RE: [Harp-L] Augusta? - Jam Camp? - where should I go?

["Eric Neumann" <eneumann@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am probably going to the next year's Augusta. Sadly not this one. What
a bargain that is. 

I am not a beginner - but had no idea there was so much to learn. Jam
Camps are not STRICTLY for beginners. But, if a beginner is made to feel
very comfortable - it is at the jam camps in particular... it's almost
like the beginners are treated so gingerly in a way, that the coaches
are extra careful to not discourage any of them. And nobody ever has
been dismissed as hopeless, in the two that I was at. 

Neither have they been dismissed or discouraged at the David Barrett
Masterclasses.

The only difference to me is in the overall structure of those two
teach-ins. Although, I must say that I was fortunate enough to be not
only treated to this Masterclass, but also, to have had a very small 6
man session with THE MAN, David Barrett himself. Whatever you've read
about Barrett being a very effective teacher, can only be repeated, or
seconded ny myself. He sure knows how to "switch the lights on".

At a Jam Camp you get a very intimate, personal experience - this is the
only contrast, as in Barrett's classes, there are larger groups
basically going over materials, and there is participation - but there
doesn't seem to be enough time to focus on every individual one to one.
At Jam Camps, you get kidnapped and taken into the hall for your one on
one - and it's a way that the coach can assess your ability, and hear
from you, what you want out of the weekend. That is a different touch
than selecting courses.

Maybe after I see an Augusta teach-in, I will have done the "hat trick"
of harp learning... and I will truly be able to waste more of your time
reading posts. Thanks.

BTW, Iceman, thanks for telling us about Augusta every year - I am
probably going to need the reminder for the next one too. heh. Stay dry.

-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of backbender1
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2005 12:44 PM
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Harp-L] Augusta? - Jam Camp? - where should I go?


Hi -

I've been getting some emails asking me to compare
Augusta Blues Week and the Jon Gindick Jam Camps I
have been teaching at.

I have not been at Augusta in a long time, but it did
leave an impression on me from years ago. The late
night jam sessions, meeting great folks, the afternoon
& evening group classes (with Charlie Sayles when I
was there)....all made for a great learning experience
and lots of fun at the same time. I'm sure regular
Augustaners can attest to how much they get out of
Blues Week, which is a week running I believe from
Sunday (meet/greet & a concert) through the following
Friday night. I can't wait to go next week!

At Jam Camp, it is a full weekend (Fri/Sat/Sun), and
you also meet great folks, have fun jamming in the
evening through the night (maybe not until 3AM, but
then again, you may be up earlier listening to a group
talk), and also get a chance to have personalized
one-on-one lessons with at least one of the coaches,
and jam with a guitar player and later a whole band
that will perform with you at the end of the wekend. 

It is a unique opportunity, not only for the
one-on-one instruction, but to get a crash course on
working and playing with a live band alone with these
coaches is worth the price of admission. Couple that
with techniques from clear single note playing to
tongue blocking overblows (and everything in between)
and you walk away with instruction & inspiration to
play for months.

I teach with Jon because I believe in what he does,
and he is an effective teacher, besides being a great
human being. It should also be said I have found the
staff at Augusta to be very friendly, and the
instructors are great.

They are both great deals, and offer great things for
harp players of all levels. However they are
different, and I have been getting the impression that
people think the Jam Camps are just for beginners.

-Dennis Gruenling
www.dennisgruenling.com



		
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