Beatles, Wings and 6 Strings       

Laurence Juber

Friday, August 12 • 10:30 AM-12:00 PM

Juber demonstrates his approach to arranging and composing for solo fingerstyle guitar. Drawing on his celebrated arrangements and compositions, he addresses such areas as melody, bass, register, texture and sonority, as well as the use of altered tunings and takes a fresh look at standard tuning. Performances, Q&A and a look at LJ's signature Martin guitar all serve to make this an entertaining guitaristic experience.

Laurence Juber is a two-time Grammy award-winning fingerstyle acoustic guitarist, also known for his electric work as lead guitarist in Paul McCartney's Wings. Juber has released 14 critically acclaimed solo albums which feature his celebrated arrangements of popular tunes and genre-crossing compositions. He recently released the highly anticipated "LJ Plays the Beatles Vol. 2." He was voted "Guitarist of the Year" by the readers of Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine and named one of the top acoustic guitar players of all time by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. A dynamic, entertaining performer and an accomplished clinician, LJ brings his passion for the guitar to venues around the world, creating a multifaceted performance that belies the use of only one instrument.

LAURENCE JUBER performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Friday at 5:00 pm.

Percussive Techniques,
Open Tunings,
Now What Do I Do?                    

Vicki Genfan

Friday, August 12 • 12:30-2:00 PM

This class is for those players who have been working with percussive techniques and open tunings, and now want to apply them to actual song composition and arranging. Vicki will review techniques from her instructional DVD, '3D Acoustic Guitar', such as bass note slapping, harmonic tapping and body percussion. This part will be 'hands on'. From there she will discuss and demonstrate the composition possibilities using these and other 'alternative techniques' that you may have in your bag of tricks. The workshop will focus on musicality, originality, and–depending on the interests of attendees–accompanying a vocalist.

Every now and then an artist comes along whose music reaches out and touches the soul of all who hear them; virtuoso guitarist, singer and composer Vicki Genfan is among those artists. Drawing from folk, jazz, pop, soul and world music, Vicki is redefining ‘singer/songwriter culture’ with a mastery of the acoustic guitar that borders on pure alchemy. Audiences are mesmerized by the waves of sound she creates with just two hands and her voice. Vicki Genfan has been recognized among the world’s greatest guitarists and musicians at festivals such as The International Montreal Jazz Festival, Germany’s Open Strings Guitar Festival, Italy’s Soave Guitar Festival, and The Healdsburg Guitar Festival–as well as at venues and Performing Arts Centers across the US and abroad. In 2005 she was one of the featured artists on 'La Guitara', the first compilation CD featuring female guitarists from around the globe, released by Vanguard Records. In 2088 she won Guitar Player Magazine's 'Guitar Superstar' competition. With several additional ground-breaking recordings behind her, Vicki continues to reach beyond musical borders and into new territory. “I understand completely why the audience applauds and whistles so wildly...this is fiery, living music." - IndieMusic.com

VICKI GENFAN performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Friday at 3:00 pm.

Everything You Know Is Wrong

Stevie Coyle

Friday, August 12 • 12:30-2:00 PM

A provocative workshop title, to be sure, and while at least slightly hyperbolic, Stevie will make you a believer that many "things that everybody knows" about guitar playing, guitar instruction and performing - though persistent - are flat-out wrong, and slow us all down.  Come get a free wrong-ectomy.

Stevie Coyle is a fingerstyle guitarist and singer-songwriter, arguably best known as the former front man of whizbang string band The Waybacks.  His resumé is preposterous, highlighting stints in film, television, stage, commercials, print, voiceover and circus. Along with four albums with The Waybacks, Stevie has recorded and released Ten-In-One, a good old-fashioned concept album, produced by Walter Strauss, and featuring Mike Marshall, Philip Aaberg, Kit Walker, Kendrick Freeman, Sam Bevan, Corinne West, Teresa Tudury, Rich DePaolo, Rachel Tree, Mike Phelan, Nick Weber and Robbie Virus. Stevie's gone feral and solo now, and tours internationally.

