Nashville

About Guitar Workshop Plus
The Ultimate in Music Education

Guitar Workshop Plus is much more than just a guitar camp or summer music camp. We offer week long workshops in a musical environment at superb facilities in Nashville, TN. Our faculty members are professional musicians and instructors with extensive experience teaching in summer music programs, workshops, private settings, and post secondary institutions. Along with receiving visits from world famous guest artists, our top ranked summer music program allows students to participate in daily classes, clinics, ensemble and student performances, and evening concerts. World famous guest artists such as Joe Satriani, Alex Lifeson (Rush), John Scofield, John Petrucci (Dream Theater), Robben Ford, Billy Sheehan, and many more teach and perform for our participants.

General Course Info

Currently instruction is provided for:

  • guitar
  • bass
  • drums
  • keyboard
  • vocals
  • songwriting

Students elect to study a class or seminar each session. The guitar program is extensive and unique in that students elect to study the style that they enjoy most.

Guitar styles include:

  • rock
  • blues
  • jazz
  • acoustic
  • classical
  • country

 

We offer comprehensive classes covering:

  • hands-on technique
  • theory
  • performance
  • musicianship skills
  • ear training
  • rhythm studies
  • and more!

In addition, most of these classes include a one-hour per day rhythm section class in which students are given the opportunity to play with the faculty rhythm section and apply the skills and knowledge they are acquiring in class to a performance setting. Attendees also rehearse with ensembles throughout the week which will perform at the end of the session.

Classes:

Classes are offered for varying skill levels ranging from beginner to advanced. On the first day of the session, all students are evaluated to ensure that they are placed in the appropriate class level thereby maximizing their learning potential. Class sizes are small to promote individualized attention for each student as well as to facilitate ensemble arrangements.

Seminars:

Seminars are courses which concentrate on specific topics and will sometimes feature guest instructors. Generally, seminars are designed for the intermediate to advanced player although some may be open to all levels. Students are evaluated to ensure that they are at an appropriate level for the course. Seminar students meet with the instructor all day and, because there is no restriction to class size, do not take part in rhythm section classes. Faculty led ensembles for seminars depend upon class size and format.

Clinics:

In addition, all students may attend clinics. Each day, two or three clinics are offered covering topics such as improvisation, songwriting, vocals, scales and modes, building technique, slide, percussion, hand drumming and more. Students are welcome to sign up for these clinics on campus.

Concerts:

Each day at the workshop concludes with an evening concert. These include faculty performances, student jams, ensemble concerts, and performances by our amazing guest artists. This is a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the world’s finest musicians in an intimate setting. In addition to the student jams and concerts, many of the artists will invite attendees up to play with them as well so the fun never ends!!

Location & Facilities

Nashville Facilities

Cumberland University is located just outside of Nashville, TN – Music City USA! In addition to the great location, this campus features great housing, a brand new dining cafe and has fantastic facilities including an auditorium and stage, large classes, and beautiful historical buildings. Nearby attractions include museums and several annual festivals. Famous Nashville attractions include Music Row which is filled with legendary honky tonks, bars, and music venues, The Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Grand Ole Opry.

Discover All The Exciting Things To Do In Nashville!

  • Grand Ole Opry
  • Music Row
  • Broadway
  • Country Music Hall of Fame
  • RCA Studio B
  • Ryman Auditorium
  • Johnny Cash Museum

Faculty and Artists

2025 Guest Artists TBA

 

Our guest artists share their knowledge and experiences with our students while visiting classes, conducting clinics, and performing concerts. Past Guest Artists include: Joe Satriani, Alex Lifeson (Rush), Robben Ford, John Scofield, Steve Vai, Randy Bachman, Paul Gilbert, Andy Summers (The Police), Billy Sheehan, Pierre Bensusan, John Petrucci (Dream Theater), John Abercrombie, Duke Robillard, Andy Timmons, Mike Stern, John Knowles, Rik Emmett, John Jorgenson, Sue Foley, Jennifer Batten, Andy McKee, Orianthi, Paul DeLong, Tommy Emmanuel, Rhonda Smith, Guthrie Govan and more…..

