Finding Your Voice: The Basics of Singing for Non-Singers
Something all musicians should be comfortable with.

15 Guitar Tips for Non-Guitarists
Good advice for fledgling guitarists.

Douglas Niedt’s Technique Tip of the Month
June’s tip is about how to properly execute the percussive tambor effect.

Chuck Israels’ Exploring Jazz Arranging
A great resource. Uses the Garritan Jazz/Big Band Library for musical examples.

YouTube: Using the Wii Remote to Control Effects
Wild! This would be a lot of fun to play with!

YouTube: Midsummers Daydream by Rik Emmett and Steve Morse
The 80’s were good decade for the guitar and a bad decade for hair.

Kyle Busch Accepts Lovely Guitar Trophy – Then Smashes It
What an idiot! Warning: Don’t watch the video unless you have a strong stomach.

Lessons will be held as usual June 1 through 27 and August 3 through 29.
That’s eights weeks of lessons. Anyone who prepays for all eight lessons can do so for $120.00 – a 10% discount over my usual rate.

There will be no lessons in July. I’ll be teaching at National Guitar Workshop’s DC and Chicago campuses and trying to regroup for Fall.

Looking forward to teaching at NGW this summer. I’ll be at the Chicago and DC Campuses. – John

Article by Dr. Matthew Warnock via [Modern Guitars]

Founded in 1983 by Dave Smolover, the National Guitar Workshop has since grown from its humble roots in South Kent, Connecticut, to become one of the top guitar workshops in the world. The NGW has built its strong reputation by providing guitarists the chance to study with some of the top names in the guitar world in an educational, though relaxed, environment. Students who attend any of the Workshop’s week-long sessions can expect to spend time everyday in clinics with big-name players, jamming alongside fellow musicians of similar levels and musical tastes, getting one-on-one instruction from a private teacher and basically eating and sleeping guitar the whole time they are there. Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, the National Guitar Workshop is moving forward into its second quarter century by adding a new campus, bringing in legendary artists and adding several new courses that are sure to be hits with students and faculty alike.

Though there are many summer guitar camps and courses offered each year throughout North America, none can compare to the National Guitar Workshop’s wide range of world-class, and often legendary, guitar faculty. The NGW offers students of any genre and background the chance to study with some of the top players in their fields. This summer clinics and classes will be taught by jazz legends such as Pat Metheny and Pat Martino, who will also be giving private lessons; shred masters Herman Li of Dragon Force and perennial favorite Paul Gilbert; blues legends Buddy Guy and Jimmy Vaughn; and Country guitar virtuoso Brent Mason.

Continue reading 'National Guitar Workshop Gears Up for 25th Season'...

Piety Street
A funky new release from John Scofield!

Who is Bob Mover?
“I would have hoped that you would have opted for beauty.”

Adam Rafferty’s How To Play The Music of Stevie Wonder DVD
Looks like a very thorough look at Adam’s great playing and arranging techniques.

Bill Frisell Trio : Jazz Standard, NYC 1.5.2004
Another great show from You Are What You Hear

Interview with Jazz Guitarist and Teacher Sid Jacobs
An insightful interview with one of the leading jazz guitar instructors in the nation.

Pachelbel Rant
One of my students turned me onto this. Hysterical!

Bad Times at Jazz Times
Too bad. I’m sure the future of many such publications are in doubt.

Merete Kenworthy for The Post • Photo by Sara Tobias

Last night, Ernie Bastin directed his last concert at Ohio University.

Two trumpet ensembles, two jazz combos and a jazz ensemble all performed at the concert. Bastin, director of the Ohio University Jazz Ensemble II, is retiring after 40 years at OU.

Bastin taught trumpet, directed Jazz Ensemble I for 30 years and Jazz Ensemble II for the past two years.

The concert began with a surprise trumpet ensemble honoring Bastin, who has been playing trumpet for 62 years. The ensemble was comprised of OU alumni who were all taught by Bastin.

Michael Parkinson, director of the Ohio University School of Music, will take over Bastin’s post next year. Parkinson said he met Bastin in the early 1970s while he was a director at Kent State University.

“I heard of his great reputation, and I knew that he was a tremendous musician,” Parkinson said.

The jazz ensemble started off their part of the concert with the piece “Easy Time” by Humberto Ramirez. Bastin said he especially enjoys this piece because the dancers feed off the musicians and the musicians feed off the dancers who are having so much fun.

“I’m surprised I didn’t see some of you dancing in the aisles,” Bastin said.

Jazz Ensemble II alto saxophone player Billy Foster said Bastin is the best band director he has ever had.

“He knows how to keep the rehearsals lively,” said Foster, a freshman studying music education.

Foster had his first solo last night during the salsa piece “Dancing Eyes” by Mike Tomaro. He said he was nervous but also excited because the solo went very well.

A member of two local bands, Bastin said he will still be quite busy after retirement.

“So, I’m officially retired, but it won’t be that much different,” Bastin said.