Never touched a guitar before? Learned three chords twenty years ago but can’t remember them now? I got you.

Ready to put down that flatpick and try something new? We’ll start from scratch, getting your fingers working independently in basic patterns. Fingerstyle applies to just about every genre; we’ll explore a few in this class.

A survey of diverse Cuban dance styles. Learn the basics of social dances (casino, rueda de casino, don, mambo, cha-cha-chá), folkloric forms (rumba), and urban genres (reggaeton, reparto). Styles will be explored across solo (“suelta”), partner, and group contexts. Special attention will be given to the ways these dance styles can improve your musicianship.

We’ll explore songwriting tools such as prosody, recoloring, reharmonization, forward motion, and spotlighting. The class is a creative space: expect plenty of writing, playing, tweaking, and collaborating.

The perfect space for those who are new to the instrument, looking for a refresher, or just interested in the bass! In this class we will cover the basics needed to get you playing with confidence and accuracy. Topics will include how to get a good tone, correct hand positions, what makes a good bassline, and how to fit in various styles of music.

This intermediate class is for those who want to take a closer look at the techniques, rhythms, and grooves that shape jazz style bass playing. Starting with the blues and classic jazz standards, we will talk about walking bass lines, improvisation, understanding chord symbols, and common chord progressions. We’ll use skills learned to help inform our creation of basslines in all genres. Suggested prerequisite: acquaintance with basic major scales and triads.

We’ll dig into accompaniment techniques for Celtic tunes such as jigs, reels, and strathspeys. Focusing on right-hand rhythm, bass motion, harmony in the upper voices, and arranging interesting parts for backing tunes played several times in a row. The instructor will switch to playing fiddle at times, giving students real-time opportunities to experience the sympathetic blend of melody and back-up guitar. This deep dive into nuanced Celtic rhythms will stay in EADGBE (standard) tunings, so if you prefer to only play in alternative tunings such as DADGAD, you’ll be on your own to manage chord shapes. All participants should bring flatpicks and a capo to this class.

In this class, we will learn tunes that serve as a good “workout” for various techniques commonly used in the Celtic genre such as triplets, rolls, cross strings, etc. You will be learning by ear and paying closer attention to nuances in playing the tunes, as opposed to getting through as much repertoire as possible.

In this class we will explore slide guitar for open D and G tunings, with emphasis on tone and technique, and strategies for creating slide ideas based on time-honored songs from artists such as Mississippi Fred McDowell and Tampa Red. Students will learn how to use the slide to add expression to their playing, making even the simplest lines sound musical. Mike will teach fretted chord forms, turnarounds, and crisp right-hand techniques, as well as a tune or two from his own original repertoire to demonstrate ways to create arrangements. Students will leave with a toolbox full of techniques.

Starting with a good rhythmic foundation, we’ll learn the ingredients for creating your own swinging guitar breaks. It all starts with the melody and being able to decorate it with syncopation, riffs, and arpeggios. We’ll use the blues song structure as a starting point and then explore common swing tunes like Sweet Georgia Brown, Lady Be Good, etc. Students should be familiar with playing basic swing guitar rhythm. Lots of playing in class as we combine forces to become our own swing guitar ensemble. Handouts provided and audio recorders recommended.

Get started on the mandolin! Learn to play the music you love with beautiful tone, rhythm, and articulation on this portable and versatile instrument. It’s set up perfectly for playing melodies, so we’ll learn some sweet ones, and explore some harmonic ideas around them. Special focus will be given to basic positioning, getting each player set up optimally to progress, and solid left- and right-hand techniques that will pave the way for a long and happy future with your mandolin!

This will be a repertoire class and then some! We’ll learn Irish tunes in a few seisiún-ready sets (clusters of tunes) so you’ll have them in your pocket the next time someone asks you to start a tune. We’ll talk about Irish music sensibilities and musicality, and work on getting the lift of the music into your playing. We’ll talk about how to enjoy and get the most out of playing in seisiúns, the natural habitat of Irish music. Recordings and notation of the tunes we’ll be working with are available here, so you can give the tunes a good listen and get them lodged in your head. Open to all instruments!

A repertoire class and then some! We’ll learn Irish tunes in a few seisiún-ready sets (clusters of tunes) so you’ll have them in your pocket the next time someone asks you to start a tune. We’ll talk about Irish music sensibilities and musicality, and work on getting the lift of the music into your playing. We’ll talk about how to enjoy and get the most out of playing in seisiúns, the natural habitat of Irish music. Recordings and notation of the tunes we’ll be working with are available here, so you can give the tunes a good listen and get them lodged in your head. Open to all instruments!