STEVIE COYLE performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Friday at 4:00 pm.

Arranging Songs for Solo Guitar,
Some Fingerboard Mapping
and A Little Theory

Kinloch Nelson

Friday, August 12 • 2:30-4:00 PM

The concept is simple enough: melody + chords = song.  Making the result musical is maybe another subject entirely, but we can at least analyze the necessary components and frame them within the constructs of the guitar fingerboard.  Playing techniques and ways to simplify will be emphasized.  This workshop will present: 1. Chord components and their relationship to scales and melodies.  2. Using the five primary chord shapes and the octave grid as the foundation for rendering chords, and framing melodies. 3. Points of Reference: position markers and the octave grid, open strings, tuning positions and octaves, harmonics placement, scale layouts both across and along the fingerboard. 4. Horizontal & Vertical: the linear aspects of fingering in melody and chord motion. 5. Strategies for what key to play in.  Keeping the melody on top of the chord. Keeping the melody within reach of the chord.  6. Choosing a song that works on the guitar. Taking the next step.

Kinloch Nelson began playing guitar for fun in 1956, seriously in 1968 and professionally since 1973. Born in 1950, Nelson grew up during the tail end of the jazz era, the high point of the broadway-to-the-movies musicals, the heyday of AM radio and the beginning of 'underground' FM radio. The ever expanding music scene of these years served as the backdrop to Nelson's guitar explorations, and the foundation to a 40 year performance career in folk, rock, R and B, country, jazz, classical music, and American fingerstyle guitar.

KINLOCH NELSON performs in the Sonoma Vallley Garden on Friday at 12:00 pm.

Home Recording
For Acoustic Guitarists

Doug Young

Friday, August 12 • 2:30-4:00 PM

In this workshop we’ll take a practical look at how guitarists can produce high-quality recordings at home. Whether you want to release a CD, share recordings with friends, or add better sound to your You Tube videos, it's possible for solo guitarists to get results that rival professional studios and that truly capture your music and guitars at their best, even if you're working in your living room or a corner in a spare bedroom. Focusing on solo or mostly solo guitar, we’ll look at the gear you need, from the simplest approaches to more complex setups, talk about creating an acoustically-suitable place to record, and look at techniques from mic placement to editing and mixing, recording sound for video, strategies for capturing your best performance, and more.

Doug Young is a San Francisco Bay Area fingerstyle guitarist, composer, and home recording enthusiast. As a contributing editor for Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Doug has written about recording, reviewed guitars and other gear, and interviewed many of today’s leading guitarists. He is the author of the best-selling Mel Bay instructional book, "Understanding DADGAD for Fingerstyle Guitar." Doug enjoys recording himself and others in his home studio.

DOUG YOUNG performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Friday at 1:00 pm.

Intro to Gypsy Jazz                             

Dave Ricketts

Friday, August 12 • 4:30-6:00 PM

Gypsy Jazz is the sound of Django; the sound of Paris during the war. It is also a style learned by doing a lot of jamming with other guitarists! In the workshop we will explore the art of learning phrases (and transposing them into all the keys). We’ll look at the different rhythms of gypsy jazz (bossa, bolero, samba and swing) and how to project your sound over the rhythm players and still get your ideas out. This class will offer either an introduction to the world of gypsy jazz, or if you have already been enjoying this style, it will offer another day in the work we all do to live up to the virtuosity of Django Reinhardt and his Manouche descendants. We will also touch upon Django's influences from the Great Jazz Age of America in the 1920's, giving students of this style a better understanding of the roots of Gypsy Jazz.

