitarists, including Patrick Landeza, Dennis Kamakahi, and Ledward Ka`apana. Veteran slack key artist Kevin Brown of Maui says of Fran, "His slack key playing is straight from the "Heart " and that is the key that unlocks this soulful music we know as Ki ho'alu."

Beginner - Guitars Welcomes

             This workshop will cover the business of acoustic music and the performing arts in the U.S., and is geared toward self-managed guitarists, represented guitarists, string bands, and agents. Keith will discuss how today’s arts markets are structured, how they really operate, and how to navigate through the illogical and frustrating reality of the music business. Based upon years of experience as a professional musician, Keith will offer advice and guidance to those who are contemplating a career in the music business and cover issues like: understanding the marketplace, knowing your artistic level, business development skills, marketing, and other relevant topics. Plenty of Q&A. All welcome; take notes and/or record lecture. Recording devices okay.

Keith Knight is a 12 & 6 string fingerstyle guitarist, vocalist and mandolinist. His high-energy guitar wizardry is deeply rooted in Appalachian folk, blues and modern fingerstyle guitar genres. For over 15 years Keith has toured, recorded, and lectured across the U.S., and has succeeded in becoming a player in the pinnacle performing arts market. An award-winning guitarist, Keith has performed with Melanie, The Smothers Brothers, Scott Ainslie, Ernie Hawkins and other notables. Keith now resides in the Portland, Oregon area.

All Levels

Nothing causes more frustration to guitar players than a right hand rut. The flip side of this is that nothing energizes the picker more than discovering new right hand patterns that add life and groove to their music. The right hand, after all, is the engine that drives the guitar. In this workshop we will learn about a dozen right hand techniques that are designed to give your playing drive and groove. We will begin with several early intermediate fingerpicking patterns, such as basic waltz patterns, country and folk strums, and Travis picking. We will then move to advanced patterns, such as calypso and percussive palm slaps. This will be a hands on workshop and we will spend lots of time playing the patterns in class. Please bring guitars. Tablature for each pattern will be provided.

Steve Baughman is a rounder records recording artist who has published five guitar instructional books with Mel Bay publications. He appears with Pierre Bensusan and Martin Simpson on the celtic guitar CDs, ‘Ramble to Cashel’ and ‘The Blarney Pilgrim’.

All Levels - Guitars Welcome

Learn the biomechanical principles of guitar technique and how to design technical training programs based on exercise science. This workshop presents a structured approach to the technical training of guitarists, including a basic understanding of the physical movement patterns and related muscle groups. After a discussion of the basic training principles, the sample training program designs will be presented, and a selected group of exercises for fundamental skills in classical guitar playing will be worked on together with the participants. Any level. Bring instruments, notebook, several staff papers, pencil.

Frequently collaborating with other composers, award-winning guitarist/composer Mesut Özgen has long been a strong advocate of new music for guitar. His eclectic tastes, rooted predominantly in traditional and folk musics of the world, have inspired composers to combine avant-garde compositional techniques with traditional tunes and rhythms. His own compositions are mainly based on or influenced by traditional Turkish music. Composers who have written solo, concerto, and various ensemble music for Özgen include Anthony Newman, Anthony Gilbert, Pablo Ortiz, Benjamin Verdery, Deepak Ram, Christopher Pratorius, Robert Strizich, Charles Nichols, Paul Nauert, Yalçin Tura, Jack Vees, and David Cope. His degrees in medicine and music include MD from Hacettepe University, MM and AD from Yale University, and DMA from Arizona State University. Website: http://www.mesutozgen.com

All Levels - Guitars Welcome

This workshop will focus on various aspects of playing solo fingerstyle guitar. It will be geared towards jazz, but the techniques and principles can be applied to many other styles. We'll explore some essential elements of arranging for solo guitar. This includes what to put in and what to leave out, how to get a groove and keep it going, and what to do after you've made it through the tune one time and are wondering what to do next. Often, playing solo can seem like a juggling act. Trying to play melody, chords and basslines simultaneously can be very daunting indeed. By playing a part for while then dropping it in favor of something else, and allowing the listener to fill in the gaps, the guitarist becomes less a slave to the arrangement and more able to play expressively. We'll look at this and at other useful techniques I have found during my many years of playing solo. Intermediate to Advanced level. Bring a recording device if you can.

A stand-out performer from the 2005 Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Mike Wollenberg is a Bay Area guitarist who's main focus for the past 15 years has been playing solo and in small groups. He plays regularly in the Bay Area, and has taught at CCMC music camp. He has two solo guitar recordings.