Newer mandolin players often avoid waltzes and slower tunes for fear of making the long notes sing. In this workshop we’ll look at techniques in addition to the commonly used tremolo to bring out the beauty in the slower music on the mandolin. Improving our picking and fingering technique to maximize sustain, adding simple ornamentation like hammer-ons, slides, grace notes, double stops and drones, and creating an underlying bed of rhythm and movement with our picking on which the tune can dance. And we’ll learn some beautiful tunes in the process!

Playing music with others can be a deeply moving, exciting experience. In this class, we’ll explore ways of playing together without banging out the same chords the same way at the same time as everyone else. Experiment with different voicings for different rhythms and varying melodic lines. Learn when to play and when to lay out, and ways to play music WITH each other instead of AT each other.

Knowing where you are, where you’re going, and how to get there makes for a smoother trip. This class will start you on the path to understanding the fretboard. Whether you’re looking to play more leads or find more chords, a little knowledge goes a long way (practicing helps too).

Knowing where you are, where you’re going, and how to get there makes for a smoother trip. This class will start you on the path to understanding the fretboard. Whether you’re looking to play more leads or find more chords, a little knowledge goes a long way (practicing helps too).

Playing music with others can be a deeply moving, exciting experience. In this class, we’ll explore ways of playing together without banging out the same chords the same way at the same time as everyone else. From using different voicings, to different rhythms, to different melodic lines, to knowing when to play and when to lay out, we’ll experiment with ways to play music WITH each other instead of AT each other.

From square dances and waltzes to blues and country, we’ll have fun focusing on what makes fiddle tunes move. We’ll dig into clear, memorable melodies and the authentic bowing styles that bring them to life—creating groove, lift, and natural flow. You’ll learn how subtle bow choices shape rhythm and feel, helping your playing sound more grounded, more rhythmic, and more danceable across styles. The skills from this class carry straight into jams, dances, and any music where the fiddle leads the feel.

We’ll explore Western Swing through melody, harmony, rhythm, and improvisation—one layer at a time. Beginning with melody and twin fiddle, bowing feel, guide tones, and improvisation, we’ll build each skill progressively. You’ll learn classic Western Swing repertoire, craft variations, explore twin-fiddle textures, and develop a personal approach to soloing using Katie’s layered improv system. A great fit for fiddlers wanting authentic Western Swing phrasing and more freedom on the fingerboard.

This class is for people who want to start playing improvised solos on their instruments (including their vocal cords!). Using an easy to grasp ear-based approach, we’ll work on reinterpreting simple melodies, finding solo notes within caged chords (C, A, G, E & D), and applying the magical pentatonic (5 note) scale to almost any style of music. All instruments and vocalists are welcome.

Working from an assortment of pop, rock, jazz, country, and similar styles, we’ll arrange and perform songs on the spot each day. To make things interesting we’ll mix styles, rhythmic figures, and overall feel to interpret songs differently from their original versions. This class will involve singing and playing, and is open to all instruments and vocalists.

The modes provide us with a wide range of emotional colors far beyond just plain old major and minor keys. Each day we’ll explore a new mode and its unique tonality, look at some well-known songs that use that mode, learn how to write our own songs in that mode, and even learn some melodic basics to play melodies or solos in that mode.

Ever wished you could play the chords and melody to a song all together on the guitar? You can! Each day we’ll take a pop/rock song and arrange it for solo guitar in real time. The arrangements will be complete, recognizable, and full sounding, while remaining accessible. (Bring a capo.)

How does one get from playing first-position chords (G, C, D, etc.) to playing swing and jazz? I’ll show you the way! I’ve helped hundreds of students discover the joys of playing up the neck using simple swing tunes and a pared-down palette of chords. We’ll spend most of our time playing, strumming, and gently swinging to a selection of old-fashioned songs.

This class is for those who have previously taken a swing guitar class or two. You’ll learn a selection of standards, ballads, Latin, and show tunes as you expand your chord vocabulary—including inversions—and practice right-hand strumming for the all-important swing feel. Soloing and singing are encouraged!