Dave Ricketts is leader of the popular San Francisco/New York band ‘Gaucho’. He has released 4 CDs as bandleader and has written many songs in the gypsy jazz style, 3 co-written with the wonderful NYC vocalist Tamar Korn. Ricketts was the first artist signed to the Porto Franco Record Label in San Francisco and has 2 CDs out with them: ‘Deep Night’ and ‘Pearl’. He has endorsements through National Guitars, Dell Arte Guitars, Saga and Godin Guitars. Ricketts has a degree in classical guitar from University of New Mexico where he studied with Michael Chapdelaine. He has performed and recorded with Ralph Carney (Tom Waits), David Grisman, Dan Hicks, John Jorgenson, Andreas Oberg, Leon Oakley, Nicki Parrot (Les Paul), Robin and Kevin Nolan among others. He is currently ready to record his fifth CD of original songs for Gaucho and is wondering what to order for lunch.

DAVE RICKETTS performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Friday at 12:30 pm.

Choosing A Luthier-Built Guitar

Michael Watts

Friday, August 12 • 4:30-6:00 PM

Michael Watts lives and breathes for fine guitars! In this engaging and often humorous talk Michael explores the process of choosing a luthier-built instrument from the player's point of view. From deciding the purpose of the new guitar, making initial inquiries to builders, choosing materials and designs, the player-luthier relationship and the build process itself through to final delivery and the first concert with the instrument; each part of this wonderful journey is examined in detail.

Michael Watts is an award-winning fingerstyle guitarist based in the UK. Known for his exquisite touch and the depth of feel and colour in his playing. He is regularly invited to demonstrate the work of the world's greatest luthiers at shows around the world. A former winner of the "Acoustic Guitarist of the Year" award, Michael is also an aficionado of the very best of modern lutherie and has a depth of knowledge and experience using fine guitars on stage and in the studio.

MICHAEL WATTS performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Friday at 2:30 pm.

Appears courtesy of The North American Guitar

 The Secret of
Alternate Tunings Revealed             

Ken Bonfield

Saturday, August 13 • 10:30 AM-12:00 PM

In his workshop "The Secrets of Alternate Tunings Revealed" Bonfield will take you through the maze of possible tunings and share a system by which you will learn to take advantage of the myriad possibilities alternate tunings create.  Focusing on today's most popular tunings: DADGAD and its relatives DGDGAD and CGDGAD, Bonfield will use the CAGED system to show guitarists how to make use of information they already know as well as teach the major scale formula and basic chord theory to show guitarists how to use the entire fingerboard in alternate tunings. Bring a guitar, a tuner, notebook, pencil, and an open mind. Nylon guitars are okay, but may have to be tuned up.

"Ken Bonfield is one of the best guitarists recording today, possessed of technical chops, sincerity and passion, and a poet's sense of beauty in his composing."  Bill Binkelman, Wind & Wire. Ken has focused on writing original instrumentals for acoustic guitar primarily using alternate tunings, as well as modifying instruments, like his high-string guitar, or having Alan Carruth create custom guitars like the baritone guitar created for his album Whistlin' Past the Graveyard and just recently an 11 string harp guitar that he will have at this year's festival.

KEN BONFIELD performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Saturday at 4:00 pm.

Spice Up Your Playing /
Looking Into Different Approaches  

Steve Wildey

Saturday, August 13 • 10:30 AM-12:00 PM

Steve's music can be summed up as energetic, thoughtful, and diverse. His style covers a wide range from traditional Chet Atkins to Slo-mo blues. Whether using a thumb pick or more of a hybrid style with a flat pick and his fingers, he is able to create solid chordal movement with enough tension to keep you coming back for more. On stage Steve is witty and engaging - always connecting with his audiences. He was the winner of the 2005 Fingerstyle competition in South Florida and he runs a small shop there selling higher end instruments, mostly solo builders. He has been playing a Mark Blanchard guitar for years and has 2 recordings available to date. A Healdsburg Guitar Festival favorite, Steve returns with over 30 years experience as an excellent facilitator and teacher.

