Second annual Pacific Luthern University Guitar Festival, featuring PLU guitar faculty members Elizabeth CD Brown and Dr. Stephen Howland, alongside guest faculty Don Mock (jazz guitar) and Gary Burgess (classical guitar), and guest jazz performers Courtney Fortune (vocals), Nate Omdal (bass), Brian Dennis (guitar), and Brandt Parke (guitar).

Designed for guitar enthusiasts of all levels, this festival will feature Jazz, Classical and Flamenco Guitar workshops and concerts, as well as an exhibition highlighting regional guitar builders.  Festival participants will have the opportunity to perform with the PLU Guitar Orchestra, with music available in advance.

The festival takes place at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA.  Festival Registration, which includes admission to all events, is $60 (General) and $30 (Seniors & Students, Middle School and older).  Information: 253-535-7787 or:  http://www.plu.edu/music/guitar%20festival/home.php

Preferred Registration Deadline is Thursday, February 1 (Postmark date) and the first 50 registrants will receive a complimentary set of D’Addario strings.  To register either mail in a form with payment: http://www.plu.edu/music/guitar%20festival/documents/registration-form.pdf or call the PLU Music Office to register with a credit card:  253-535-7602  (open business hours, closed noon-1:00)

Nancy King and Paul Meyers come to SJGS

Nancy King and Paul Meyers come to SJGS

What a better way to start off the new year than participating in an educational clinic that’s bound to provide deeper understanding of accompaniment … hosted by NYC based guitarist Paul Meyers and iconic vocalist Nancy King from Portland, OR.

It’s a duo clinic, or actually a group lesson.  After a brief introduction guitarists and vocalists will split off into separate rooms for instrument specific instruction and coaching.  Both groups will then re-band and practice together in a hands-on way.

Paul will discuss workable intros and endings.  Examples of both will be written in the hand out so that you can review these afterward and develop ideas of your own.  Paul will also include examples of comping to give you an idea of the many ways of backing up a singer … or another instrumentalist.  To meld theory with practice, attendees will study a well known composition and develop the first 8 measures in several ways illustrating a range from traditional to more modern comping/thinkingPaul will also present written examples of solo styles using 1. only single notes; 2.single notes with chords interspersed; 3. chords with single notes interspersed; and 4. only chords.

This clinic represents a wealth of education in a single sitting over 2-1/2 hours for less than a single 1:1 lesson.  Because it is a hands-on group class and not a lecture, seating will be purposefully limited to 10 attendees for each instrument group.  SJGS members $25 [non-members $30] prepaid in advance and due to the SJGS latest by Saturday 07 January.

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For photos, check our Facebook photo album, here.

Mimi Fox will conduct a special clinic focusing on the art of creative comping. For guitarists wishing to improve their playing behind/with other guitarists, vocalists, bassists, horn players, pianists etc this is a “must attend” event.

Why study comping with Mimi Fox? Well, she also happens to be an excellent drummer. So guitar+drums=rhythm … a terrific combination for extending one’s knowledge of comping.

During the course of the two hours, Mimi will cover key aspects of comping including rhythm, walking bass lines, modal comping, 4 to the bar “Freddy Green” style, Latin/Brazil ideas and several modern styles with their interjection of color notes/substitutions.

Mimi Fox teaches "Creative Comping" for SJGS

Mimi Fox teaches "Creative Comping" for SJGS

Mercer Island Community Center, 11am-1pm

Keith Ganz

NYC-based guitarist Keith Ganz will present his ideas for “comping in a vocal or horn Duo plus fretboard freedom when it’s your turn to solo.”  $20 SJGS members & $25 non-members.

Keith Ganz is well known for his guitar chops and experience as a vocal accompanist.  His credentials include choice stints with Harry Connick Jr., Kurt Elling, Luciana Souza, Peter Eldridge.  Keith’s most recent collaboration with Kate McGarry received a 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Keith in town backing our own Jazz ambassadress Kelley Johnson who’s home now after her whirlwind tour for the US State Department. 

