Our 2025 Seminars include:
Classic Rock Styles (Toronto Session) With special guests Rik Emmett & Joel Hoekstra
Classic Rock from the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s has proven the test of time and remains one of the more popular genres. From the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Hendrix, and the Allman Brothers to The Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and Aerosmith, this course will cover all the necessary elements of the classic rock sound which continues to influence bands today. This style incorporates a strong blues base and slick scales with memorable phrases for soloing techniques. Designed for intermediate to advanced players, topics will include an analysis of chord progressions, extensive study of pentatonics, modes, arpeggios, rhythm patterns, learning by ear, tone, phrasing, improvising, fretboard visualization and developing your own voice and style. An analysis of solos from some of the most famous classic rock tunes and using guitar harmony with two or more players will also be covered. Joel Hoekstra and Hall of Famer Rik Emmett will pay a special visits to this class.
The Complete Rock Guitarist (San Diego Session) with special guest Phil X
This seminar will give you the tools to create your own style. Influences are important in a player but learning to cut your own path will give you longevity and get you noticed amongst your piers and listeners. Topics include creating your own guitar lines and phrases by thinking outside of the box and breaking stale practice routines of scales and chords, being able to move freely around the guitar when chording and creating riffs, user friendly theory that can be applied right away, fretboard visualization, and target notes. Techniques such as legato, tapping, economy, alternate, and sweep picking will also be covered. There will be lots of in class jamming and plenty of examples that you can take home and practice. Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X will visit and work with this class!
Bass Groove Academy (San Diego Session) With special guest Stuart Hamm
Virtuoso Rock Guitar (Nashville Session) with Keith Greenwood and special guest Steve Morse
Perfect for the rock player looking to take their playing to the next level, this course will analyze the styles of some of the leading players in this genre such as Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, and John Petrucci. This seminar will cover topics such as speed, tone, phrasing, arpeggios, and modes. Various technical aspects will be covered including sweep picking, hybrid picking, tremolo technique, harmonics, tapping, double tapping, developing speed while maintaining accuracy, legato development, string skipping, and odd groupings using alternate picking.. Theoretical concepts including pentatonic and diatonic scales, arpeggio/chord construction, harmony, the use of chords and chord progressions, and fretboard visualization are also covered. Students will be thrilled when guitar virtuoso Steve Morse visits and works with this class.
Deep Blues with Dennis McCumber (Toronto Session)
Join us for an exciting and immersive blues seminar for guitarists of all levels looking to deepen their understanding of the blues genre. Whether you’re a budding guitarist or a seasoned player looking to refine your technique, this seminar offers a comprehensive exploration of both traditional and modern blues methods. Explore various chord voicings that create rich, expressive sounds. Learn about extended chords and variations to add color to your playing. Understand how to use chord inversions effectively for smoother transitions. We will dive into essential blues scales, including the minor pentatonic and the blues scale, major scale patterns and sequences that will enhance your improvisation skills and discover how to connect scales and chords for more fluid soloing. Master classic blues techniques such as slides, bends, and hammer-ons, learn about call-and-response playing to emulate the traditional blues structure, and study influential blues artists and their signature styles for inspiration. This seminar is perfect for guitarists of all levels looking to deepen their understanding of the blues genre. Whether you’re looking to enhance your improvisation skills, or simply enjoy the rich history of blues music, this seminar is for you.
Planet Acoustic (Nashville Session) With Daelin Henschel
Look no further if you have been searching for a class to lift you and your acoustic guitar right off the ground and out of this world. This seminar takes you on a transformational journey, exploring avenues to help you morph your instrument into a three-dimensional “Band-in-a-Box” creating the spellbinding sound of a full band coming from just one guitar and one player. The class will examine fingerstyle and flat picking techniques, vocal accompaniment, altered guitar tunings, two-handed rhythmic tapping, harmonics, specialized right hand techniques (eg. tapping harmonics), stylistic genre, scales and arpeggios, ensemble play, and applied music theory. From the legendary stylings of Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel to the modern acoustic stylings of Michael Hedges and Andy McKee, this course will teach you ways to bring the acoustic guitar to the forefront as a solo and accompanying instrument.