This class is a continuation of “Intro to Swing Guitar.” We’ll play songs that rely heavily on 6 and 7 chords. Then we’ll gradually add the next level of four-note jazz chords: minor 7 and diminished chords. These chords open the door to a broad repertoire of swing and jazz, and we’ll spend most of our time playing and singing a selection of sophisticated but not-too-difficult swing songs. This class might be appropriate for students who have not taken Intro to Swing if they have some experience with jazz and are up for a challenge.

This class is for those who have previously taken a couple of swing guitar classes. We’ll play a selection of standards, ballads, Latin, and show tunes as you expand your chord vocabulary—including inversions—and practice right-hand strumming for that all-important swing feel. Soloing and singing are encouraged!

Come make a joyful noise as we learn the vocal harmony parts to some of the most beloved classic rock and pop songs! In this vocal class you can learn from provided written notation, by ear, or both. All levels are welcome but some prior singing experience is recommended.

Learn to play and sing some of the best Motown and Rhythm & Blues classics. Improve your rhythm and lead chops while getting a vocal workout as well! We’ll focus on the elements that make these songs great: groove, chord progressions, timeless riffs, stylistic vocal technique, and some harmony singing. Notation and tab provided.

Calling all instruments and voices! Learn to make a joyful noise together, working with standards from the Great American Songbook, blues, and Latin repertoire. Learn how to work through a chart, put together an ensemble arrangement, cue bandmates, and give a song its best presentation. Charts provided daily; music reading skills are helpful but not a prerequisite.

Learn the techniques for playing Brazilian samba, bossa nova, baião, and other regional styles, through the beautiful, timeless songs of artists such as Ivan Lins, Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joyce, Rosa Passos, and others. Standard notation and tablature is provided daily, and vocalists are more than welcome to attend—these songs are meant to be sung!

This party-repertory class will focus on guitar-driven rock songs featuring jangly riffs in the tradition of Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Peter Buck (R.E.M.), and Neil Finn (Crowded House), among others. We’ll learn some iconic intros and fills, and have a large time playing lots of great songs with cool changes, simple lead parts, and nice harmonies. All instruments are welcome and 12-string guitars are particularly encouraged. Basic flatpicking skills would be helpful but we’ll accommodate other approaches too.

In this melody-oriented ensemble class, we’ll take a musical jaunt around Europe, some Celtic countries, and points south. These fun and relatively easy tunes work well on the guitar, mandolin, and other instruments. The gorgeous melodies dwell in both familiar and odd meters; we’ll take on a tune in 7/8 time signature, for example. Basic familiarity with picking out scales and arpeggios would be ideal, but it’s an adaptable format with an emphasis on playing together in a group.

If you’ve been wanting to see what all the fuss is about with this rapidly growing, easy to play, and fun instrument, now’s the time. We’ll start with some easy two-, three-, and four-chord songs with tricks for easier chord changes. We’ll cover some of the basic right-hand strums including the popular “island” strum, and practice singing and playing at the same time. Might even get to a little fingerpicking! If you know a few of the basic chords (C, G7, Am, F), that would be helpful, but if you’re a total newby, we’ll get you caught up right away.

If you’re a newby or have just been playing a short while, this class will quickly give you the tools to play on your own or join in with others. Using fun, easy, and familiar songs, we’ll cover tricks to more fluid chord changes, some basic strums, how to sing and play at the same time, and maybe even a little “boom-chuck” and flatpicking.

Whether it’s finding (or starting) that perfect jam or helping you pick the right class for your interests and level, I’m here to help. Want support for a song you’re working on? Ask me! Want to play a tune? Let’s play!

Let’s get you grooving on a variety of songs and styles, from folk, country, and swing to blues, bluegrass, and rock. How do you build repertoire? How can you have fun playing with other people and offer more at a jam session? We’ll learn chords and strums that go with our favorite songs along with a bass run, fill, or riff that can light up a campfire. We’ll discuss jam etiquette and some classic dos and don’ts. We’ll also explore theory basics like notes, chord progressions, and keys so that you can deepen your musical vocabulary and have more ease joining the jam or trying your hand at improv. The better you understand how songs work, the easier they are to learn and remember. All instruments welcome.

Whether it’s finding (or starting) that perfect jam or helping you pick the right class for your interests and level, I’m here to help. Want support for a song you’re working on? Ask me! Want to play a tune? Let’s play!

Beyond percussion, Body Music includes melody and harmony—all made by our human instrument. Clap, step, and sing to incorporate music into your whole body. Physically understanding rhythms that underlie the music makes a super fun and accessible body and mind experience. The work stimulates the brain and allows you to enjoy and understand music and rhythm in new, physical ways. No prior experience needed.