Here are some videos featuring Keith you might enjoy:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoAM2ZINnNg
• http://kcrwmusicnews.vox.com/library/video/6a00e398a7497d0001011016667b45860c.html
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rioz1yAPdfE

Sign up, below.

Reserve your spot now:

John Stowell

 Two guitarists playing together is a long standing tradition in the Jazz world.  It’s also a great way to learn, share and enjoy making music with another like-minded SJGS-er.  Freshly off the road with fellow Swedish guitarist Ulf Bandgren, Mr. Stowell will present ideas for us to explore and incorporate into our own Duo guitars playing situations. This will be a hands-on clinic where participation is encouraged although not required.

$20 SJGS members; $25 non-members.

RSVP through the SJGS event sign-up form below.

Reserve your spot now:

Click here to see and hear John and Tim Lerch playing duos on youtube!

Gene Bertoncini

Gene Bertoncini will teach an all-day intensive “master class”.

Reserve your spot now:

Jon Hamar is one of Seattle’s first call bassists…and no wonder: Master’s from Eastman. Flawless technique. Composer. Band leader. Exquisite choice of notes.  http://www.myspace.com/jonhamarmusic
Part of our gig as guitarists is to back up others and developing bass lines is a portion of our tool chest. What better way to learn about creating strong bass lines behind another instrumentalist or vocalist than from a bass player…and then one of Jon’s caliber?
Jon will begin by covering essential walking bass accompaniment methods, starting from connecting root notes and gradually advancing through melodic devices that define chords and extend scale harmony.

All those attending will come away with strong hands-on knowledge of the fundamentals and then some, ready to apply them at the very next playing opportunity.
Attendance for SJGS members is only $20 and $25 for non-members.

Visit his website at http://www.jonhamar.com

Location: Roberts Music Institute, 13417 N.E. 20th St Bellevue WA 98005-2014. (425) 614-4764

Time: 1PM, $25 (includes copy of Don’s new book)

Here’s an excerpt from a review of Don’s book titled “Mastering the Dominant Chord“:

Discover why the study of dominant 7th chords will offer you the “keys to the kingdom” for truly understanding the workings of music. This one magical little chord gives music it’s movement, energy and tension. Knowing how dominants work will also greatly improve your dealings with other chord types including major and minors. 

 Pictures from the event.  Click on thumbnails to get med-size version, and then click again to get 1024×768 photos.

Don Mock clinic, Oct 2009

Don Mock clinic, Oct 2009

Sunday September 20, 2009.

1-3 PM, Mercer Island Community Center

Tony Beaulaurier is a Puget Sound area native and earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in music from Central Washington University. In addition to his private teaching studio, he also has experience instructing at several regional community colleges. Classes taught at the collegiate level include music theory, history of rock music, history of jazz, introduction to music, jazz improvisation, class guitar and class piano.

On a performance level, Tony has performed in a variety of jazz, rock and classical ensembles. He currently performs with his jazz trio and as a solo classical guitarist.

Tony Beaulaurier, "Sight Reading for Jazz Guitar"

Tony Beaulaurier & students

Tim Lerch on Strategies for Solo Guitar: Arrangement and Improvising Ideas.

“We have a little orchestra sitting in our laps yet we are often limited by technique and imagination as to how to get the most out of it. Since we spend much of our playing time alone, we owe it to ourselves to explore the possibilities of solo performance.”

This clinic will explore some of the many strategies for solo guitar arranging and improvisation such as Texture variation, Counterpoint, Inner voice movement, Rhythmic variations, Time feel, Re harmonization and Modulation.

Maybe you have some tried and true approaches that you would like to share. Sometimes a simple idea that we overlook can open up lots of possibilities.

As always, please RSVP if you are planning to attend so that our clinicians can adequately prepare for attendance.

Here’s a group photo.  Thanks to everyone who attended!

Tim Lerch "Solo Guitar" clinic, group photo