Robben Ford Discussion

BlueRunner · Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2003 7:38 pm Post subject: Robben's Clinic Today

It was truly my good fortune to be able to attend Robben's clinic today in Ojai, CA. Thanks to all of you who had posted information about prior clinics, so that I generally knew what to expect. Thanks especially for alerting me to Philip Toshio Sudo's "Zen Guitar." From the discussions today, it was clear that Robben and Sudo each tapped into the same philosophy long ago.

I was probably the least experienced guitarist in the group, and at times had to hang on tight, but one didn't have to be a pro to gain a tremendous amount from the day. I know that bits and pieces will be coming back to me for months (if not years) to come.

As a teacher, Robben is as humble, good-humored, patient, thorough and spiritual as he is in performance. And it was not only a privilege to listen, to question, and to talk with him and the other attendees. It was also a heck of a lot of fun.

Here is a tremendous musician who loves his music, loves his life, and loves sharing it all with others. Those of you who have been to these clinics know. Those of you who haven't: Don't miss the next one.
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Buffaloe · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2003 5:43 am Post subject:

Despite leaving a tremendous amount of knowledge in that room, I also managed to take away a whole new attitude and philosophy about my own playing. I'm still finding things that are a direct result of my day with Robben, and I really need to get to another one to try to pick up some of what I left behind. It's funny how you're thinking you can't possibly get that much out of it at 9:00am, and at 4:00pm your head is spinning trying to imagine how you could ever apply everything you've just been shown. Robben's class is a truly great and worthwhile experience.
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Bleunotejax · Member Joined: 29 Sep 2003 Posts: 7

If Robben offers a clinic in Chicago, I would certainly like to attend. I would be eager to get together with other guitarists who share a love for Robben's music and for blues music in general.

Bill Morgan · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2003 11:52 pm Post subject: Clinic

Did anyone manage to record the clinic?

Bill

kirk95 · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2003 2:10 pm Post subject: Re: Clinic

jconstant · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2003 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Clinic

kirk95 · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2003 4:09 pm Post subject:

I went to the clinic last December and someone asked that specific question and Robben said no.

Maybe he has changed his mind on that one.

I had my recorder with me too........... Crying or Very sad

and my camera too............
http://www.dhenderson.com/Robben%20Clinic/index.htm

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BlueRunner · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2003 5:45 pm Post subject: Recording at Clinic

Don't know about prior clinics, but per the web notice for this past Saturday's, hand-held audio recording devices were OK. I didn't bring one, but about half of the attendees had some sort of small cassette or digital recorder to get it all down. I can see where Robben and Anne might get a bit (or a lot) testy about video recording or a big sophisticated mike and tape recorder set-up. After all, even someone like Robben has to be careful that pirated "personal" recordings don't deny him the chance to make a fair return on his instructional tapes, videos and DVDs. As for the photo stuff, he was more than happy to pose with attendees for pictures, including flash pictures (and in my case was very gracious in autographic a pair of oversized guitar picks I'd brought -- one for my collection and one for my teacher), after the clinic was over.

There doesn't appear to be anything mysterious about Robben Ford and taping, photos, autographs and such. Like anyone else, celebrity or not, he probably doesn't like to be pestered, be taken advantage of, or have someone interrupt a performance, or a conversation, or something else he's doing at the time. It's my hunch that standing between him and an audience while he's playing and blasting him with a photo flash, or asking him to autograph 25 cheap guitars that you're obviously going to sell, or interrupting him when he's at dinner with friends or family in a restaurant to bug him and call attention to yourself, would be met with polite but firm disapproval. On the other hand, he seems to be the type that if you approach him politely, and what you're asking for is clearly something that's personal to you, he'll go along with any reasonable request.

The clinic just confirmed something that I'd felt watching him perform in different venues with different folks: Robben Ford is, on the one hand, very perceptive, and, on the other, very NOT full of himself. I would imagine that if he runs across someone that IS full of himself or herself, rather than be rude about it he'll just figure out a way to avoid that person.
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Daved · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2003 6:33 pm Post subject:

Very astute and well put observations, Bluerunner. You are absolutely correct about many of your mentioned points.

The Ojai clinics are purely Robben projects, so I usually have very little to do with them. I have stated Robben's policies of video, audio, & photo recording elsewhere, but they are important to Robben, so let me rephrase them again for those who may have missed them elsewhere:

Photos are RARELY ever a problem with Robben, as long as they are kept within reason and they are NOT distracting or annoying him with flash. Then he WILL stop what he is doing and politely ask you to stop what YOU are doing.

Audio recordings at concerts are a definite no-no, but I can understand why he may relax that rule some for instructional purposes at his clinics. That's purely up to him and I would highly recommend that you ask him before doing so.
I would also recommend that you respect the privledge, if he allows it. If he finds that those recordings are being "misused" or feels you are taking advantage of his generosity, you'll probably ruin it for all those who follow.

As for video taping, I would be very suprised to find Robben allowing it.
Let me reinforce this again.......
Robben really, really, Really, Really, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hates unauthorized video taping of any & all kinds!!!!!

And he especially hates when people think his feelings don't apply to them.

Sorry, didn't mean to yell.

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( }:-Daved
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