Community Weblog - [ Alumni Artists ]

- Ron Stavale  [ 3/8/2009 - 21:13 ]   #

- Mark Hawks  [ 4/26/2006 - 14:59 ]   #

From Alex de Grassi:

We are pleased to announce that Alex will be offering one three-day intensive guitar workshop at the Laurel Mill Lodge in Los Gatos, California.

The workshop will be on July 21-23 and will begin Friday morning at 11 a.m. and end on Sunday at 5 p.m. The Lodge is situated in a secluded spot among the redwoods along Soquel Creek in the heart of the Santa Cruz mountains. There is a large conference room, two smaller practice rooms, large decks and lawns and several outbuildings in a rustic, park-like atmosphere.

The Workshop

The workshop will focus on performing, arranging, and composing for acoustic fingerstyle guitar. Alex will share his insight into the techniques and inspiration that have become an integral part of his unique style.

Dynamics, phrasing, tone, polyrhythms, right/left hand technique, cross-string technique, extended techniques, and alternate tunings will be covered in a very hands-on approach. This is an interactive workshop designed to improve your playing and ability to arrange music for guitar, whether you are an instrumentalist or a singer who uses the guitar as accompaniment.

The workshop time will be divided into three parts:

1. A master class where students will perform before the group for constructive critique and feedback;
2. Exercises/demonstration where Alex will demonstrate and teach excerpts from his own compositions and arrangements;
3. One-on-one time with participants focusing on individual players' needs and interests. The one-on-one time will allow other participants time to prepare, practice, and share ideas.

Evenings after dinner will be devoted to informal performances, jam-sessions and free time.

Players of all backgrounds are welcome, but should be intermediate to advanced fingerstyle players. The workshop is limited to 12 participants. Each participant should be prepared to perform one piece in the master class and another piece informally with the group and/or during the one-on-one session with Alex. You should arrive prepared to play:
1. A composition or arrangement by a known composer or fingerstyle performer, or an original composition;
2. An original arrangement of a theme to be assigned by Alex at the time of registration.

The ability to read music is not required, but Alex will be handing out music and written exercises in tablature and standard notation, so some experience with one or the other will be a plus. These will include new materials specifically designed for the 2006 Summer Guitar Workshop.

Fees and Registration

This workshop will run from 11 a.m. on Friday, July 21 until 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 23. The fee is $600 per person, and requires a $300 deposit for registration. The fee includes the workshop and meals (Friday lunch through Sunday lunch). To register for the workshop, please reply to this notice with the following information or signup and get info online:

Please visit Alex's website for a complete listing of the workshop details http://www.degrassi.com/workshops.html

Contact Jessica at jessica@degrassi.com / 707-485-1083 for additional questions.

- Mark Hawks  [ 7/9/2005 - 23:23 ]   #

It's been a great past few weeks for new CD releases from our alumni artists.  Stephen Bennett has just released a disk of Beatles acoustic guitar solos.  On the disk he features 15 Beatles arrangements played with many different types of guitars.

The Beatles for Acoustic Guitar
Now available - A Hard Day's Night, All My Loving, Hey Jude, Yesterday, In My Life, Maxwell's Silver Hammer, If I Fell, Penny Lane, Blackbird, Eight Days A Week, Hello Goodbye, Here, There and Everywhere, Strawberry Fields Forever, Something, All You Need Is Love

www.HarpGuitar.com

- Mark Hawks  [ 6/30/2005 - 13:00 ]   #

I just got the new LJ CD called "One Wing".  On this disk LJ covers a number of "Wings" tunes.  There are some really cool arrangements.  From LJ's website:

A follow-up to Laurence's smash, "LJ Plays the Beatles", this CD features Laurence's amazing fingerstyle arrangements of popular Wings tunes, such as "My Love", "Live and Let Die", and "Silly Love Songs"

The titles, all in DADGAD tuning unless indicated, as they appear on the album: 

Band on the Run (drop D tuning)
Another Day (standard tuning)
Jet
My Love
Every Night
With a Little Luck
Maybe I'm Amazed
Silly Love Songs
Listen to What the Man Said  (CGDGAD tuning)
Coming Up
Arrow Through Me  (standard tuning)
Live and Let Die  (CGDGAD tuning)
Mull of Kintyre

You can buy it from AMR's website:
http://www.acousticmusicresource.com/

- Mark Hawks  [ 6/21/2005 - 00:15 ]   #

- Jeb McIntyre  [ 4/4/2005 - 01:26 ]   #

- Jeb McIntyre  [ 3/16/2005 - 10:56 ]   #

Trinity House Theatre and the Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society are joining together to present an evening with Michael Gulezian, Friday April 1, 2005, on the intimate Trinity House Theatre stage.

You may not recognize him by name but Michael Gulezian (gu-LAY-ze-in) is one of the most highly acclaimed solo acoustic instrumental guitarists of our time. He is a phenomenal technical guitarist with the rare ability to transcend his own virtuosity, creating music that moves people.

