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One-Day Workshops and
Other Events at Gryphon

Seats are limited on all workshops.
Though tickets are generally available on the day of the workshop,
popular wokshops sell out before the event.
Call or stop by the shop to get your ticket in advance. 650-493-2131

Uke For Beginners

This Week
Sat, May 19, 2012 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Cost: $40.00

Hiram Bell
hirambell.com

The ukulele is a fun and easy instrument to play. Its distinctive sound has intrigued people worldwide for many years. Today it enjoys a soaring popularity! This class will cover the basics of playing an ukulele. Emphasis will be on the following topics: ukulele notation and tablature; the magic 3 chords needed to play hundreds of songs, strumming and picking technique; using major and minor scales to improvise.

Intermediate Ukulele

This Week
Sat, May 19, 2012 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Cost: $40.00

Hiram Bell
hirambell.com

Not just a novelty instrument, the 'ukulele has made strides towards higher forms of musical interpretation. Originally relegated to the role of ballad accompaniment, the 'uke has now become a front instrument. This course will cover skills needed to perform more challenging music. Topics include the following: spelling chords, arrangements and compositions, strumming and picking, modal scales, improvising in different styles of music.

Hiram Bell is a native Hawaiian born and raised in Honolulu. He has been teaching the ukulele for more then 15 years and has developed a method of teaching that fascilitates faster learning. He is a multi-instrumentalist teaching and performing various styles of music in various venues in the bay area. For more info google hirambell.com

Taylor Guitars Service Event at Gryphon

Thu, May 31, 2012 from 6:00 pm to 12:00 am
Cost: Free!

Taylor Guitars

Join us at Gryphon Stringed Instruments for an exclusive service event. Meet Taylor Service Network Manager Rob Magargal, who will demonstrate Taylor's innovative guitar designs including the NT neck and ES electronics. Meet Gryphon's service staff and Taylor sales reps Billy Gill, Aaron Dablow and Zach Arntz. Learn more about proper guitar care and maintenance. Come early to hang and play some incredible one-off Taylors!
The fun begins at 6:00 pm and lasts until 9:00
Admission is free and open to the public.

Western Singing (Cowboy Songs)

Sat, Jun 02, 2012 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Cost: $40.00

Liz Masterson

Join Denver's consummate cowgirl, Liz Masterson, for a rare chance to learn some classic Cowboy Songs. From the cattle drives of the 1880's to the Silver Screen of the 1930's, you'll learn songs from the standard western repertoire. Songs include the "Old Chisholm Trail" "Red River Valley" and "Ghost Rider's in the Sky" as well as singing techniques to give your voice that classic western sound. For singers of any level who can hold a melody or just need a little help. Liz's teaching style emphasizes having fun, building confidence and ending on a HAPPY NOTE! Liz provides a practice CD and handouts.

Western Yodeling

Sat, Jun 02, 2012 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Cost: $40.00

Liz Masterson

Do you yearn to yodel? If so this is the class for you. Liz Masterson, from Denver, CO, is in the Bay Area for a few days! Liz learned to yodel from the legendary, Patsy Montana, and the two of them performed together many times over a 14 year span. In 2007, Liz yodeled on Myth busters! She has taught yodeling to students across the country and she can help you find your "inner yodeler!" In this class you'll learn all the basics from Jimmie Rodgers to Roy Rogers and plenty in between. For students with previous singing experience, you must be able to carry a tune. You'll learn how to find the "break" in your voice, and the tools for decoding ANY fancy yodel!! Explore how to find YOUR key for each Yodeling Pattern. This class is designed for those who really want to learn this vocal technique, even if it is just to accompany yourself on a hike! This is a participatory class, so no curious spectators allowed! Liz provides a practice CD and handouts.

Liz Masterson has recorded 8 albums of Western, Swing and Yodeling songs. In 2009, her CD, ROADS to COLORADO, received the Will Rogers Award for Best Western Album. She was also honored as Best Female Performer by the Western Music Association. In 2011, Liz yodeled a duet with Ranger Doug of Riders in the Sky.

Liz's teaching venues include PSGW, Augusta Heritage Center, Greater Yellowstone Music Camp, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Swallow Hill Music, Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities and many more.

Finger-style Ukulele By Ear (All Levels)

Sat, Jun 09, 2012 from 11:00 am to 12:14 pm
Cost: $30.00

Jim D'Ville
http://playukulelebyear.blogspot.com

Not only is the ukulele a great instrument for strumming, it's also well-versed for learning to finger-pick. In this unique approach to finger-style playing you'll learn the basics of finding the melodies and licks to your favorites songs by ear. 74 minutes.