Intermediate/Advanced - Guitars Welcome

In his workshop, Finger will demonstrate and talk about composing for acoustic guitar, how to work out ideas in a personal way and how to find your own musical language. He will be demonstrating and explaining different guitar techniques in his signature tuning (EBEGAD) as well as introducing techniques for practicing for the best possible results.
"Although there is no shortage of virtuosos in the world of guitar, Finger stands out as a unique talent. Playing an open-tuned steel-string guitar with a set of metal fingerpicks, he presents a musical depth, dynamic range, and rhythmic energy that few other solo instrumentalists can match. Praised for his original compositions (which make up the majority of his repertoire), Finger plays music that would stand on its own without requiring flashy playing techniques, yet it is impossible to not be impressed with his seemingly effortless abilities on the fingerboard . "T. Gerken

Intermediate - Guitars Welcome

Just about any tune or idea that you ever thought of or heard can be played on solo guitar. It’s like solving a puzzle. Knowing what to leave in and what to leave out is the key. We will focus on four issues:
Melody - What is the melody and where should we put it in the texture and on the fingerboard so that it can sing out and we (player and listeners) can be moved by it?
Harmony - How to discover and voice the chords in a way that will support, and not conflict with, the melody.
Orchestration - None of the notes are equal. We’ll talk about how we deal with that on a technical level.
Technique -We will look at many of the tricks that lead to making the music work on our instrument (there are a lot of these to talk about).

Michael Chapdelaine is the only guitarist ever to win First Prize in the world's top competitions in both the Fingerstyle and Classical genres; the National Fingerstyle Championships at Winfield and the Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition. He has composed and arranged ten gazillion tunes for solo guitar.

All Levels - Guitars Welcome

“Bruce Forman is one of the great lights of our age.” Barney Kessel, Jazz Times

“Bruce Forman is a wonderful guitarist; extremely versatile and very musical…a first-rate accompanist and soloist.” Kenny Burrell

Bruce Forman has been featured as leader as well as sideman at most of the prestigious festivals and concert venues throughout the world. His numerous recording and performing credits include the likes of Bobby Hutcherson, Ray Brown, Freddie Hubbard, Richie Cole, Joe Henderson, Barney Kessel, and others. Known for his swinging bop-style phrasing and inventive harmonizations, his ability to work in a variety of settings keeps him in constant demand. His guitar work is featured throughout Clint Eastwood’s Academy Award-winning film, Million Dollar Baby .

Intermediate to Advanced - Guitars Welcome

Mary will share some great tunes from the Piedmont blues genre and show you, as a solo player, how to sound like the entire band. Melodies and the alternating thumb bounce equal syncopation and complete arrangements . Class will work on tunes based on the style of the old masters and possibly an open tunings or two. Audio recording strongly encouraged. Students must read tablature and have experience with basic fingerpicking. Fingerpicks optional. Intermediate players welcome with instruments and recording devices are welcome.

Working in both the intricately syncopated Piedmont finger picking style as well as her own deeply bluesy lap-slide guitar, Mary Flower has garnered praise for her spring water-clear vocals and mastery of multiple guitar styles as well as her beautiful original compositions. With two top-three finishes in the National Fingerpicking Guitar Championship, six critically-acclaimed CDs (Bywater Dance is the latest), and three instructional DVDs to her credit, Flower is a world-renowned singer/guitarist, in demand for festivals, concerts and guitar camps on both sides of the Atlantic. With three decades of music behind her, Mary Flower is a performer in her prime, playing at the top of her game and enjoying every note every step of the way.

Intermediate - Guitars Welcome

For those interested in being the "sideperson", accompanying a rhythm guitarist/singer, we'll discuss and demonstrate some tasteful, and not so tasteful ways of back-up. A little bit of theory may slip in to the mix. The main focus is paying attention and listening to the singer and the song. Our motto: Less is more than enough. Intermediate level. Though this workshop will be primarily a lecture / demonstration, you are free to bring your guitar in case there is time for a few brave souls to play!

After carving a career out of what some might call the shadows, guitarist Nina Gerber is at last beginning to dare the light. Her first album as a leader, Not Before Noon, follows two decades which brought her to prominence without ever placing her name on the front of an album cover. Since her accompaniment of Kate Wolf first earned her recognition, her acute skills as performer, producer and arranger have continued to deepen. Nina has performed and/or recorded with: Nanci Griffith, Greg Brown, Lucy Kaplansky, Mollie O'Brien, Jerry Jeff Walker, Karla Bonoff, Ferron, Rosalie Sorrels, Barbara Higbie, John Gorka, Cheryl Wheeler, Terry Garthwaite, Tom Paxton, and many others. Her soulful enhancement of their music easily explains why several return the favor by appearing on Not Before Noon.