The workshop will focus on triads, linear and cyclical chord playing, using drop 2 chord voicings for starters. We will look at using a traditional blues format to implement some moving chords. I'll take a look at using a thumb pick and flat pick and where some of the directions can go in those styles. Guitars are welcome, note books are a must. Printed materials will be available. Intermediate level of playing will be assumed.

STEVE WILDEY performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Saturday at 2:30 pm.

Chops, Licks, Knuckles and Stuff                              

Richard Gilewitz

Saturday, August 13 • 12:30-2:00 PM

In this class there will be a brief introduction to Fingerstyle guitar and its ability to span the genres.  A classical study by Richard's own teacher, David Walbert, will demonstrate how a simple 3- finger picking pattern can create an entire piece with a melody in the bass. A simple and popular folk tune will be offered and will include players on literally all levels with the advanced players picking the entire tune, intermediate players playing just the melody, and beginners strumming, tapping or clapping out various rhythms. An introduction to 12 Bar Blues will be included as an example of simple variations in picking patterns and rhythms.

Recognized in the international field as a musician who composes and performs a kaleidoscopic mixture of instrumental selections, Richard forges a unique voice to include the expanse of his influences. His complex and energetic original works become stories told by the 6 and 12-string guitar, with a musical style that ranges from classical, folk, blues and the traditional. His use of banjo style picking patterns, classical arpeggios, tapping and harmonics, as well as a rhythmic and percussive approach, brings a fresh impression to the listener. According to 20th Century Guitar Magazine, "A powerhouse of eclectic guitar styles and genres, Gilewitz wears his influences well.”

RICHARD GILEWITZ performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Saturday at 3:00 pm.

Ways to Develop a Practice Regimen
That Gives Great Results

Peter Janson

Saturday, August 13 • 12:30-2:00 PM

Many guitarists practice a lot but still don’t see the progress they are hoping for.  Workshop attendees will learn some basic techniques and strategies (and some advanced ones) they’ll need to get better results out of their practice sessions.  A random small number of attendees will be asked to play excerpts of songs that they play well, and also excerpts of something they are struggling with in order to help demonstrate specific examples.  Right-hand fingerstyle practice patterns designed to build relaxed control and independence will also be covered.  All levels of fingerstyle and flat-pickers are welcome, and hoped for!  Tab reading or standard notation reading helpful but not necessary.

Considered a "gifted acoustic fingerstyle guitar player" (Dirty Linen), Peter Janson's brand of American Fingerstyle music brings world-class solo guitar playing to the concert stage. Reminiscent of American Folk guitar, Celtic guitar, and American Roots music his original and compelling contemporary style is filled with artistry, superb technical mastery, and heartfelt passion. He's shared stages with a variety of acoustic artists including his American Guitar Masters partner Larry Pattis, guitar luminaries Alex de Grassi, Ed Gerhard, Dakota Dave Hull, and Chris Proctor, contemporary fingerstyle players Tim Farrell, Ken Bonfield, and Steve Davison and many more... With critical acclaim such as "perfection... highly creative," "a true artist's soul," and "perhaps the leading contemporary fingerstyle guitarist today" there's no doubt he has bridged a gap bringing together the every-day music fan with die-hard guitar fans. Peter Janson's recordings have been winners of “Best Contemporary Instrumental Album,” “Best Instrumental Album – Acoustic,” and “Album of the Year” from the NAR Lifestyle Music awards.

PETER JANSON performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Saturday at 4:00 pm.

Shortcuts to Understanding
Chord Flow and Progression

Todd Hallawell

Saturday, August 13 • 2:30-4:00 PM

This enlightening workshop is for all skill levels and is designed to give the student a clearer understanding of the natural flow and progression of chords and will explore how applying different harmonies and bass lines can lead to more interesting guitar arrangements and compositions.