What is that rhythmic “whomp” that makes clawhammer banjo so funky? This distinctive style marries melody, harmony, and rhythm to add spice to songs and tunes. Emphasizing ear training and skills for jamming in any style, we’ll look at tuning, rhythmic patterns, and exploring the fretboard. Students should have the basic bum-diddy down and basic familiarity with both G and double C tunings.

What is that rhythmic whomp that makes clawhammer banjo so funky? How does clawhammer banjo fit into any jam? Emphasizing ear training and skills for jamming in any style, we’ll take a look at tuning, rhythmic patterns, and exploring the neck to be able to play with anyone in the clawhammer style. Including and beyond tune repertoire, the class will address the gaps in your knowledge and practice. Students should have the basic bum-diddy and basic familiarity with both G and Double C tunings.

Whether you want to learn more about finding harmony parts, feel stronger about holding harmonies, be more confident in your vocal technique, increase your repertoire of Appalachian songs, or just enjoy singing in harmony in an old-time style, this class is for you. We’ll use a variety of approaches in the tradition to increase your skills. Exploring Carter Family songs, hymns, and other old-time songs, we’ll sing sing sing, while developing skills for listening, blending, and making harmonic choices. 

Whether you’ve never taken the plunge to try writing a song or you’re a seasoned but idea-stumped songwriter, we’ll use excercises and games to kickstart your creative mind. Using various launchpads we’ll focus separately on music and lyrics, first engaging the muse and then (when it’s time) welcoming our internal editors to the table. There will be time for in-class writing and opportunities to share your “baby songs” in a safe space. Bring a spiral notebook, pens, and your instrument.

Whether you’re a first-time camper or it’s not your first rodeo, you might like some help figuring out which classes to take. Need some tips about how to feel more comfortable onstage? Having trouble finding some folks to play music with? Stuck for a rhyming word? Let’s bounce some ideas around. Every 4 pm workshop period there will be also be a slow jam that will be a good fit for both beginners and for people who want hone new skills in a group setting.

Whether you’re making a new friend of the guitar or you’re returning to your old six-string pal after a hiatus, this will be the class for you. Perhaps you’ve been working on the guitar but you’re experiencing some sort of block—like singing while playing or making your strumming jive with your chord-changing—come to this class and we’ll work through it together.

Whether you’re a first-time camper or it’s not your first rodeo, you might like some help figuring out which classes to take. Need some tips about how to feel more comfortable onstage? Having trouble finding some folks to play music with? Stuck for a rhyming word? Let’s bounce some ideas around. Every 4 p.m. workshop period there will be also be a slow jam that will be a good fit for both beginners and people who want hone new skills in a group setting.

A week chock full of country music’s finest classics, complete with runs and easy fills. We’ll also cover some flatpick basics for anyone who needs it, but this class will also work for fingerstyle players just as well.

Starting with a song’s anatomy, we’ll explore accents and dynamics, rest strokes, moving bass lines, the use of pedal basses, and rhythmic variations for both fingerstyle and hybrid flatpick accompaniment that will help deliver any song in a way that best supports the singer plus any accompanying musicians. Great for songwriters and anyone who wants to strengthen their song accompaniment skills on the guitar.

Classic country songs from the early 1950s though the 1970s, into the birth of country rock. A week full of country music’s finest songs complete with flatpick strums, runs, and easy fills. This class will also work for fingerstyle students. Hugely fun!

We’ll start by reviewing fingerpicking basics and improving our right-hand tone and technique. We’ll spend the rest of the week exploring the myriad right-hand patterns available, from simple arpeggios to double thumb movement, pinches, adding simple fills, and moving bass lines. At the end of the week we’ll apply this new knowledge to Travis-style patterns.

This class will get into rudiments and sticking technique on bucket drums! Say “YES” to the BUCKET! We will also learn about note values and how to be a better rhythm player. Get ready to read and learn an unusual percussion composition! This class will be about playing American-inspired rhythms, using the “unusual” as a percussion instrument, reinforcing rhythms, and dissecting the GROOVE. Instruments provided: buckets, dowels. Please bring your own hands.

