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Deposits: When you pay your nonrefundable deposit of $200, we will send you a coupon code for a free one year subscription to the Guitar College Library. This deposit will hold your spot until March 1, when your balance is due. Paypal, or credit card may be used for your deposit and/or balance. Balance payments are refundable until 3-1-25 when any remaining balance is due however if your plans change we would like to know as soon as possible so we can fill your spot.
Requirements: The group will be divided into 3 teams from intermediate to advanced, determined by playing, reading and improvisation ability as well as past workshop participation. Each team will be working on 3 songs. For more information regarding requirements and levels got to http://www.guitarcollege.net/prerequisites.html.
Songs: Each level will have 3 songs to work. We will be working on one song each day, Monday – Wednesday, in the classes and playing them that night at the Live Playing Workshop/Jam Sessions. A list of the songs with lead sheets we will be working on at the workshop along will be emailed months before the workshop. If you haven’t received them by then please contact us. For more information regarding songs and levels got to http://www.guitarcollege.net/workshopsongs.html.
Location: The workshop is held in Oakhurst, CA at the beautiful Evergreen Conference Center (ECCO). This comfortable lodge and breathtaking Sierra scenery makes the perfect setting to focus on just guitar. Located in the beautiful central California Sierra Mountains, approximately 50 miles north of Fresno and 10 miles south of the entrance of Yosemite National Park.
Private Rooms: These rooms are single level with two beds and a private bathroom. (See Rooms)
Semi-Private, Split Level Double Rooms: Each of the double rooms is two levels with beds both in the loft and on the ground level with one bathroom on the ground level. Each person has their own private area for sleeping, dressing, and to keep their belongings. Bring a friend, share a room, and save $500. each over the private room pricing. If not, we will make every effort to match you with a compatible, friendly roommate. (See Rooms)
Motor Homes: If you would like to stay in your own motor home or trailer there is an area at the workshop location available with hook ups. Your $1299.00 price includes all your camp site, hook ups, meals, classes and jam sessions.
Offsite Lodging: If you would live locally or would like to stay off site you can still participate in our workshop. Also once all of our ECCO rooms are booked up we can give you a list of local hotels just email us at guitar@sti.net. Your $1299.00 price includes all your meals, classes and jam sessions.
Meals: Your tuition includes all your meals during the workshop. Buffet style meals begin with dinner on Sunday, breakfast, lunch and dinner Mon-Thurs, and end with breakfast on Friday morning prior to departure. Meals are served at specific times and you must be in the dining hall during that time to get your meal or it is forfeited. If you have any special dietary needs please contact us by May 15, so we can accommodate them.
Travel: If you are flying in, the closest airport is the Fresno/Yosemite International air terminal (i.d. code=FAT). You can rent a car for sightseeing or you can make arrangements at http://www.YARTS.com* to get up to the Oakhurst (about an hour away). For previous workshops, some flew into Sacramento, San Jose, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland or L.A. and rented a car to drive over and also to do some additional coastal sightseeing (approx. 3-6 driving hours away). There is an Amtrak train station and Greyhound Bus station in Fresno as well. From the airport, train or bus station you can rent a car (if you want to sightsee.) *There is a Yosemite area summer tourist bus (running May -Sept) going to Oakhurst several times daily where ECCO is located. The bus picks up several times a day. Go to http://www.YARTS.com for the current schedule. 3pm Sunday is Check in time and 9am Friday is check out time at the facility.
**To get the best airfare, some participants fly in the day before and stayed in Fresno airport hotels the prior night and take the bus up the next day. On departure, some have stayed Friday night at a Fresno airport to get an early Saturday flight.
Recital/Concert: On Thursday you will break into performance groups to woodshed a tune or two and rehearse for the evening concert held at a local venue. Performance in the concert is encouraged but not mandatory.
