Registration is now open to attend the sixth annual Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop that will be held Aug. 30 through Sept. 6 at Flathead Lake Lodge in Bigfork. A professional staff of teaching musicians will be joined by 12 world-renowned guitar artists for this year’s workshop, which focuses on 10 distinct guitar styles offering students a choice of which master artist they would like to learn from. The classes for 2015 are:
“Play with the Masters” with Dweezil Zappa and Shane Theriot. This course is a full six-day program for advanced players. Zappa and Theriot will share their techniques and lessons they have learned with focus on individual playing styles. Grammy®-winner Dweezil Zappa, son of Frank Zappa, is an eclectic artist who plays a mix of rock, blues, jazz, fusion and metal and has 12 albums of his own. Theriot is a performer and composer and Grammy-nominated producer. Currently he serves as Music Director/Guitarist on the TV series “Live From Daryl’s House” featuring Daryl Hall.
“Join the Band – Live N’ Kickin’” with Dennis McCumber. This jam class focuses on live performance and learning how to play with other musicians in all guitar genres. McCumber is a 20-year music teacher based in the Bronx and performs with various rock, blues, and funk bands in New York City.
“Jazz Rock Evolution” with James Hogan. This class highlights the evolution of jazz-rock fusion from the 1960’s-2000’s. Students will learn many common chords, scales, arpeggios, licks and tricks used by fusion masters. Hogan is in high demand as a touring sideman, studio musician, producer, and educator. He has played with a range of diverse artists, from Chaka Khan to the Jacksonville Symphony.
“The Art of Songwriting” with Bret Boyer, with Artists-in-Residence Brett Dennen and Madeleine Peyroux each providing support during the week. Designed for all experience levels, this course will develop a deeper understanding of the components of good song writing. The top-notch team of instructors will provide students with both inspiration and real world experience. Boyer holds a degree in guitar performance has been teaching for 25 years and has five teaching CDs.‘Wild Child’ Dennen’ is a crowd favorite everywhere he performs. Rolling Stone Magazine named him an ‘Artist to Watch’. Jazz singer-songwriter Peyroux has gone from busking on the streets of Paris to great critical acclaim as an artist who explores new ground and takes chances.
“Jazz Guitar Essentials” with Mark Dziuba. This class will focus on the essentials of Jazz guitar accompaniment and improvisation through a tune. Dziuba is a guitarist, improviser and composer. He has performed with a who’s who of jazz, blues, rock, and bluegrass musicians internationally and has taught and performed at workshops for almost 40 years.
“Personalized Rock and Blues” with Jared Meeker. Students will learn the licks and tricks from many of the greatest rock guitarists from the glory days from 1960’s-1980’s. Meeker is a guitar virtuoso, composer, producer and educator, who has performed in venues all over the US. His genres include blues, rock, Latin, reggae, metal, R&B, funk, hip-hop, and soul and has been featured in Guitar Player and Guitar World magazines.
“Brazilian Emerges in Montana” with Romero Lubambo. A select group of students will explore the subtle nuances that distinguish the various genres of Brazilian music, from bossa nova to samba, as well as the intricacies of straight ahead jazz. Lubambo brings together the styles and rhythms of his Brazilian heritage with his fluency in jazz to create a distinctive, exciting new sound. He has performed and recorded with many outstanding artists ranging from Yo-Yo Ma to Herbie Mann. He has established himself as a composer and performer on his own critically acclaimed recording projects as well as on those of Brazil’s Trio Da Paz.
“Classical Guitar Perfected with the LA Guitar Quartet.” The entire LA Guitar Quartet will teach this course focusing on styles, effects and their own personalized techniques. The multifaceted, Grammy-winning LAGQ is comprised of four uniquely accomplished musicians: John Dearman, Matthew Greif, William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant. They bring a new energy to the concert stage with programs ranging from bluegrass to Bach.
“Six Styles – A Style a Day for the Acoustic Player” with Doug Smith. This course offers different acoustic and finger style techniques ranging from flatpicking and strumming to song circles. Smith is a nationally recognized acoustic guitarist who weaves together folk, classical, jazz and contemporary forms into a unique, flowing fingerpicking style. Among his many awards is the prestigious Winfield International Fingerstyle Competition in 2006.
“Beyond Six-String Guitar” with Susan Mazer. This class this class is for both acoustic and electric players, whether you are a beginner or just stuck in the “3-Chord Joe” mode. Individual and small group lesson are featured. Mazer is a highly respected educator, author and performer known for her intricate fingerstyle guitar playing. Her hands-on approach to teaching offers practical and personalized skills.
Additional Artists in Residence who will be in attendance during the week include jazz legend Lee Ritenour and his all-star band who will be back for a sixth straight year; Jon Herington, a jazz, rock and blues maestro who has been the lead guitarist with Steely Dan since 1999; and David Grissom, a blues master who recorded with John Mellencamp, the Allman Brothers and many more. These artists will be featured in special workshop clinics and all will perform onstage at various times for the Crown Guitar Festival.
An early bird registration discount is offered to participants through March 1; a discount is also available to workshop alumni if registered by March 1. To see videos about the workshop from the past five years and to register please visit the website www.crownguitarfest.org or call the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation at 855-855-5900.