We will identify how bossa nova originated from the samba and how the guitar and percussion lock together through small percussion instruments. We’ll delve into the Bo Diddley beat and clave and what makes them similar yet so different. What is a 6/8 pattern and why do you hear it in jazz? This class will use auxiliary percussion and tambourines, shakers, clave, Brazilian pandeiro, and more, and unlock percussion you can play at any jam! Instruments provided: Pandeiro, tambourines, shakers, clave, and more!

Learn how to play the Brazilian tambourine—the smallest and coolest drum machine ever made! We will also bring in other Brazilian percussion instruments including tamborim, tan tam, the Brazilian matchbox, ganzá, etc. We will collaborate with Brian Moran’s guitar class to accompany songs. I will have extra pandeiros and other percussion for those who don’t have a drum.

Explore the basic foundations of rhythm and how it applies to cultural and musical contexts throughout the Americas. We’ll look at why it’s difficult to play syncopated rhythms and be able to hold the pulse, and learn to hear the layers that make polyrhythms so interesting yet challenging. We”ll also see how percussion instruments such as spoons, sticks, shakers, tablas, and more have shaped music. Instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome!

The blues is an eternal source every guitar player draws from, and provides endless musical soil to till. This class will have a bit of everything, from rhythm playing to improvising solos. Major blues, minor blues, using pentatonics and modes, guide tones, 3-note voicings, jazz-blues forms and approaches; if you’re curious about it, we’ll get into it!

This class will cover common grooves, chords, and songs in bossa nova and samba, including singing in Portuguese for those who want to. By mid-week we’ll team up with Ami Molinelli’s Brazilian Percussion class and see how the guitars and drums connect. Vamo la gente!

This songwriting class is a journey that will focus less on the technical and music theory and more on allowing ideas, passion, melodies, and structure to emerge from emotions, feelings, and life stories. You’ll learn to write and turn good songs into great songs in an enjoyable atmosphere. Bring your ideas, melodies, titles, and you will most likely have a song by the end of the week. If you currently have a completed song, please bring it with a printed lyric sheet.

Whether you are a seasoned performer or just looking to get your toes wet, you will blossom in this inspiring, safe atmosphere to bring out the best in you. We’ll have fun while learning specific methods for you to best connect with your audience and hold their attention. We will work in an enjoyable, relaxed manner to stake your claim on the stage and avoid common mistakes that even some pros make. We’ll be covering mic technique and placement, diction, dynamics, etiquette, set lists, song keys, and dealing with difficult situations. Most of all, you will gain confidence to enjoy the spotlight and perhaps be inspired to play at the student concert. All genres and instruments welcome.

Let’s look at how to make the guitar really sing, screech, and howl. Often we focus on the left hand and forget completely about the right hand, so we play all the right notes but they don’t sound great. We’ll learn different pieces with the focus on how the notes sound using lots of different right-hand techniques.

This is a vocal repertoire class. We will start every class with a gentle vocal warmup and then launch into learning some great swing songs. We’ll learn about 15 songs throughout the week and talk about vocal styling and ways to excite your tone. And we’ll do a bit of harmony singing on a few swing songs as well. All of this will culminate in the incredibly fun swing dance!

While the fiddle is a master of melody, fiddlers might feel stuck in a soloistic box. We’ll dig into other roles the fiddle can play when it’s not our time to shine. While developing our tone and clarity, we’ll learn how to chop, chord, fill, pluck, and use a variety of techniques to keep our playing fresh and grow our comping toolkit. Folk and Americana songs will be our launchpad for our rhythmic and improvisational journey.

Mix it up and explore the magic of playing a variety of contemporary and trad songs in the Americana genre. We’ll have a daily band scramble, brainstorming in teams to arrange and spice up songs with solos and harmonies. Then we’ll take it for a test drive to see how well the songs shine. The repertoire will be easy to learn and all instruments and vocalists are welcome to join in the fun!

Feel like your playing could use a refresher? You’re not alone! Whether you’re a relative beginner looking to get your bearings or an intermediate player hoping to unlock new possibilities, this technique-forward class will cover a laundry list of basics to help you build confidence on this utterly fretless, ergonomically squirrely instrument.

Mix it up and explore the magic of playing a variety of contemporary and trad songs in the Americana genre. We’ll have a daily band scramble, brainstorming in teams to arrange and spice up songs with solos and harmonies. Then we’ll take it for a test drive to see how well the songs shine. The repertoire will be easy to learn and all instruments and vocalists are welcome to join in the fun!