We are excited to partner with the Trinity House in Livonia to present this fine show. More Info: Click Here

- Jeb McIntyre  [ 3/16/2005 - 10:52 ]   #

Post Concet Update: Erika Luckett is definitly a Fingerstyle guitarist! She's as good or better than any of the artists we've hosted to date, and an amazing singer as well. Highly recommended.

Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society board member Jeb McIntyre is hosting a house concert for Erika Luckett On Friday April 1st. While not strictly a fingerstyle guitarist, singer songwriter Erika Luckett's guitar playing is extraordinary. This should be a great concert.

- Jeb McIntyre  [ 3/16/2005 - 09:17 ]   #

Stephen Bennett in Concert

5/14/2005   (8:00 PM - 10:00 PM) Location: First United Methodist Church 22331 Woodward Avenue Ferndale, MI 48220  Stephen Bennett in Concert. May 14th Workshop May 15th While less well known than some of our artists, Stephen Bennett is one of the finest guitarists playing today. His music is evocative, melodic, subtle and complex. His Beatles covers are amongst the best ever done, while his origional compositions are equally extraodinary. His technique is flawless, and his stage presence is delightful. He's one of those rare artists who's equally appealing to both the sophisticated fingerstyle guitar player and their grandmothers. Whether playing his great-grandfather's harp guitar, his 1930 National Steel or a standard 6-string, Stephen Bennett is a guitarist to hear. His playing has won awards and critical praise. In live performance and on record, his diverse musical influences and interests are joined with a three decade long love affair with the sound of guitar strings. For guitar players, Stephen's workshops are amongst the very best we've ever hosted. He is simply a brilliant teacher. Moreover, he teaches creativity as much or more than technique. Everyone who attended his last workshop bumped their playing more than a notch! His workshops are suitable for all levels of players. For more information about Stephen please visit his website at: http://www.harpguitar.com

- Mark Hawks  [ 2/18/2005 - 00:11 ]   #

I ran across this the other day.  It's a website that features weekly acoustic performances.  Many of our alumni artists have performed on their stage.  They've archived a large number of shows which are all accessable as streaming audio or video in some cases.  Of interest you'll find Tommy Emmanuel, Kaki King, Pete Huttlinger, Muriel Anderson, California Guitar Trio, Thom Bresh and too many others to list.  On Feb 21st Don Ross will be performing.  Be sure to tune in and catch the show.

Here's a link to the archives:
http://www.woodsongs.com/showlist.asp

- Jeb McIntyre  [ 2/14/2005 - 11:08 ]   #

The "Pink Guitar" Album won a Grammy this year for best Pop Instramental Album. If you don't have it, we urge you to get it. We are particularly excited because some of the very best tracks are from some of our alumni performers. List of tracks is provided below, and our alumni are highlighted. Of particular, Ed Gerhard, on of the performers, is our 2005 kick-off artist, performing March 12th, and Laurence Juber will be with us in October. Al Petteway should be joining us again in early 2006. Also, Pat Donohue will be performing at MAMA's coffee house on March 19th. Check our calandar for more information.



In addition, Will Ackerman, who should be joining us in early 2006, won for best New Age Album for his album "Returning".



Both of these awards are simply great news for Fingerstyle Guitar. By the way, our friends and supporters at Solid Air Records producted "Pink Guitar".
A great place to buy both albums is

Acoustic Music Resourses . They offer great selection and service, and are long-standing friends and supporters of the Society.

There's also an excellent book for the Pink Guitar.

		Henry Mancini
		Pink Guitar - Book / Lesson CD
		Pink Panther Theme - Laurence Juber Moon River - Ed Gerhard (from the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's") Days of Wine and Roses - David Cullen It's Easy to Say - Doug Smith (from the movie "10") Peter Gunn - Pat Donohue The Thornbirds Theme - Al Petteway The Sweetheart Tree - Mark Hanson (from the movie "The Great Race") What's Happening - Mike Dowling Charade - Aaron Stang Dear Heart - Wayne Johnson Baby Elephant Walk - William Coulter (from the movie "Hatari") Two for the Road - Amrit Sond

- Mark Hawks  [ 1/8/2005 - 01:34 ]   #

		Thursday April 14, 2005
		Pierre Bensusan
		Show starts at 8 pm Doors open at 7:30 pm
		Buy Online ($17.50)
		Buy In Person
		Seating Chart

This is not an MFGS sponsored concert.  For more information visit the Ark's Home Page.
http://www.theark.org/

- Jeb McIntyre  [ 12/30/2004 - 13:09 ]   #

We are pleased to announce the following acts for the Fall 2005 season:

Sept 17         Muriel Anderson

Oct 8            Laurence Juber

Nov 12         Billy McLaughlin

December 10        Don Ross

Workshops with the artists will be available on a first come first serve basis, with preference to Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society Members in good standing. This is a great chance to learn up close how your guitar hero does what he or she does.

As always, concerts will be presented at:

- Jeb McIntyre  [ 5/24/2004 - 12:01 ]   #