Todd Hallawell is one of those musicians who feels at home with just about any style of music.  This is primarily due to his broad musical exposure growing up, but also due to the many hats he has worn during his musical career.  Since receiving a performance degree in classical guitar, he has worked as a music teacher, composer, arranger, recording engineer, music producer, editor and record label owner.  But through the years, he has inevitably returned to performance – and with good reason.  When music critics describe Todd’s playing, their comments seem to have a common thread:  "...The elocution, the execution, and the inherent musicality of this artist's work becomes immediately apparent... Hallawell is a player's player...with a seemingly effortless dexterity, he articulates notes as such, without the artifacts of effort... - Minor 7th   ...Hallawell attacks his steel-strings with the precision of John Williams and punch of Jerry Reed...an extraordinary fingerpicker"  - Guitar Player Magazine    "What tone ... what sound ... what touch." - Frets Magazine

TODD HALLAWELL performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Saturday at 12:30 pm.

Innovative Techniques for
Fingerstyle/Classical Guitar

Evan Hirschelman

Saturday, August 13 • 2:30-4:00 PM

Evan Hirschelman will give an in-depth exploration into a variety of tapping, slapping, and percussion techniques. He will give exercises, helpful tips, and compositional studies to practice. This workshop is based off his book "Acoustic Artistry".

Heralded by the Los Angeles Times for "technical wizardry” and by the Malibu Times for “soulful musicality”, guitarist Evan Hirschelman brings a fresh perspective and creative energy to his playing style. His own compositions reflect a fusion of musical influences. Evan’s composition "Lament and Wake" is featured on the Grammy® award-winning recording LAGQ's Guitar Heroes. His debut recording “Water in Darkness” and his book “Acoustic Artistry” (Hal Leonard) were recently released to rave reviews. Circa Guitars released an EH Signature Model steel-string acoustic guitar, one of the first steel-string guitars developed for classical players. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Evan resides in Los Angeles, where he divides his time between composing, performing, and teaching music. He has trained scores of guitarists, teaching at the Musicians Institute and Citrus College, in addition to running a thriving private studio. He resides on the web at www.theguitarist.net.

EVAN HIRSCHELMAN performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Saturday at 5:00 pm.

Classical Crossover:
Advanced Right Hand Techniques              

Giacomo Fiore

Saturday, August 13 • 4:30-6:00 PM

Learn to unlock the full expressive potential of your picking hand, including classical and flamenco techniques such as rasgueados, tremolo, rest stroke, various forms of pizzicato, and advanced harmonics—all of which can be applied to steel string/fingerstyle playing. The workshop will also discuss some ergonomics considerations, setting guidelines to develop the most efficient and injury-free way to use your hands.

Originally from Genova, Italy, Giacomo Fiore decided to cross the Atlantic to pursue his musical dreams in 2003. Equally at ease in fingerstyle, world music, and contemporary classical settings, this young artist has performed across the United States and Canada, as well as in Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, and Italy—highlights include the Acoustic Guitar Festival in Sarzana and the Mediterranean Guitar Festival in Cervo, Italy, as well as prestigious concert series such as Old First Concerts in San Francisco and Trinity Chamber Music in Berkeley, California. Giacomo has released two independent recordings, Tones from an Open Heart (2005) and Genteel (2009), and is currently working on his third album—a selection of masterpieces from the modern guitar repertoire, to be released in 2011. A graduate of Belmont University (Nashville, Tenn.) and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Giacomo is currently working towards a Ph.D. in Musicology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

GIACOMO FIORE performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Saturday at 12:00 pm.

Appalachian Guitar in DADGAD Tuning                                       

Al Petteway

Saturday, August 13 • 4:30-6:00 PM

DADGAD tuning is a modal tuning closely related to the “Mountain Modal” or “Sawmill” tuning used on banjo for Appalachian tunes. In this workshop, Al will demonstrate his unique approach to playing this compelling style of music on fingerstyle acoustic guitar.  Attendees will learn some valuable techniques that will allow them to take the most advantage of the tuning in a couple of key positions and even get close to the sound of a “clawhammer” banjo.