This class is for cajón players (and cajón owners) and for people who want to improve their rhythm in general. There are many kinds of cajóns in the world; the popular sit-on-top style of cajón comes originally from Peru, via Spain and its flamenco music. The cajón is used in many different ways and is very popular as a substitute for the drum set. Bring your cajón and we’ll learn some traditional uses (and some not-so-traditional ones) of the cajón while developing a better sense of rhythm.

In this class we will learn about the mysterious category of auxiliary percussion. From the shaker to the cow bell, to guiros, claves, caxixi, and agogo, to gongs, quijadas, and vibra-slaps, we’ll have lots of fun learning how to shake it, rattle it, and roll it using some inventive percussion ensemble pieces by your instructor. We will also learn some good rules of thumb for playing percussion, and how to play with other instrumentalists. You are guaranteed to build your rhythmic sense and ability. Many instruments will be provided or bring your own. All levels welcome!

Singing is a skill that requires physical agility, stamina, and strength. Singers are vocal athletes using delicate moving parts, and that vocal mechanism can begin to break down over time. As you get older, or simply by not knowing how to use your voice correctly, it can become croaky or thin, or the pitch can drop and become heavier, or you may find that you have less lung capacity and not as much power in your voice as you would like. In this class we’ll develop habits that will help keep your voice healthy and in good shape for the rest of your life. Then we will apply these techniques to different songs in each class. There will also be an opportunity for mini lessons and specific feedback.

This class is all about having fun singing in harmony. We’ll start with some rounds and partner songs, and then move on to three-part harmony, a variety of musical styles from jazz to gospel to pop, and beyond. You’ll be reading from sheet music as well as learning by ear. Come ready to challenge yourself and hold your part and as we raise our voices and create glorious harmony!

Just pulling the ukulele from its case signals joy and playfulness—but nothing’s wrong with having the blues now and then. Whether you’re starting out on the ukulele or exploring musical genres, playing the blues can fuel songwriting and make musical connections. We’ll break out of our everyday strumming patterns to discover fun shuffles, rhymic variances, and syncopations. Some will learn how to accompany soloists while others dive into scales. Learn some tips and tricks for creating solos. This class will allow ukulele players to harness the power of the blues and join the jam session!

Are you feeling like there’s something more to the ukulele than just strumming and singing? You’re right—it‘s time to take a solo! Both soloing newbies and confidential soloists are invited to try soloing, and learn some new chord shapes and strum patterns along the way. We’ll connect our work on scales to the social art of jamming with some fun and well-known pop, rock, and reggae tunes.

In a world where strumming often takes center stage, ukulele players rarely take the time to study improvisation. However, learning to take solos can greatly improve your finger strength, coordination, and ability to play by ear. In this class we’ll explore improv through genres like pop, folk, Hawaiian, blues, and jazz so you can truly “make it up as you go!”

We’re making the band, ukulele style. This class brings the standard strum-and-sing approach up a notch as we add three-part harmonies, solo ukulele lines, and ukulele percussion to our CCMC Uke Ensemble. Auxiliary instruments such as percussion and horns are also welcome!

Singing powerfully is half technique and half spiritual/emotional. This class will focus on both sides of that coin to unlock a louder, clearer, freer, more dynamic and compelling sound for all. We will explore these possibilities through a mixture of modern pop vocal techniques, key exercises, and mini lessons in front of the class for those who volunteer. We will also touch on some deeper and extended techniques such as mix voice, light distortion, yodeling, and overtone singing. While the work will extend well beyond camp, this class will give you the proof and the tools you need to shift your own vocal power into high gear.

There are myriad ways to write songs; in this class we’ll explore the fairly narrow road of hit songwriting. The “instant classic” feels like it could have been written in Tin Pan Alley, the Brill Building, or Nashville’s Music Row. This is a class for folks who have written several songs on their own but want to know how to go from writing good songs to writing the kind of songs that connect to a wide audience with a clear and catchy message. Bring your ideas, great titles, hooks, and concepts and by the end of the week, most will have written their personal hit song.

This class will focus on getting some of the standard swing chords under our fingers, learning rhythm techniques, and delving into some basic lead playing. We’ll apply all this to some great swing tunes that use common chord progressions. Most important, we’ll zero in on the groove, because as we all know, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.”

An in-depth look at arranging jazz and pop standards for solo fingerstyle guitar (hybrid pickers welcome). We’ll explore techniques that bring out the orchestral possibilities of solo guitar, with an emphasis on independence between melody, bass, and chords, all while being focused on the most important thing: Groove!