Above: NGW students Mike, Russ, and Duncan ham it up for the camera!

Participating in National Guitar Workshop continues to be one of the most renewing and exhausting (only because I never get enough sleep!) experiences I have each year. This year I was lucky enough to wrangle a teaching gig at the McLean, VA campus which is the closest NGW campus to home. I had a really great time teaching, hanging out, and taking in some great music.
Continue reading 'Reflections on National Guitar Workshop VA 2009'

National Guitar Workshop
A few links related to last week’s NGW in McLean VA

Jeff McErlain Plays “Highlands” at NGW VA 09
A beautiful tune, and some beautiful tones from that strat!

Jeff McErlain Interview In Premier Guitar
An interesting look behind the scenes of August Rush.

Sacred Geometry – Simplifying the fretboard with Pat Martino
This was the handout that went along with Pat Martino’s presentation.

Benedetto Guitars
Benedetto CEO Howard Paul visited us on Wednesday with a carload of guitars.

Angus Clark Plays “Manic Depression” at NGW VA 09
Angus taught the Real Guitar Heroes seminar.

Alex Skolnick Official Website
Alex Skolnick dropped by on Tuesday and discussed his work.

Tobias Ralph
Tobias coached rhythm section classes and was generally funny as hell.

These are the 100 essential folk songs as voted by Folk Alley listeners. A good list for developing student repertoire.

1. This Land is Your Land – Woody Guthrie
2. Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan
3. City of New Orleans – Steve Goodman
4. If I Had a Hammer – Pete Seeger
5. Where Have All The Flowers Gone – The Kingston Trio
6. Early Morning Rain – Gordon Lightfoot
7. Suzanne – Leonard Cohen
8. We Shall Overcome – Pete Seeger
9. Four Strong Winds – Ian and Sylvia
10. Last Thing On My Mind – Tom Paxton

11. The Circle Game – Joni Mitchell
12. Tom Dooley – The Kingston Trio (Trad)
13. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
14. Who Knows Where The Time Goes – Sandy Denny
15. Goodnight Irene – The Weavers (Trad)
16. Universal Soldier – Buffy St Marie
17. Don’t Think Twice – Bob Dylan
18. Diamonds and Rust – Joan Baez
19. Sounds of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel
20. The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – Gordon Lightfoot

21. Alice’s Restaurant – Arlo Guthrie
22. Turn, Turn, Turn – The Byrds (Pete Seeger)
23. Puff The Magic Dragon – Peter, Paul and Mary
24. Thirsty Boots – Eric Andersen
25. There But For Fortune – Phil Ochs
26. Across The Great Divide – Kate Wolf
27. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band (Robbie Robertson)
28. The Dutchman – Steve Goodman
29. Matty Groves – Fairport Convention (Trad)

30. Pastures of Plenty – Woody Guthrie
31. Canadian Railroad Trilogy – Gordon Lightfoot
32. Ramblin’ Boy – Tom Paxton
33. Hello In There – John Prine
34. The Mary Ellen Carter – Stan Rogers
35. Scarborough Fair – Martin Carthy (Trad)
36. Freight Train – Elizabeth Cotton
37. Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
38. Paradise – John Prine
39. Northwest Passage – Stan Rogers

40. And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda – Eric Bogle
41. Changes – Phil Ochs
42. Streets of London – Ralph McTell
43. Gentle On My Mind – John Hartford
44. Barbara Allen – Shirley Collins (Trad)
45. Little Boxes – Malvina Reynolds
46. The Water is Wide – Traditional
47. Blue Moon of Kentucky – Bill Monroe
48. No Regrets – Tom Rush
49. Amazing Grace – Odetta (Trad)

50. Catch The Wind – Donovan
51. If I Were a Carpenter – Tim Hardin
52. Big Yellow Taxi – Joni Mitchell
53. House of the Rising Sun – Doc & Richard Watson (Trad)
54. Kisses Sweeter Than Wine – The Weavers
55. Tangled Up In Blue – Bob Dylan
56. The Boxer – Simon and Garfunkel
57. Someday Soon – Ian and Sylvia
58. 500 Miles – Peter, Paul and Mary
59. Masters of War – Bob Dylan

60. Wildwood Flower – Carter Family
61. Will The Circle Be Unbroken – Carter Family
62. Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound – Tom Paxton
63. Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills Nash & Young
64. Deportee – Woody Guthrie
65. Tecumseh Valley – Towns Van Zandt
66. Mr. Bojangles – Jerry Jeff Walker
67. Cold Missouri Waters – James Keeleghan
68. The Crucifixion – Phil Ochs
69. Angel from Montgomery – John Prine

70. Christmas in the Trenches – John McCutcheon
71. John Henry – Traditional
72. Pack Up Your Sorrows – Richard and Mimi Farina
73. Dirty Old Town – Ewan MacColl
74. Caledonia – Dougie MacLean
75. Gentle Arms of Eden – Dave Carter
76. My Back Pages – Bob Dylan
77. Arrow – Cheryl Wheeler
78. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
79. Eve of Destruction – Barry McGuire

80. Man of Constant Sorrow – Ralph Stanley (Trad)
81. Shady Grove – Traditional
82. Pancho and Lefty – Townes Van Zandt
83. Old Man – Neil Young
84. Mr. Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
85. American Tune – Paul Simon
86. At Seventeen – Janis Ian
87. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
88. Road – Nick Drake
89. Tam Lin – Fairport Convention (Trad)

90. Ashokan Farewell – Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
91. Desolation Row – Bob Dylan
92. Love Is Our Cross To Bear – John Gorka
93. Hobo’s Lullaby – Woody Guthrie
94. Urge For Going – Tom Rush
95. Return of the Grievous Angel – Gram Parsons
96. Chilly Winds – The Kingston Trio
97. Fountain of Sorrow – Jackson Browne
98. The Times They Are A Changing – Bob Dylan
99. Our Town – Iris Dement
100. Leaving on a Jet Plane – John Denver