WORKSHOP FOR JAZZ GUITARISTS

The next Rhythm Section Workshop for Jazz Guitarists will be on January 26, 2008.

The idea is to have a solid, professional rhythm section (a drummer and a bass player) backing us up in Trio and/or Quartet situations. This will give the participants an opportunity to play with supportive, experienced musicians.

Here's the story: I hire a drummer and an upright bass player for the afternoon. Those guys are all busy professional musicians who play with me and with various other bands throughout the bay area. It means that the students get constructive criticism not just from me, but also from the bass player and from the drummer. Each one has valuable comments to offer, and it has always made the experience worthwhile for all the students who have attended in the past. I tend to get different musicians helping me for each workshop, so that the points of view get varied.

I hope you realize that this is a very special kind of workshop: having 3 professional musicians play with you and share their experience! The only other way for a student to play with such musicians would be to gather the nerve to go to a public jam session-- but there is no time in such a context to get things worked out. Most other workshops will have you play along with student drummers, student bass players, etc... and you have to deal with everybody's limited experience.

Some of you often tell me: "oh, but I'm not experienced enough to participate in one of those". Well, this is exactly why we are having those workshops: so that you might gain more experience playing with other musicians!

I also would like to emphasize the fact that our workshops are a *friendly & safe environment* unlike the situations encountered at most jam sessions in bars or clubs... no one will make fun of you, cuss at you, yell at you, or throw a cymbal or a drumstick at you!!!

Everyone just picks 3 or 4 tunes that they feel comfortable with and that they would like to play with the band-- in Trio or Quartet format (if you want me playing chords for you) and we will take it from there.

We will work on soloing, comping, and trading fours/eights with the rhythm section-- basically covering all aspects of playing in a group situation.

Some of the questions addressed will be:

- How do I comp for another instrument when the bass lines are already taken care of?

- How do I comp for the bass player?

- How do I present the melody when there are no other chord-players behing me?

- How do we end the tune?

It will also give you a chance to meet other guitar players.

Please contact me as soon as possible if you would like to sign up for the next workshop: THERE WILL ONLY BE ROOM FOR 4 GUITAR STUDENTS so that each one gets enough time to play and work out their tunes with the rhythm section!!!

Keep in mind that even when there are 4 students in the room, everybody benefits from all the comments and general critique. The topics addressed are generally for everybody's perspective, and not exclusively for the student who just played.

Price is: $75 per student (to be paid in advance). This fee will be non-refundable 3 days before the workshop.

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