Spouses: Bring your spouse along for only $500.00 more than the single occupancy rate. $2699.00 includes the room and meals for both you and your spouse but workshop classes for only you. This includes your spouse's lodging and meals if your spouse is not attending classes. At this price we encourage you to bring your spouse to get out of the house and out of town for a few days! Besides just relaxing in the beautiful peaceful, surrounding environment there are many great things to do in the area like visiting breathtaking Yosemite National Park, beautiful Bass Lake, the majestic Mariposa Grove giant redwoods, Chukchansi Gold Casino or maybe enjoy a local day spa or antique shop in Oakhurst. Many spouses enjoy hearing the live play workshops in the evening and they make a great encouraging audience to perform for. If your spouse is a guitar or bass player and will be attending classes too, the price is $2999 per couple, a big savings over two double workshop reservations.
Workshop Updates: This web page will be updated with anything added or changed. If you have registered for the workshop be sure we have your correct email address and telephone number to keep you updated. You can join our Yosemite Workshop Alumni page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1581443505400952/ to communicate with other alumni and stay in the loop.
Class Details: Class discussions include theory, technique, comping, soloing, single note & chord melody, improv, reharmonization, bebop & jazz stylings, octave playing, chord substitutions, soloing over changes & more.
The level of the workshop classes will be intermediate thru advanced. Guitarists will be split into 3 groups, with some classes being level specific.
PDFs of the tunes we will be playing are available to download months prior to the workshop.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE
We typically have about 30 students including bass players. We divide into 3 guitar groups and rotate classes with 3 guitar instructors so you usually work with each instructor each day. The bass players work with their own teacher, Todd Johnson, who also does a guitar workout with everyone in the morning and one class with guitar players over the week. And of course everyone participates in the evening jam together.
Sunday, Arrival Day
3:00 Check In begins
4:00 Welcome Reception
5:00 Goal Setting /Practicing w/Todd
6:00 Dinner
7:00 - 9:00 Concert /Jam Session
Monday, -Wednesday
8:00 - Breakfast
9:00 - Workout with Todd
10:00 - Guitar/Bass Song Session
11:00 – Guitar/Bass Specific Class
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Group Song Practice Session
2:00 - Break
3:00 - Switch Class- Guitar with Todd/ Bass with Rich
4:00 - Break
4:30 - Rehearsals for jam
5:30 - Break
6:00 - 7:00 Dinner
7:00 - 9:00 Live Playing Workshop
Thursday,
8:00 - Breakfast
9:00 - Workout with Todd
10:00 - Group Song Practice Sessions
12:00 - Lunch
1:00 - Group Song Practice Sessions
2:00 - Break
3:00 - rehearsal
4:00 - Break
4:30 - Pack up for gig
5:30 - Dinner
6:00 - Set up for gig
7:00 - 9:00 Live Concert/Performance
Friday,
8:00 Breakfast
9:00 Pack up
10:00 Departure for home or airport
Each day will include classes, breakout sessions with one of the instructors and a practice session. Every evening we'll have a time to jam, share ideas and discover other styles at a Live Play Workshop, playing with two or more guitars, bass and drums. It's a real “Hands on” experience working with a hot rhythm section.
You can choose which classes to attend or attend them all, it's up to you! You can take a break for practicing, student jams, visiting, relaxing, napping or just hanging out when you choose.
WORKSHOP SONGS - Our workshop is song oriented, we use jazz tunes to teach jazz concepts and styles allowing the students to perform the tunes at the evening jams. The guitar players will be divided into 3 groups. The groups or teams will be determined by playing, reading and improvisation ability as well as past workshop participation. Each level will have 3 songs to work on. You will be working on one song each day, Monday – Wednesday, in the classes and playing them that night at the Live Playing Workshop. On Thursday you will break into performance groups to woodshed a tune or two and rehearse for the concert held that night at a local venue. Performance in the concert is encouraged but not mandatory.
For the list of past songs go to http://www.guitarcollege.net/workshopsongs.html. New songs will be posted by 2-15-25.
