The First Annual Accent On Music Guitar Seminar
Featuring John Renbourn and Mark Hanson
October 5-11, 1998

October, 1998

Our recent Accent On Music guitar seminar was a great success. It ran for the first week in October at Marylhurst University near Portland, Oregon. Everyone involved had an enjoyable and educational experience. English maestro John Renbourn was superb in his role of teacher, story-teller, performer, back-up musician (he accompanied several of the students during their student performances), and inspirational guitar guru. With a combination of charm and genuine interest in student's needs, he immediately put apprenhensive students at ease in their one-on-one private lessons.

The Saturday night joint concert was played to a full house in the stunning St. Anne's Chapel on the Marylhurst University campus. I opened the show with a 45-minute set. John followed after intermission with a sparkling set, which included favorites "Sweet Potato" and "English Dance." He invited me onstage for duets on his final three numbers: Fahey's "Last Steam Engine Train"; an old tune with current connotations: "White House Blues"; and a Renbourn classic, "Snap A Little Owl." The encore was a duet version of "Bucket of Rain." Besides guitar techniques and repertoire, some of the topics we discussed in the workshops included improving musicianship and becoming more comfortable performing. A really enjoyable session for me was my workshop on improving your musical ear, and how to develop "absolute" (or "perfect") pitch.

As with other guitar camps I have experienced, it was difficult to say goodbye at the end of the week. Lasting friendships were formed, and an amazing amount of guitar information exchanged hands, not only between teachers and students, but also among the students themselves.

Mark Hanson