All Levels - Guitars Welcome

This workshop will explore intervals, patterns, and harmonic possibilities in contemporary guitar improvisation and composition. Players will apply the material covered in collaborations with other participants. Bring a guitar and a willingness to play and explore new ideas.

A composer, arranger, and improviser, Patrick Francis holds degrees from Millikin University, San Francisco State University, and Arizona State University, where he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. His teachers include: Frank Koonce, Saul Gropman, Manley Mallard, and Pauline Cormier. Patrick has also perfomed in masterclasses for Manuel Barrueco, David Leisner, Nicolas Goluses, Robert Wolff, Ricardo Cobo, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, and Jakob Lindberg.

Patrick's fondness for collaborative creative efforts have led him to create numerous scores, arrangements, soundesigns for dance, theater, and video, including the original score for the feature film, "Black Eyed Dog." His original works have been recorded by the SFGQ, guitarist Teja Gerken, and guitar and flute ensemble, Duozona. Selections from his clarinet and guitar duo's album "Verdes Años" have been featured on NPR's "All Songs Considered." His original music, lessons, reviews, and articles regularly appear in the pages of Acoustic Guitar, Play Guitar, and Guitar Teacher magazines. Patrick currently teaches privately in San Francisco. His guitar is by Paulino Bernabe.

Intermediate to Advanced - Guitars Welcome

Peppino’s guitar techniques cover a variety of styles –contemporary, acoustic, classical, open tunings and percussive techniques. In performance, you are just as likely to see him playing an egg shaker or a maraca with his right hand and getting notes from his guitar with various left handed techniques he’s developed over the years. Peppino says, “With solo guitar, in my opinion, you really can express all that a guitar can express: bass line, midrange –you’re a mini-orchestra.” In his workshop Peppino will cover guitar techniques, such as fingerstyle techniques for right and left hand, choosing the most suitable fingering, how to improve right and left hand dexterity, chords and scales in open tunings , unusual open tunings, odd time meters, study of a composition in odd time signatures. He will also cover natural sound effects on the guitar such as 2 hands percussion, Brazilian percussion, harmonics cascade, one hand melody, sound box percussion, tapping and upright bass effects.

Peppino D'Agostino is not your conventional steel-string acoustic guitarist. He cannot be pinned down to a particular style. And that's exactly the way the internationally acclaimed virtuoso wants it. The Italian native and longtime California resident's latest project is 'Bayshore Road,' a collaboration with his friend and studio partner, electric guitarist Stef Burns. Released in 2005, 'Bayshore Road' is D'Agostino's latest effort for guitar legend Steve Vai's label, Favored Nations, and it serves as a perfect example of his diversity. D'Agostino's style incorporates both standard and unconventional tunings as well as unique fingering and percussive effects. "I'm not just an acoustic guitar player. I've played with classical and jazz guitarists," D'Agostino says. " I want to stretch the limits of the acoustic guitar in terms of melody, harmony and rhythm, and add percussive effects while addressing those first three elements. Ultimately, my mission is to touch people in a heartfelt way, both emotionally and intellectually”

Intermediate to Advanced - Guitars Welcome

I'll talk about exploring chord voicings, dynamics, and rhythm approaches to flatter song melodies and to create compelling atmospheres for the self-accompanied artist. I'll talk some about tunings and how to imitate the "tuning sound" without using alternate tunings, and how to create tension between melody and accompaniment at the writing stage. Intermediate to Advanced level. Bring a guitar and a recording device.
Kenny Edwards was a founding member of The Stone Poneys with Linda Ronstadt. After a time with the band Bryndle (with Karla Bonoff, Andrew Gold & Wendy Waldman), he returned to work with Linda Ronstadt on her ground-breaking album, Heart Like A Wheel. He subsequently spent many years with her as a sideman, singer, arranger and touring band member. Edwards also became a noted producer and was responsible for masterminding Karla Bonoff's hit albums. He has worked with such other acts as Emmylou Harris, Stevie Nicks, J.D. Souther and Don Henley, Brian Wilson, Warren Zevon, Art Garfunkel, Vince Gill, Mac McAnally, David Lee Murphy, Jennifer Warnes, Danny Kortchmar, and Lowell George. Kenny released his first, self-titled album in 2002. Since then Kenny has been playing shows of his own.

Intermediate to Advanced - Guitars Welcome