I am a guitarist, instructor and performer with more than 40 years experience; proficient in many styles. I am a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, and for the past 22 years have been an instructor and mentor in Guitar Craft. I am also on the board of directors of Seattle Circle, a not-for-profit arts association dedicated to fostering music and facilitating practical music education via workshops, courses, private instruction and performance events.
I am the Music Director, as well as one of the players, in a series of utterly unique guitar circle performances called Tuning the Air. We into our seventh season.
Every Thursday, February 5 through June 25
Fremont Abbey Arts Center
4272 Fremont Ave N, Seattle
Showtime: 8:00pm, doors open at 7:45pm
Admission $10
There is free parking in their lot 1/2 block north on Fremont Ave.
“I can't decide what is more impressive about Seattle Circle—their astonishing collective precision or how their seating arrangement transforms the music. It's like being inside a giant zither; strums, chords, and melodies not only sail over your head, but tilt and rotate around you. The sound moves with a method. Seattle Circle rely on virtuosic listening as well as on cues such as eye contact and gently pushing the guitar's headstock toward one another to "pass" the sound around the circle. The music ranges from winning covers of "Kashmir" and Brian Wilson's inconsolable lament "In My Room" to pieces influenced by the classical guitar tradition, flamenco, progressive rock, and the avant. Seattle Circle always open with "Tuning the Air," a marvelous Steve Reich–like tapestry of meticulously picked notes. ”
The primary focus of the approach I use is HOW to play, rather than WHAT to play, with an emphasis on mechanics, fretboard knowledge and ear training. My aim is for you to develop the skills to play anything you wish, and not simply the things I show you. I am available privately, as well as through several programs and schools.
Private Instruction: I teach in the north end of Seattle. Hour and half-hour lessons available for adults, and children 12-years and older.
For those with an interest in Guitar Craft and the New Standard Tuning, I am an authorized instructor. At Seattle Circle we have initiated a series of Monthly Open Guitar Circles, which give newcomers the opportunity to work together with experienced players in order to discover the power of this approach to music and a creative life.
Plateau Music: One day a week I teach at Plateau, located in Issaquah, WA. The focus there is primarily kids, but I maintain a number of adult students there as well. It is a good choice for east-siders who may have difficulty making it over to Ballard.
I attended the first Guitar Craft course in March 1985. In December 1985 I was part of the first Guitar Craft Level II, which produced the album Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists, Live! In early 1986 I was asked to join the team as an assistant Guitar Craft instructor. I have been involved in Guitar Craft as a student, an instructor, a mentor and a member of the League of Crafty Guitarists ever since. I have served in the role of Director of Guitar Craft North America, as well as Musical Director for the League of Crafty Guitarists. Along with the League of Crafty Guitarists which is currently touring steadily (primarily in Europe, but coming to North America soon), Seattle's "Tuning the Air" is one of Guitar Craft's premier showcases. Suffice it to say, a great deal of what I know about guitaring and musicking I learned from struggling with this material and this process.
You may wish to visit the Guitar Craft website, which contains a complete calendar of Guitar Craft and related courses and events, and complete contact information for Guitar Craft worldwide.
Dear Curt, I'm very proud to have you among my friends and to be among yours. I like your music, and it's a real pity we are so far each other: I would have liked a lot to see you playing. But may want God to happen this, Happy music again, W:I:
Thank you... we had some issues with the sound. I'm not happy with how we did. I don't think we deserved 2nd place, but thank you for coming! I will look forward to lessons when you get back.
Best wishes on the retreat for good work. Posted new tune "Tea Time" which features the "founding member of the Bay Area Crafties", Tony Garza on improvised NST
A quick note to let you know my new CD of "genre-indifferent instrumental guitar music" will be released on August 26th, 2008. "One Feather Shy" can be ordered now at www. clayphonicrecords. com.
TOUR EUROPE 2008 May 15 > Jena, Germany / Volksbad Jena / www. volksbad-jena. de May 16, 2008 > Görlitz, Germany / Apollo / www. theater-goerlitz. de May 18, 2008 > Dresden, Germany / Dreikönigskirche, "Music between the worlds" Festival / www. mzdw. de May 20, 2008 > Rostock, Germany / Ursprung May 21, 2008 > Hamburg, Germany / Café Buenos Aires / www. www. cafeargentino. de May 22, 2008 > Norderstedt, Germany / Ligx / www. ligx. de May 24, 2008 > Quohren, Germany / Kunstsaal May 26, 2008 >Vienna, Austria / NST Day Vienna, Austria May 28, 2008 > Vienna, Austria / Café Einfahrt May 29, 2008 > Brno, Czech Republic / Brnenske kulturni Centrum / www. bkc. cz May 30, 2008 > Svitavy, Czech Republic / Fabrika Svitavy June 04, 2008 > Barcelona, Spain / Show Case at Fnac Triangle / www. fnac. es June 05 2008 > Barcelo
Hey Curt, How's it goin? A friend's band up your way just had their instruments stolen - The Drews in Tahuya, WA. Someone broke into their house and stole 5 guitars - one was a family heirloom - an old Fender White Telecaster. There's pics of the stolen guitars on my site at www. screamingstone. com Hoping you can help spread the word around your area. Thanks and rock on!
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