Grammy and Indie Award-Winning Guitarist Al Petteway has played nearly every type of music during his long career.  His compositions for acoustic fingerstyle guitar are strongly influenced by his love of Celtic and Appalachian music and his own roots in folk, rock and blues.  Al's distinctive playing can be heard on dozens of CDs, a handful of instructional DVDs, and a number of film soundtracks. In 2009, his music was featured prominently in the soundtrack of Ken Burns' Emmy Award winning film "The National Parks - America's Best Idea."  Al was voted #27 in the list of the Top Fifty Guitarists of all Time by the readers of Acoustic Guitar Magazine and he won Silver and Bronze medals in the Fingerstyle and Celtic categories of the magazine's Player's Choice Awards.  Al is the Guitar Week coordinator for the world famous "Swannanoa Gathering" music camp at Warren Wilson College near Asheville, N.C. and plays the audio and video demos for DreamGuitars.com when not touring with his wife and musical partner Amy White.

AL PETTEWAY performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Saturday at 1:30 pm.

Classical Techniques
for Steel-String Players

Teja Gerken

Sunday, August 14 • 10:30 AM-12:00 PM

This workshop will focus on elements of the classical guitar that will help steel-string fingerstyle players become more technically proficient and introduce them to a few pieces of the repertoire that are fun to play and easy to tackle. Teja will discuss and demonstrate classical right and left-hand approaches, ergonomic considerations, and tone production. Part of the workshop will be spent looking at a few pieces of music that not only sound great on steel-strings (both in standard and alternate tunings), but which are also useful in learning about classical compositional forms, sight-reading skills, and a fingerstylist’s command of the instrument. This workshop will be ideal for intermediate players, and it includes several handouts in both standard notation and TAB.

Fingerstyle guitarist Teja Gerken has been playing ever since he got a Framus steel-string for his sixth birthday. An active participant in the Bay Area acoustic music scene, he has shared the stage with many of today’s top players, he has toured with the International Guitar Night, and he hosts two monthly acoustic guitar showcases. Teja’s two CDs, On My Way and Postcards, were released to international acclaim and are available on iTunes and CD Baby. Teja has also been a member of Acoustic Guitar magazine’s editorial team since 1997, and he’s currently a Senior Editor.

TEJA GERKEN performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Sunday at 3:30 pm.

Jazz Chord-Melody Techniques

Paul Asbell

Sunday, August 14 • 10:30 AM-12:00 PM

Guitarists often think of their instrument as having 2 separate functions–playing chords, or playing melodies– or “rhythm” and “lead”. But pianists don’t regard their instrument in that way– they do both … SIMULTANEOUSLY. Guitarists can, too … ya just gotta know HOW! In this 1½ hour workshop, veteran pro guitarist Paul Asbell shows how to develop chord-melody skills–starting with basic songs like Greensleeves, proceeding to familiar Beatles songs like Yesterday, continuing through swing and jazz standards, and extending to cover Coltrane, Mingus, and Chick Corea compositions. Topics covered and level will vary depending on who shows up–but will likely include swing-style chord forms, chord substitution concepts, bass-line comping, jazz harmony and terminology, and complex chord building skills and theory. Some jazz experience is helpful. Many handouts and worksheets will be provided, using both conventional and TAB notation and chord diagrams… so you'll have plenty of material to work on for months afterwards. Video and/or audio recording encouraged.

Paul has performed and recorded with numerous legends of jazz, blues, and folk, including Jon Hendricks, Bobby McFerrin, Betty Carter, James Carter, Sonny Stitt, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Joshua Redman, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Howlin' Wolf, Otis Rush, Magic Sam, John Lee Hooker, David Bromberg, Paul Siebel, Rosalie Sorrels, Mary McCaslin, former student Trey Anastasio, and countless others. He has taught guitar for over 35 years, at Dartmouth College, St. Michaels College, Skidmore College, and presently teaches at University of Vermont and Middlebury College.

