View Photo Gallery from the 2000 Seminar

August 14, 2000

The Third Annual Accent On Music Guitar Seminar featuring Laurence Juber, Pat Kirtley, and Mark Hanson is now history, but will not soon be forgotten.

Nearly 30 students spent the entire week learning from these masters of fingerstyle guitar. Each day started out with a great group workshop. These were highlighted by the opening day's "Arranging for Solo Guitar" session with all three teachers in front of the class comparing their approaches. Highly entertaining and enlightening, even for the teachers!

Mini-master classes with five or six students per teacher made up the rest of the classroom hours. Each student met with each teacher every day in this setting, with personalized attention a priority.

Private concerts for the students by local virtuosos Terry Robb and Doug Smith took place after dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Thursday and Friday evening highlights were the student performances in front of their peers. Students were welcome to invite the teachers to back them up as they played. Whatever their technical level, all of the students did wonderfully during their performances--several even playing original compositions. Bravo!

On Saturday morning the students were treated to a stunning performance of virtuosity and musicianship by former national flatpicking champion Stephen Bennett. Stephen caused jaws to drop as he fingerpicked magnificent 6-string, slide, and harp-guitar tunes. He even pulled out his plectrum and flashed some of those championship flatpicking licks.

Saturday evening was the public performance by Juber, Kirtley, and Hanson. Mark opened the show with a half-hour set of original compositions--one of which has been airing regularly on "Martha Stewart Living"--and his arrangements of Ray Charles' "You Don't Know Me" and "Shuffle Rag" from Big Bill Broonzy.

Pat Kirtley followed in the first set with a half-hour of Kentucky thumbpicking, with a bit of Irish melodicism thrown in. Pat invited Mark back onstage for an instrumental duet version of the Orleans pop tune "Dance With Me."

After intermission, Laurence Juber thrilled the crowd with 45 minutes of fingerstyle virtuosity. Rhythmic complexity, blazing speed, and stunning clarity are the hallmarks of this Grammy winner's style. All combined with a relaxed, witty stage presence. After a standing ovation and an encore, Laurence invited Pat and Mark back onstage for a trio of trios: Chet Atkins' "Sails," Django Reinhardt's "Nuages," and "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." Hot licks and beautifully sensitive ensemble playing precipitated another standing ovation as the concert ended.

Sunday morning witnessed sad goodbyes and vows of "See you here next year" as the airport limousines pulled away from Marylhurst.

As one student stated: "This was like my nirvana!"

A great time was had by all. Hope to see many of you next year!

Mark Hanson