Guitar Sessions offers ensembles, classes, and clinics in styles such as blues, metal, jam band funk/fusion, classic rock, contemporary rock, acoustic rock/pop, and jazz, as well as courses in fingerstyle acoustic guitar and courses for the performing songwriter. You'll choose your main style for ensemble work and from there you can branch out in our clinics and jams. At this time, players with a classical background can choose to branch out in a fingerstyle acoustic, jazz, acoustic rock/pop, or songwriting ensemble if they choose to bring their nylon-string instruments. Fretboard classes will be helpful to all students in any style.
Classes during the week generally run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and clinics and concerts take place in the late afternoon and evening. Jam sessions run from 9:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
Every participant's schedule will include a class in each of the following:
- Fretboard harmony: Learn music theory and how it applies to the guitar. The class includes scales, modes, chord voicings, and chord inversions.
- Style: Focus on the specifics in the style of your choosing (such as blues, groove funk, fusion, performing songwriter, classic rock, contemporary rock, metal, or jazz) and explore theory and concepts as they apply to your chosen style.
- Ensemble: Rehearse with other instrumentalists and perform in concert with your group on the last day of the program. Friends and family will not want to miss these performances.
- Visiting artists: Guitar Sessions will host several visiting artists and clinicians during the week. Past programs have included John Abercrombie, J. Geils, Wayne Krantz, John Petrucci, Vernon Reid, and Tommy Emmanuel.
- Jam sessions: Play with a professional rhythm section under the direction of Guitar Sessions faculty members. Diverse musical styles in various venues allow you to learn more about your favorite styles and to stretch your musical boundaries.
