August 2010
Calling all alumni to the stage…….. |
August is so oppressively hot here in the mid Atlantic. I personally love everything about it. Our flower gardens at the Ranch are the best we’ve ever had and the song of summer seems to sing itself. We are getting ready to kick off the second half of our 2010 workshops after a short break and we are ready to welcome our couple’s for our 13th annual Couples’ Weekend. The majority of these couples having been coming to this weekend for over ten years. What a blessing. We are so fortunate to say that the Ranch has a 97% return rate of students so I know most of you and call you my friends. We hope that you have all seen the 2011 FPR Workshop Schedule of classes that just went live on August 1st and spaces are filling up quickly. We think we have set the stage for students to experience a unique opportunity to participate in such unbelievably diverse classes in one location. All of our 2011 instructors are the world’s best! In 2011 we will host the same world class quality. Check out what we have to offer and join us now before your favorite class is sold out.
 Looking down the road a fur peace….I’d like to take this opportunity to invite all of our Alumni and future students to celebrate Jorma’s 70th Birthday with us and Hot Tuna. Last year Hot Tuna decided to throw the ultimate party for Jorma’s 70th birthday, one that will mark over 50 years of performing for Jorma. On Dec. 3 and 4, 2010, Jorma will take the stage with his celebrated band Hot Tuna for an electric show at the Beacon Theatre.
You should prepare to be astounded, as a star-studded line-up of musicians and friends of Jorma’s have committed to help him commemorate the evening. In a career that has spanned over half a century, Jorma has played and collaborated with the best musicians around. For his 70th birthday celebration, these performers will join him on stage to help embrace the occasion, blend their camaraderie, and most importantly their music. Now here's were you come in.... as Alumni, we will be calling on you at some point in the night’s festivities to help us with a special surprise.
Hot Tuna is ecstatic to play with this “A-list” of special guests and you too would be foolish not to take in one or both nights. The guest appearances are quite different for each night but all Jack and Jorma are willing to say is that the music will cover their early years to the present with musicians from the folk, blues, songwriter, psychedelic, southern rock and contemporary world of music. Don’t miss these amazing 2 nights. Tickets go on sale September 11th at The Beacon Theatre website. See you there…..be ready to be called upon!
August 13-16
Couples’ Weekend
Jorma Kaukonen: Movin’ On Down The Road
For players with a well honed thumb, and fingerstyle experience, Jorma will employ his effective teaching technique of presenting his songs by breaking them down into comprehensible parts. He will demonstrate the variety of licks, runs and embellishments that provide style and nuance, and also represent a vocabulary of tools that may be used in various keys. This is an excellent repertoire- building workshop, and will encourage skills that can also be applied to original music, improvisation and arranging.
SOLD OUT
Bob Margolin – Finding Deep Blues – Level 2/3
This workshop is geared for guitar players who know at least the basic chords and are comfortable putting them together to play a song. This class’ aim is to deepen your blues playing, and will inspire anyone interested in how soulful blues music works its mojo. Using live and recorded versions of deep blues to intrigue and stimulate, the class's interests and preferences will then direct the instructional path. This class mixes history, guitar technique, and how instruments function separately and together.
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Bob Stroger – Walking The Blues Bass Line – Level 2/3
Bob Stroger's approach to teaching bass guitar is the same as he learned 50 years ago, by sight and sound. He stresses the importance of listening and watching other musicians' techniques and then shares several of his own. This workshop introduces basic scales, left and right hand techniques and simple bass lines. Students will learn blues progressions, extended lines and octave substitutions from a master player. You will get hands -on experience, learning fundamentals and creating the rhythmic drive for country, blues and rock styles.
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August 20-23
Jorma Kaukonen – Movin’ On Down The Road – Level 3
For players with a well honed thumb, and fingerstyle experience, Jorma will employ his effective teaching technique of presenting his songs by breaking them down into comprehensible parts. He will demonstrate the variety of licks, runs and embellishments that provide style and nuance, and also represent a vocabulary of tools that may be used in various keys. This is an excellent repertoire- building workshop, and will encourage skills that can also be applied to original music, improvisation and arranging.
Sign Up Now!
Frank Vignola – Django Jam – Level 3
Frank discusses and demonstrates the Gypsy Jazz style of playing made famous by the legendary guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Frank discusses melody playing, rhythm guitar, mixing blues and be-bop with gypsy style and the various nuances and intricacies associated with gypsy jazz.
This course is popular with the Music Schools and Universities as it is designed for all aspiring musicians. Frank discusses in detail improvisation, the importance of playing melody, learning songs, the “REAL BUSINESS OF MUSIC”, the importance of a good attitude and what it takes to a be a professional musician at the highest level.
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Verlon Thompson – Songwriting for Guitarists – All Levels
This workshop will explore the crossfade of songwriting and guitar: Guitar as a songwriting tool - and vice versa; songs as a means of finding new territory on your instrument. Rhythm, groove, technique, etc. combined with rhyme-scheming, structure (or not), idea mining, and general tricks of the trade will be part of this study on how to say what you want to say and sound good doing it.
