"Holiday Tunes for Solo Fingerstyle Guitar"-a Workshop with Bob McCloy

Saturday , November 18, 2006
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location: Elderly Instruments
workshop ($40)

Nothing puts people in a festive mood for the holidays like music! The music we hear during the winter holidays is as much a part of the season as eggnog and mistletoe. Titled "Holiday Tunes for Solo Fingerstyle Guitar," Bob McCloy's two-hour hands-on workshop will prepare you to play this memorable music in time to ring in the holidays for your and your kin.

This workshop is designed for Advanced Beginner to Intermediate level guitar players who have basic position chords and some basic "pattern" picking under their belts. The holiday selections will range from basic to intermediate level, beginning with two-part arrangements (melody and alternating bass) followed by the addition of moving bass lines and chord accompaniment. Multiple versions of tunes will be presented in order to demonstrate a variety of arrangement styles and techniques.

Popular, sacred, and jazz holiday standards have been arranged by Bob for solo fingerstyle guitar, using concepts and techniques developed during his years as a successful solo fingerstyle guitar teacher and musician. A CD and written music (in both standard notation and tab) are included as part of the workshop.

Bob McCloy has been instructing (all levels and styles of guitar, mandolin and fiddle) music students (ages 4 to 84) at Elderly Instruments since 1979. The experience he has gained in teaching thousands of students over nearly three decades gives him the insight to personalize an approach to fit each individual student. In addition to technique and repertoire, Bob also teaches music theory and ear training. He has remained a consistently-successful and popular teacher in part due to his hands-on approach to teaching. His goal is for students to become musically self-sufficient.

Pleased students and audiences have written numerous testimonials to Bob's talents. (Visit www.robertmccloy.com for background, sound samples, ensemble information, testimonials, recordings, and more.) He has performed at Cranbrook House, Crossroads Village, the Governor's Residence, Mackinac Island, Meadowbrook, Wharton Center, and Wheatland, to name just a few of his recent gigs.

Bob explains, "Solo guitar stands on its own, truly a portable piano." He also recently shared his personal appreciation for solo fingerstyle guitar: "As much fun as I've had playing in bands and jam sessions....nothing brings me more contentment and sense of accomplishment than playing solo guitar."

Workshop space is limited, so sign up soon--and Happy Holidays!

Check out recordings we carry featuring Bob McCloy