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Workshops:
Playing the Music You
Hear in Your Head
* Ear training – a return to
LISTENING
* Breaking playing/writing habits
and getting out of musical ruts
* Connecting you directly to your
own music
* Melodic vs chordal thinking –
escaping the tyranny of the chord
* Music Theory: separating the
wheat from the chaff
The Guitar as Greek Chorus
* The fine art of accompanying
yourself
* The fine art of accompanying
others
* The delicate art of ensemble
playing
* Song circle etiquette
* The guitar as surrogate band
Songwriting
(Disclaimer: Excellent books and workshops are available by fine
songwriters such as Steve Gillette and Bob Franke, among others, which
steer you toward the basic structure of songs. My workshop will cover
topics that don’t always get discussed in conjunction with creating
songs.)
* Songwriting from the Right-brain –
even for Left-brainers
* Trusting your experiences,
observations, and instincts
* Step away from that guitar!
* The rhythm of words
* Melody: exploring uncharted waters
or drawing from the well
* Fishing from the stream of
consciousness
THE GUITAR AND THE SONGWRITER...
....will consider every aspect of the guitar in the songwriting process - from initial ideas to finished performance. Special emphasis will be upon the "Guitar As Greek Chorus": as accompanist, inspiration, commentator, colorist, comforter, crutch, and as equal partner in songwriting. Although our point of departure will be "The Song", musicians who aren't songwriters may also benefit - as may songwriters who use other instruments, such as mandolin or piano. We'll discuss how and when the guitar can even hinder the songwriting process, as well as how it can add melody, counter-melody, and "glue", which can sustain and propel a song. The development of "relative pitch" - an essential for players as well as writers - will be discussed. Our starting point will be gentle analysis of songs written (or in progress) and presented by attendees, although the group's size and the time allotted will determine whether or not every participant's song can be considered. Bring your guitar and your song - or just bring your ears and a desire to further your understanding of music.
Fingerpickin’
* Anything you choose to do to get
the sounds you want is right
* Focus on melody and bass-line –
de-emphasis on chordal thinking
* How to draw the music out of your
strings
* The pick: an interesting tool for
the fingerpicker
* The guitar as surrogate band |