2024 Guest Artists

Eric Gales

Eric Gales grew up in a musical family with four brothers, two of who learned to play the guitar upside down and left-handed in the same fashion that Eric does. Eric released his first record at age 16 for Elektra records to an amazing response from the media and music fans around the globe. Guitar World Magazine’s Reader’s Poll named Eric as “Best New Talent,” in 1991. After recording a second record for Elektra, all three brothers teamed up for The Gales Bros. “Left Hand Brand” which was recorded for the House of Blues label in 1996. Through the years, it would not be unusual to look out in the audience and see artists like Carlos Santana, Eric Johnson, B. B. King, and Eric Clapton, looking on with interest as Eric took his guitar and worked crowd after crowd into a frenzy. He recorded seven more critically acclaimed records over the years and hit the road, mesmerizing fans around the world with his uncanny connection to his guitar. Eric signed with Mascot Label Group in 2017. He has released two albums on this label, 2018’s “Middle of the Road” and 2019’s “The Bookends” both deeply personal and introspective works which have catapulted him into the guitar stratosphere. As both an African-American left-handed guitarist of extraordinary ability and an expressive vocalist, it is natural for people to compare Eric to Hendrix. However, Eric has developed a unique hybrid blues/rock sound that also draws upon influences as diverse as Albert King and Frank Gambale. A unique amalgam of styles, Eric Gales stands head and shoulders among other guitarists in his genre.

Muriel Anderson

Guitarist, Harp-Guitarist and composer Muriel Anderson, embraces music from all over the world with a sense of grace, joy, and gentle humor. If you’re not already familiar with Muriel, you will find yourself smiling when you feel the joy of her music shining through a stunning array of styles. Muriel is the first woman to have won the National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship. Her CD, “Nightlight Daylight”, was chosen as one of the top 10 CDs of the decade by Guitar Player Magazine, and her “Heartstrings” recording accompanied the astronauts on the space shuttle.  Muriel was also named one of the top 50 acoustic guitarists of all time by Guitar Player Magazine. Recent works include “The Optimism Collection”, “Acoustic Chef” and “Sailing Dreams”. Muriel has learned from legendary musicians Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Christopher Parkening, and jammed with Jimmy Page among others. She hosts the famous Muriel Anderson’s All Star Guitar Night and founded the Music for Life Alliance charity.

Faculty

Our faculty is carefully selected and comprised of professional musicians and instructors with extensive experience teaching in workshops, private settings, and post secondary institutions. These talented educators have considerable recording backgrounds, perform around the world, author instructional books and write articles for music magazines.

Sample Daily Schedule:*

Breakfast
Classes & Seminars
Lunch
Classes & Seminars
Ensemble Rehearsals
Clinics/Free Time
Dinner
Clinics
Concert
8am – 9am
9am – 1pm
1pm – 2pm
2pm – 3pm
3:00pm – 3:30pm
3:30pm – 5:30pm
5:30pm – 6:30pm
6:30pm – 8pm
8:30pm

*Times may vary according to course selection, facilities, etc. The first and last day of the session follow a different schedule to accommodate registration and check-out.

Pricing

2025 Nashville Session Fees (U.S. Dollars)

Registration Fee (non-refundable): $120

Tuition (Per Session): $1200

On-campus Room & Board (Per Session): $610

Students attending multiple sessions receive a $100 discount.

Amp Rental (optional): $40
For those students who do not have a small portable amplifier for use in the classroom or dorm.

 

Meal Package (optional): $295
For off-campus students requiring lunch and dinner.

Extra Night: Early Arrival (optional): $110
For students arriving from out of town who require accommodation the night before the start of the session. Meals are not provided until the session begins.

Private Room (optional): $350

Travel Information

Nashville Travel

Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the campus. Nashville International Airport is the nearest airport located 25 minutes away. Uber and shuttle services are available from the airport.

Cumberland University

Address: 1 Cumberland Square, Lebanon, TN 37087, USA

Guitar Workshop Plus would like to thank:

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