PAUL ASBELL performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Sunday at 2:30 pm.

Compositions and Arrangements       
for Fingerstyle Guitar                             

Antoine Dufour

Sunday, August 14 • 12:30-2:00 PM

Antoine Dufour's perspective and approach to composition, arrangements, techniques and open tunings are covered in this workshop about basic and advanced techniques for modern untraditional fingerstyle guitar. Dufour breaks down and analyzes his own compositions on the acoustic guitar to show students the technique and tools needed to improve writing skills, and express musical ideas. How to choose a good guitar to fit your playing style will also be on the menu. Questions and discussions are more than welcome!

Antoine has toured across Canada, the UK and several times in the USA with other artists such as Don Ross and Andy McKee. He has performed at major festivals (such as The Montreal International Jazz Festival), won first place at the Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Championships, placed third at the internatonal fingerpicking championships at Winfield (USA) and has held seminars, workshops and masterclasses as part of his tour schedule.

ANTOINE DUFOUR performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Sunday at 5:00 pm.

Crossing Musical Borders
on Fingerstyle Guitar                             

Peppino D'Agostino

Sunday, August 14 • 12:30-2:00 PM

Fingerstyle virtuoso Peppino D'Agostino is a global citizen who has absorbed many musical influences. In this workshop, Peppino guides you in both arranging and composing for steel-string guitar by exploring styles, techniques, and rhythms from Latin America, Italy, and elsewhere. Inspired by these beautiful melodies, you learn to support them with intelligent harmonies and powerful grooves, incorporating practical guitar techniques such as string bending, percussion and slide, open tunings, and bent harmonics. Peppino also examines some of his original material closely, providing you with insights on the creative process of composing and arranging.

Peppino is known for his dynamic and mesmerizing performances covering and blending folk, Irish, Italian, Brazilian, flamenco and jazz traditions. A musician who has received immense critical recognition, his 2002 album "Every Step of The Way" was awarded a 3rd place tie with Leo Kottke in Acoustic Guitar Magazine's Players' Choice Awards for 'BEST ACOUSTIC ALBUM OF ALL TIME'. In the same set of awards, Peppino additionally brought home another 3rd place tie for 'FINGERSTYLE GUITARIST OF THE YEAR', as well as receiving a 2nd place award in the category of 'ACOUSTIC GUITAR OF THE YEAR', for his signature Seagull Artist Series guitar, featuring the new compound-curve design. In 2007 Peppino was also voted 'BEST ACOUSTIC GUITARIST' by the readers of Guitar Player magazine in GP's 2007 Reader's Choice Awards, and performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. In 2010, Peppino released "Nine White Kites" his first new album of all original compositions since the award winning "Every Step of the Way."  He is also a featured performer on the "Guitar Masters" tour along with Andy Mckee and Eric Johnson, that will be touring performing arts centers late 2010 through early 2011.

PEPPINO D'AGOSTINO performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Sunday at 4:00 pm.

Building a Solo Jazz Guitar Arrangement 
from the Ground Up                         

Sean McGowan

Sunday, August 14 • 2:30-4:00 PM

This will be a ‘hands-on’ workshop (bring your guitars!) that explores the art of creating a solo guitar arrangement of a popular jazz standard. Players of all levels of experience are welcome, but a solid knowledge of basic theory and chords, plus some experience with fingerstyle techniques, is recommended.  Participants who do not have a guitar are also welcome to attend as there will be handouts and discussion of arranging techniques. In this 90 minute workshop, we’ll take a look at building an arrangement using jazz chords and harmony, walking basslines, and different approaches to rhythm and harmonic substitutions. We’ll also take a look at some special techniques used to add color such as artificial harmonics and right-hand fretting.

