January 2011

From backstage at the Beacon Theatre celebrating Jorma’s 70th birthday, to the hills of Jerusalem…it was an amazing year. We started our year in the shadows of an unstable economy and though everyone including us, continue to weather this unpredictable storm…for me… this year… I felt more blessed than ever. Time seemed to slow down for me when classes were in session and I was able to enjoy the company of our students around some great meals and great music.

Couples' weekend was the most emotional though. My staff and I made a huge decision to change the way the Couples' weekends will be hosted. What we hoped would be an exciting look into what could be…. was sad for many of the women who attend that weekend. I can only say I wanted them to embrace this journey with every cell of their body. Though change gets such a bad wrap…It is the bumpiness of change that I am appreciating. Those bumps are absolutely all about the love and compassion for the women of Fur Peace. Before we made the choice to change the face of Couples' weekend, I saw a glimpse of what was coming if I didn’t take a leap of faith.

Like many times in my life, the universe whispered to me and I can't describe that experience with words, but I know I am not the only one that this happens to. This year has been about liberating myself from something. A few times the answer to that “something” happened in my dreams but mostly the universe spoke to me through others. It has been intense yet subtle but most definitely an undeniable message. Even though I know the changes are probably permanent, they are profound and the movement is as the music is…gentle and beautiful!!! The women of Fur Peace do not know this...but they brought me here without consciously knowing it!

I feel like 2010 was such a success for so many despite what CNN tells us. I believe that our success is about who we are. To obtain success, whether professional or personally, one does it with hard work and conscious thought. The "what ifs " are what keeps us going anyway. Success is not difficult to accomplish nor to understand because we are the only one that knows what it means for us. No one can tell us actually what success is...we have to feel it to know it...and I know that I accomplished a lot because of the Ranch and the students and staff that make it Fur Peace.

We…meaning people in general… are stronger, the Ranch in stronger, the love is more powerful and the music continues to move us and inspire us to be better.

(Thanks to to Maria Varonis for the use of her backstage pics!)

Get A Double Dose of Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady with a Special Acoustic Duo Workshop! (Level 3)

A special Fur Peace Ranch class will be held at the Greenwich House in NYC for serious guitar and bass students. Jorma and Jack will combine their teaching efforts and give this one time only guitar/bass class. Guitar and Bass classes will be held separately at times, other times the classes will join up for a unique duo workshop that brings together the music the classes have worked on.

If you want to learn the secrets of this dynamic duo's 50+ career....this is your chance. If you live in NY you won't have to go far.....

Open to Guitar and Bass players. An equal number of each will be accepted. Limited to 8 students per class Don't miss this opportunity!

Thursday April 21, 2011 – Saturday April 23, 2011 Tuition: $1275 (incl. Workshops, lunches and snacks. One (1) ticket to a performance by Jorma or Jorma/Jack in NYC around the same time. (Date and Venue TBA) Does not include lodging.)

Sign Up Today!

The album title has been chosen, art work has been approved and submitted. The rough cuts have been going through intense reviews - all of them great! We look forward to having the final tracking and mastering done and off to Red House Records in the next few weeks. We anticipate a release date of Tuesday April 12, 2011! More details and pre-order info will be forthcoming in February's newsletter!

For starters....a Big Up goes to all of our special guests: Bruce Hornsby, Larry Campbell, Warren Haynes, Bob Weir, Michael Falzarano, Pete Sears, Bob Steeler, Oteil Burbridge, Steve Earle, Happy Traum, Bill Kirchen, John Hammond, Byron House, Chris Smither!

A special Thanks to the Hot Tuna band....Jorma, Jack, Barry Mitterhoff and Skoota Warner.....you guys are the best!

Another Big Up goes to all of the people behind the scenes: Michael Falzarano, our stage and production manager, Phil Jacobs, our Road Manager, John Ras Hurl, Brett Thompson, Aly White and Kelly Stewart for their endless support and assistance with the preproduction, Maria Varonis our publicity maven, our ace techs....Myron Hart and (Paulie) Carmello LoMonoco, Seth at The Agency Group...You Rock the House Seth, and Rich Nesin at the Beacon, Wynn our bus driver and JGM Coach for making the trip down from the studio an easy one, our video crew...Andie Walla, Todd Anderson, Aaron Lemley, John Falk, Mike McSteen, Photographers Scott Hall, Barry Berenson and Kevin Morgan.

A special thanks to Jorma and Jack for putting up with all the planning and stress on top of their studio work!

Thank you all for your hard work!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the shows to celebrate with us!

Hey, Jack . . . it's your turn next!

We will no longer offer a free workshop after 15 visits. We will offer new incentives beginning August 2011 for the 2012 season. If you are entitled to a free workshop after your 15th, it must be redeemed in 2011.

Read more about what’s happening at FPR and On-The-Road

• Jorma – Cracks In The Finish
• Vanessa - The Labryinth
• Hurl – Checkin’ The Levels

If you haven't already seen the FPR Youtube Channel, be sure to stop by and rate our videos, or become a subscriber.

We are building an audience for all the video material we are filming. We would appreciate your support and opinion. Look for new videos in the future!

Thanks to all of you who subscrbed to the FPR channel. We appreciate all your support.

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