Jam By Ear (All Levels)

Sat, Jun 09, 2012 from 12:30 pm to 1:59 pm
Cost: $30.00

Jim D'Ville
http://playukulelebyear.blogspot.com

Making music is fun, and even more fun when you are not staring at a songbook. In this fun and interactive workshop Jim will lead you through a dozen or more great songs from the rock, pop, folk and blues genres without any handouts. You'll learn basic song structure, arranging and the Nashville Number System. Before you know it you'll be ready to join any jam fearlessly. 74 minutes.

*Take both workshops for $50.
.
Bio
Jim D'Ville is an internationally recognized ukulele instructor and educator. He is the host of the popular Play Ukulele By Ear website (http://www.playukulelebyear.com), and author of the popular Play Ukulele By Ear DVD series. Jim teaches at festivals and ukulele clubs throughout the United States, Australia and Canada.

Carol McComb's Summer Workshops, Early Bird Special

Mon, Jun 18, 2012 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Cost: $160.00

Carol McComb
www.carolmccomb.com
email: carol@carolmccomb.com

SUMMER 2012 FOLK GUITAR WORKSHOPS
June 18 - August 29
(No classes the week of July 9 and the week of July 30)

MONDAYS
5:00 - Starting to Play (level 1) (choice of two times)
6:00 - Folk Favorites #2 (level 2)
7:00 - Starting to Play (level 1) (choice of two times)
8:00 - Folk Standards (level 1-2)

TUESDAYS
5:00 - Light Rock & Pop #1 (level 2+) (intro to flatpicking)
6:00 - Already Picking Some (level 2-3)
7:00 - Modern Folk and Country #3 (level 3-4)
8:00 - Songwriting - Rhythm, Rhyme and Harmony Part 2

WEDNESDAYS
5:00 - Country Classics #2 (level 2-3)
6:00 - Easy Acoustic Rock #1 (level 2-3)
7:00 - Beginning Singing (no guitar level)
8:00 - Harmony Singing - All Styles New songs!

All workshops are one hour long and cost $160.
Gryphon has loaner guitars available for "Starting to Play" only. Call Gryphon for details.

Take two workshops during the same quarter and discount your second class by $10
Returning students only: Sign up by Friday, September 2 and take $10 off each class.

Contact Carol to sign up
www.CarolMcComb.com
Email: Carol@CarolMcComb.com
650-260-2654

Chord Theory for The Mandolin

Sat, Jun 23, 2012 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Cost: $40.00

Tim Connell and Jack Dwyer

Have you ever wondered how jazz players can possibly remember all those chords in a song? Does "All the Things You Are" seem more like "All the Chords I Know"?

Tim and Jack team up to help the student break chord-filled, seemingly complex progressions down to their basic building blocks. Students will learn easy 3-finger chords for the entire 12-bar Jazz Blues progression in G major. Students will leave this workshop able to play the three different inversions of the major and minor chords - six movable chord shapes. Students will learn how to locate the scale tones 1, 3 and 5 so that they can build their own chords anywhere on the mandolin neck. Handouts of the progressions, chord diamond visual aids and all fingerings will be given for future reference. (All Levels Welcome)

For further info or questions, contact Tim Connell at TimConnellMusic.com .

Grateful Dead for Acoustic Guitar

Sat, Jun 30, 2012 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Cost: $40.00

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
www.jeffreypepperrodgers.com

Bring the music of the Grateful Dead to life on your guitar in this workshop taught by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine, based on his DVD Learn Seven Classic Grateful Dead Songs for Acoustic Guitar (Homespun). Jeffrey shows you not only how to play the chords and create powerful grooves behind your singing on songs like "Ripple," "Fire On the Mountain," and "Stella Blue," but also how to add cool embellishments and lead breaks inspired by the Dead's live and studio performances. Listen to songs and watch a video sample at:
www.deadtothecore.com

Jeffrey, author of Teach Yourself Guitar Basics and Rock Troubadours, interviewed both Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir in depth about their guitar and songwriting styles, and draws on insights from those conversations to capture the soul of their timeless songs.

"Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers sure can play the music-listen to his 'Stella Blue' and you'll know what I mean. Better still, he can teach it."
-Dennis McNally, Grateful Dead publicist and author, A Long Strange Trip: The Inside History of the Grateful Dead

Songwriting Basics for Guitarists

Sat, Jun 30, 2012 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Cost: $40.00

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
www.jeffreypepperrodgers.com

Get started with songwriting or hone your craft in this workshop with Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine and a grand prize winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Jeffrey helps you understand chord progressions and uncover song ideas, and shares songwriting tips gleaned from his firsthand interviews with such legends as Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, and Joni Mitchell.

A multifaceted singer-songwriter and journalist, Jeffrey is author of Teach Yourself Guitar Basics, The Complete Singer-Songwriter, the Homespun video Learn Seven Grateful Dead Classics for Acoustic Guitar, and the interview collection Rock Troubadours. He teaches courses at Syracuse University on songwriting and creative nonfiction writing.
http://www.jeffreypepperrodgers.com

Monroe Style Mandolin Workshop

Sat, Jul 07, 2012 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Cost: $100.00

Mike Compton
www.mikecompton.net

The workshop focuses primarily on the mandolin style of the late Bill Monroe. A brief history of Monroe's life, influences, and regional culture is covered to give the student an overall view of who the man was and what theoretically shaped the man and his sound. The objective of this section is to lend emotional perspective to the student's pursuit of Monroe's sound.

The class will spend some time covering the suggested right hand usage. This topic cannot be overstressed, as it is the most difficult aspect of Monroe's music. Without a working knowledge and understanding of the proper usage of the right hand grip/stroke, Monroe's work, in my opinion, is virtually impossible to duplicate. A brief description of the preferred left hand technique will be introduced and will be followed with a section on the more obvious techniques/ devices used in the 'language'. Some of these include tone variation, triplets, tremolos, downstrokes, slides, melody insinuation, rhythm as melody, tunings, etc. Recorded audio examples to illustrate points discussed may be included as deemed necessary. We will take a look at material from the entire range of Monroe's career, from the first string band days to his "last days on earth". Tab/standard notation will be used in order that the class as a whole will be able to reproduce covered material.

The workshop is geared toward intermediate level players interested in learning more specifically how to play the Monroe bluegrass mandolin style. All skill levels are welcome however. Some knowledge of how to read standard notation and/or tablature will be very helpful, obviously. Efforts will be made to accommodate everyone and to answer every question as no question is considered "too simple". Students should come prepared to actively participate. The class is not intended as a lecture. (Intermediate, but all levels welcome)

About Mike Compton:
Grammy award winner Mike Compton is perhaps best known as the
featured mandolin player on the "Oh, Brother Where Art Thou" movie and
soundtrack. He also performed on the "Down From The Mountain Tour",
as well as the "Cold Mountain Tour". Mike has made a powerful mark in
the bluegrass and old-time music circles as one of the most influential
mandolin players in the world. He has collaborated with such diverse notables as John Hartford, Ralph Stanley, David Grier, Sting, Elvis Costello, and T-Bone Burnett. Mike treasures his memories of a friendship with his mentor, Bill Monroe, and has "wholeheartedly concentrated on the art of Bill Monroe and the
furtherance of his musical legacy." (STOMP, 2006) Mike currently plays mandolin with the Nashville Bluegrass Band which has won two Grammy Awards, two Entertainer of the Year honors from IBMA, and four wins as IMBA's Vocal Group of the Year.

Solo Jazz Guitar (Chord Melodies and Voice Leading) and MUSIC MILITARY!- Atten----SHUN!

Sat, Jul 14, 2012 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Cost: $40.00

Matthew Yeakley and Lindsey Boullt
www.matthewyeakley.com

Matt and Lindsey will be splitting this guitar workshop into two parts:
Solo Jazz Guitar (Chord Melodies and Voice Leading) and
MUSIC MILITARY!- Atten----SHUN!

Part 1, Solo Jazz Guitar (Chord Melodies and Voice Leading)
In the first workshop, Matt will teach several solo jazz guitar arrangements using easy jazz chords. After you learn the arrangements of tunes like Blue Monk and Polkadots and Moonbeams, you will learn how to create your own solo guitar chord melodies, using easy jazz chords and voice leading. Some familiarity with basic chord shapes is suggested but all levels are welcome.

Part 2, MUSIC MILITARY!- Atten----SHUN!
Begin building world class NAVY SEALS chops NOW! You will dramatically increase the implementation of YOUR chops and fretboard knowledge - NOW - with this highly effective drill. And the funny thing, it's hiding in every theory book about page 30!

For further info or questions, see Matthew Yeakley at www.matthewyeakley.com