Sean McGowan is a guitarist from Maine who combines many diverse influences with unconventional techniques to create a broad palette of textures within his compositions and arrangements for solo guitar. His first recording, River Coffee won the Best Independent Release of the Year Award (2002) from Acoustic Guitar magazine. Music from the CD has been featured on BBC’s Great Guitars radio program, and has been published in Japan’s Acoustic Guitar magazine and Mel Bay’s Master Anthology of Fingerstyle Guitar, Vol. 3. Sean graduated with a DMA in Guitar Performance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Music Performance at the University of Colorado Denver.  Sean is a frequent lesson and article contributor for Acoustic Guitar, Guitar Teacher and Jazz Improv magazines.

SEAN MCGOWAN performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Sunday at 1:00 pm.

Unlocking the Spanish Repertoire                 

Patrick Francis

Sunday, August 14 • 2:30-4:00 PM

With pieces embodying among the best-loved and best-known works of classical guitar, the Spanish repertoire places unique technical and interpretive demands on the performer.  Participants will learn ways to cultivate techniques common in the Spanish rep as well as take a look at characteristic musical traits in Spanish music. This workshop will cover the folkloric and flamenco influences in the Spanish guitar repertoire; addressing melody, rhythm and playing techniques. Patrick will also give a brief historical background of the genre - to understand how many of the great Spanish guitar works came to be.  Students should leave the class with helpful techniques and strategies to aid interpretation of the best Spanish composers . Note-reading is helpful, but not mandatory.

Picking up the guitar as a youngster, Francis immersed himself in the study of various musical styles, eventually earning a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in classical guitar in 1996. He performed and recorded for many years with the clarinet & guitar duo, Azulão, and the San Francisco Guitar Quartet. A long-time contributor to Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Patrick's classical-guitar-related instructional articles, arrangements, and interviews, are often featured in the magazine.  He currently teaches Classical Guitar and directs the guitar ensemble at San José State University.  He has also taught at University of San Francisco, Chabot College, Arizona State University, and at Kaoishung Open University in Taiwan. He has  conducted workshops at music festivals around the U.S., such as the Southbay Guitar Society Festival, the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, and the Tunghai University Summer Music Festival in Taiwan.

PATRICK FRANCIS performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Sunday at 12:30 pm.

Harp Guitar Essentials for
6 String Players and Harp Guitarists

Stephen Bennett

Sunday, August 14 • 4:30-6:00 PM

Stephen will explain and demonstrate his approach to this wonderful instrument.  Since inheriting his great-grandfather's 1909 instrument in the late 80s, he has been one of the founding members of the burgeoning harp guitar world.  Stephen will talk about the transition from 6-string to harp guitar and give concrete examples of how unique and majestic the harp guitar can be–and yet how completely accessible it can be for most fingerstyle 6-string guitarists.

Whether playing his great-grandfather's harp guitar, his 1930 National Steel or a standard 6-string, Stephen Bennett is a musician to hear. His playing has won awards and critical praise. In live performance and on record, his diverse musical influences and interests are joined with a lifelong love affair with the sound of guitar strings.

STEPHEN BENNETT performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Sunday at 1:30 pm.

Creative Practice Strategies
for Jazz Guitarists

Randy Vincent

Sunday, August 14 • 4:30-6:00 PM

Randy will show ways to get the most effective results from your practice time by answering the question of HOW to practice in addition to WHAT to practice.  Many of the strategies could apply to all musicians, but most of the examples will be "hands-on" guitar oriented. Topics may include arpeggios, scales, chromatic embellishment, bebop lines, triad pairs, voicings, comping concepts, improv through changes, etc.

Randy has been teaching at Sonoma State University for 30 years and has been playing jazz for about 44 years. During that time he has been privileged to play and record with some of the finest jazz musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, and many others too numerous to list.  He has performed in several Jazz Festivals including Monterey and The Hollywood Bowl. He has written two books, “Jazz Guitar Voicings, the Drop 2 Book” and “Three Note Voicings and Beyond”.

RANDY VINCENT performs in the Sonoma Valley Garden on Sunday at 12:00 pm.