Guitar Intensives

Check out our 2009 Schedule!

Download 2009 GI SCHEDULE

A new addition ... introducing Claudia Jane ... Persinger!

Congratulations to Instructor Shawn Persinger and his wife Molly on their newborn!   Enjoy this picture!  Just wish we knew what song she's singing! 

 

REGISTRATION starting ... with HOLIDAY DISCOUNTS!

Our wishes for a fantastic holiday season and a Happy & Healthy New Year. If you'd like to take advantage of our Holiday/New Year Special, see below. DEADLINE: JANUARY 31st.

FANTASTIC 2009 Airfare ... $228 Roundtrip - NY to BANGOR!

CONTINENTAL has a flight from Newark to Bangor .... $228 roundtrip.  Perfect timing... leaving Saturday, August 9... returning Saturday, August 15.

 www.orbitz.com

Someone new for our Jazz Program...

Bill McHenry, acclaimed tenor sax player, will be rounding out the jazz program this year!  That means that our jazz guitarists will not only have an opportunity to play with student horn players, but will have a chance to work with a professional rhythm section.   Bill's bass player and drummer will be on campus for ensembles.

Sooooooooo if you jazz players know of any horn players who might be interested, let them know.

You can check Bill's website out here.   Hailing from Blue Hill, Maine, he's  one of NYC's hottest sax players, playing and recording with Paul Motian and Norah Jones, to name a few.

Primrose Inn does it again!

Primrose Inn is once again offering a discount to our students!  Check out this beautiful inn right in the heart of Bar Harbor.  If you've got time to come early, or stay after... they're offering a 20% discount.  This might also enable you to avoid weekend airfares! 

Del Rey Gives Crowd an "Edgycation" in NYC

Kate from the 2007 program recently saw Del Rey perform in New York City. Here's what she said about the show on the Guitar Intensives Message Board:

Last week I went down to The Living Room in "hipsterland" of the Lower East Side. A lot of good music comes out of The Living Room, but the audience doesn't always walk away with an "edgycation" like the one they got that night. Del Rey and her resonator guitar and uke were in full force at the Roots and Blues Round-Up. She's the kind of performer with a magnetic attraction who keeps the listeners on her side right from the start. Now, don't expect me to analyze her chord structure, I won't pretend to be there yet. Those who have seen her perform, don't need any explanation. She was fabulous and the audience reaction let her know that. Her set included, but was not limited to, Poison Ivy, Till I Give It To You, Mississippi River Blues, No Man's Mama and When The Levee Breaks. I lost track of how many blues greats were mentioned in the history lesson and am glad there was no test at the end. 

The other blues channelers that joined her on stage were Rich Delgrosso with his mandolin, and another band called The Second Fiddles. Del Rey with The Second Fiddles performed as if they do that kind of thing all the time. Keep your radar up for this band. Don't expect any fiddle players in the group, there is little room for any more talent. Hipsterism on the Lower East Side of New York City happened that night. Thanks Del, come back soon.

Kate also added, "the line-up for this year's camp is a pretty good indication that it will be another success."

Learn more about Del Rey and all of the 2008 instructors. If you have a story about seeing one of them perform, please share it by adding a comment here or on the group message board.

Announcing the 2008 Instructor Line-Up

Hello all!

Really THRILLED to share the '08 instructor line-up with you.

• Mike Dowling
• Ernie Hawkins
• Martin Grosswendt
• Shawn Persinger
• Del Rey
• Tom Zivkovich

I'm sure most of you have heard of the acclaimed Mike Dowling (swing, bottleneck, acoustic blues). We're thrilled that he's going to join us!

Our other addition, Martin Grosswendt is less well-known -- a multi-instrumentalist, who's been referred to on the internet as a "master of non-promotion." (Read more about Martin and all of the 2008 instructors.)

Murray Stewart, who recommended him, says Martin's absolutely sensational! Murray will be traveling in Europe this summer...we'll miss his "Blues Tool Kit" class (and him!) immensely! 

While we were planning for Steve to return, there was a mix-up, and he'll unfortunately be teaching in Europe on those dates. Oh...the DATES...!

August 10 (Sun) - August 16

Hoping everyone's well! Would love to hear from you... Keep an eye on our new Web site and this blog for future updates.

All my best!

GI Instructors Bring Down the House

After a week of intense learning and a student concert earlier that day, Guitar Intensives instructors Ernie Hawkins, Del Rey, and Steve James closed the 2007 program by bringing down the house. In a concert that lasted more than two hours, students watched as Ernie channeled the Rev. Gary Davis, got chills during Del's tribute to her idol Memphis Minnie, and were knocked back in their seats by Steve's bottleneck slide guitar.

In this video from the concert, Del and Steve, the dynamic duo, pay homage to early blues greats Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe, Frank Stokes, Big Bill Broonzy, Rosetta Tharpe, and Tampa Red in their song "The Real Guitar Rag."

To find out where you can hear Ernie, Del, and Steve or to purchase their CDs and instructional materials, visit their Web sites.

• Ernie Hawkins
• Del Rey
• Steve James