Robben Ford Discussion

BlueRunner · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2004 9:16 pm Post subject: Robben at NGW Texas Blues Summit

My annual National Guitar Workshop summer schedule arrived in today's mail. They've been sending it to me for years, and year after year I promise myself that I'll go to one of their one-week guitar camps ... "next year." Maybe "next year" is finally NOW, 'cause:

Robben is advertised as one of NGW's "Special Guests" (with Dave Grissom) at NGW's Texas Blues Summit, at the Saint Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin TX, July 5-10. For more info check out www.guitarworkshop.com

Just promise me one thing: That before sending in all of your registration forms and filling all of the available spots, you'll give me a 24-hour head start so that I can convince my wife and my business partners that I'll come back from a week in Austin as a much, much, much better person. Thanks.
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- BlueRunner

frank0936 · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 8:37 am Post subject: NGW

I don't know about a better person, but you'll definitely come back a better guitarist. I went to the one in Connecticut with Robben two years ago. Non-musician friends of mine told me my player was better when I came back. Some of them didn't know I'd been, so they made a good control group! If you can go, do it. It's worth every penny. Robben offers a lot of hard learned lessons to those who want to learn.
Frank

BlueRunner · Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 6:00 pm Post subject:

frank0936: Don't tell 'em you went to a guitar clinic. Tell 'em you went down to the crossroads at midnight, and signed a complicated in-triplicate form that had something to do with your eternal soul. That sounds more romantic.
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- BlueRunner

bluejack · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2004 12:01 pm Post subject:

Hey that Summit sounds like a geat time! Was fishing around on the NGW site and was trying to figure out exactly where or when Robben would fit in the week schedule? You have to choose a major and a minor with some other guys and he is a 'guest' . Anyone ever attend one of these week long summmits?
Thanks,
J

JoeB63 · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 42 Location: Austin, TX

I'm going!!! Luckily, I live 6 miles from the campus, so it's not hard to decide.

I went 2 summers ago - and in terms of seeing RF, all campers will get to see him do a workshop-style session, not just those who choose a particular major/minor or seminar.

The other guests that week, Redd Volkart and David Grissom will spend some time in their particular seminars, but then they'll do an open workshop/jam for everyone later in the day.

Drop me an e-mail if you decide to go.

kirk95 · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2004 5:14 pm Post subject:

JoeB63 · Member Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Posts: 42 Location: Austin, TX

One of the best things about the program is that all of the attendees are so supportive of each other. At each student concert all players got waves of applause and cheers - regardless of skill level. I'll never forget one guy who was practically a beginner -- he had never played in front of an audience before -- get up there in front of all these other (most better) guitarists and play a long solo acoustic tune, he made dozen of mistakes, but he kept on going, and going...

He got thunderous applause for his efforts. It was, dare I say it, heartwarming.

Another highlight was on the last night, after the last concert, many of the students and teachers went to a club that held a jam night for us. Everybody playeed who wanted to. The atmosphere was one of great communal bonding - almost brotherhood. A great way to end things. Total guitar immersion.

My son is also taking guitar lessons, but he's only 10, a little young for the camp.