Guitar Sessions emphasizes practical playing experience through a variety of classes, clinics, and performance activities for today's guitar player. All participants will be placed in performance ensembles with guitarists of similar training, stylistic interest, and ability.
Who are the instructors?
Berklee's talented and experienced guitar faculty will provide the instruction for the program and will appear in concert and clinic formats throughout the week. The Summer Guitar Sessions ensemble classes feature professional rhythm sections on staff for the program.
What should I bring?
Summer Guitar Sessions is for electric guitarists, so all participants should bring cords for connection to amplifiers and electronic guitar tuners. Acoustic guitars with pick-ups are also acceptable. We provide amplifiers for all participants to use in our ensembles for rehearsal and final performances. No amplifiers are provided for use in practice rooms, so you may elect to bring a set of practice headphones or a very small practice amplifier.
What's the schedule?
The program begins with registration and auditions on Sunday morning, August 15. Classes, lessons, labs, ensembles, and other related events will be conducted beginning Sunday afternoon, and continuing through Friday. The final concert begins on Friday at 11:00 a.m. The program will end by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 20, following a brief closing and award ceremony.
Classes during the week generally run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and clinics and concerts take place in the late afternoon and evening. Jam sessions run from 9:00 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.
Every participant's schedule will include a class in each of the following:
- Fretboard harmony–Music theory from the guitarist's perspective. Hands-on guitar training, including scales, modes, chord voicings, and chord inversions.
- Style–Focused specifics of the style of your choosing (blues, jam band funk/fusion, classic rock, contemporary rock, metal, or jazz). Theoretical concepts as they apply to your chosen style.
- Ensemble–You and your teacher will rehearse and play with other instrumentalists and will perform in concert with your group on the last day of the program. Friends and family will not want to miss these performances.
- Rhythm workshop–Open to all. Learn more about the intricacies of rhythmic performance at these early-morning seminars, conducted by specialists in rhythm-covering the basics to advanced topics during the course of the week.
- Visiting artists–Summer Guitar Sessions will host several visiting artists and clinicians during the week. Past programs have included John Abercrombie, Ronnie Earl, J. Geils, Greg Howe, Wayne Krantz, Peter Leitch, Vinnie Moore, John Petrucci, Vernon Reid, Duke Robillard, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Mike Stern, and Mark Whitfield.
- Jam sessions–Open to all. Play with professional rhythm sections on staff for the program under the direction of Summer Guitar Sessions faculty members. Diverse musical styles in various venues allow you to learn more about your favorite styles and to stretch your own musical boundaries.
Where will I eat and sleep?
Applying for residence hall housing is a separate process. A limited number of housing applications and related information will be mailed to accepted applicants beginning in April, until residence halls reach full capacity. Acceptance to the program does not guarantee a residence hall space. To optimize your chances for on-campus housing, you must apply to the program before April 1 and return the housing application immediately upon receiving it. Due to limited availability, residence hall space will fill up quickly. To be eligible to live in the residence hall, you must be 15 years of age by the start of the program. Call the Housing Office at 617 747-2292 for more information. If you are unable to secure housing in Berklee's residence halls and you are at least 16 years of age, contact the Office of Special Programs at 617 747-2245 for information on alternative housing.
| Summer Guitar Sessions are made possible in part by scholarship funding from: | |
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