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Spot Lights On: American Roots Music – Lighting the Way |
 Rev. Robert Jones:
The Reverend Robert Jones is one of the Fur Peace Ranch‘s true treasures. This year Robert will be part of our Tribute to The Rev. Gary Davis weekend celebrating the music of The Rev Gary Davis. Recognized by his peers in the blues world and critics for his ability to sing like early blues legends, Robert has kept true to his roots. He taught himself how to play the guitar and began practicing what he had learned from listening to records and local blues musicians like Washboard Willie, Chicago Pete, and Bobo Jenkins. Howlin’ Wolf’s legendary guitarist Hubert Sumlin has said, “Robert Jones is an extraordinary musician. He can play the old stuff!” River Road Lifetime Achievement Award winner the late Robert Lockwood said about Robert Jones: “He has the music of Son House in his pocket.” Finally, Neal Kobin, columnist for the Detroit Free Press, says, “Wherever he rambles, he’s doing what he loves. Not just singing the blues but teaching and preaching them.” When he is not away performing at venue’s like the Fur Peace Ranch, or conducting workshops in schools and colleges as part of his Blues in the Schools program, the Rev. Roberts Jones preaches as the Pastor at Sweet Kingdom Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit. Amen Brothers and Sisters
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 Spencer Bohren:
Spencer Bohren is an American roots musician, singer, songwriter, teacher, and visual artist and we are so fortunate to have him as a returning instructor to the Fur Peace Ranch. Born in wind-swept Casper, Wyoming, in the ‘50’s, Spencer's gospel-singing parents provided the foundation for a musical style and career that remain healthy after more than four decades. Spencer has spent the good part of his adult musical life devoted to the music of the timeless blues that had so moved him as a young musician and had always informed his music on a deep level. Spencer Bohren is also a big hit in the academic community.
His documentary performance, Down the Dirt Road Blues, mesmerizes students all over the world, and his American Roots Guitar workshops are popular with musicians of all ages and backgrounds. He is dedicated to preserving America's great heritage of songs. Exhibitions and workshops featuring Spencer’s visual artwork, provocative assemblages he calls Petits Mysteres , are available in conjunction with, or separate from his musical offerings. Performer, artist, educator, collaborator and friend of The Ranch ~ Spencer Bohren celebrates a career that is healthier than ever. And the story is far from over….join him here at The Ranch September 24 – 27 for our annual Pick and Putt weekend and leave with an unparalleled American roots experience.
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Fur Peace Ranch On The Road Workshops at the Full Moon Resort
We had a grand time and a full house at the Full Moon Resort in the Catskills of New York this July! While the Resort is not as “compact” as our Workshop, Cabins, and Performance Hall at the Ranch, somehow that Fur Peace magic was conjured through the energy of all those involved from the instructors, students, and even the Resort staff! In all the retreat was a great success; magical from the first note to the last.
 Even before everyone was checked-in and dinner and orientation those six-stringers were singing on the deck nestled under a tall tree that shades the resort’s main house, the Valley View House. This area would quickly become a favorite area of the students to congregate and play for hours on end teaching each other new songs while sharing duties of melody, rhythms, and leads.
Tommy Emmanuel and Jorma, along with his assistant Marjorie Thompon, had their hands full for four days of instruction surrounded by the serenity and beauty of the Catskill Mountains.
 Jorma along with his teaching assistant Marjorie Thompson held court in “The Barn”, a beautiful old barn located on the main portion of the property.
Tommy Emmanuel took his class across the road to The Performance Space. During the assessments Tommy had students get up a play a piece to get an ear for his classes' needs. Well when there is a guitar playing, Tommy just can’t help himself from joining in. Once the assessments were over Tommy taught them all Cannon Ball Rag which they worked on over the course of the week, along with several other tunes. The class performed Cannon Ball Rag as a whole during the Student Performance Thursday afternoon.
 The student performance held on Thursday afternoon was quite the site to see and went for nearly three hours - a new Ranch record
Not only did we have a Student Performance, we also received a performance from Marjorie Thompson on Wednesday night, a performance from Jorma and Tommy Emmanuel on Thursday night.
Jorma opted to start Thursday night’s performance to a full room. About forty minutes later Jorma asked Tommy to join him on stage. Tommy then took over the show and put on a performance only Tommy could put on (those of you who have seen Tommy perform will know what we mean).
During the late hours of Thursday evening many students gathered around the shade tree in front of the Valley View House jamming away when out of the dark steps Tommy with guitar in hand. Tommy proceeded to give an impromptu performance and jammed with the students for a spell.
And if that wasn’t enough, Friday morning gave birth to a rare Ranch coffee house performance from Hurl & Friends! For this rare, one of it’s kind performance, Ranch manager, our very own Ras Hurl, asked Lester Levy and Bob Doherty to assist him, along with Mary Tilbury on vocal harmonies. They warmed up the room for this coffee house performance with a fitting rendition of “Truck Driving Man”. Izze and Vanessa also joined in the fun for a repeat of their Hot Springs performance of “Seems Like A Long Time”.
We really look forward to returning to the Full Moon Resort in 2011.
Due to the high demand for the On The Road workshops at the Full Moon Resort, we are currently exploring/seeking a third instructor to join us next year. We look forward to making that announcement once the instructor has been confirmed.
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