Guitar Masterclass/Workshop
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Pierre Bensusan runs, in his home in France, a Residential Guitar Seminar Program.
(Photo: Stephane Merveille)
(Session now full)
Required Level
From intermediate to advanced level
Pierre's residential seminars are opened to guitarists from all over the world, amateurs and professionals, playing any style, from various musical horizons, whether acoustic, classical or electric, and whatever the tuning people are familiar with.
The Way it Runs
This 7 day long session (including arrival and departure days) is opened to a maximum of 10 guitarists at a time. There will be a minimum of 21 hours of group lessons throughout the week, divided into sessions of 2:30H to 4:00H + one short one to one meeting with Pierre at the end. When not in class, people study individually and collectively. Pierre looks after each student in his progression and his comments addressed individually are also shared with the rest of the group. Quite interactive all together.
Content
Pierre addresses issues of musicianship, philosophy of music, approach to the guitar, lots of techniques, ear training and so forth. All together, it's about music for Fingerstyle Guitar whatever the tuning is. Taught in English and/or French, these classes are based on a large concept which is, beyond any style, to fulfill the process of playing to express music on the instrument. This is analyzed and optimized all throughout the seminar by going deeper into various right and left hand techniques, posture, exercises, rhythmic attention, tone and expression. Pierre plays in DADGAD tuning but while the seminar is not about DADGAD per say, Pierre will share his experience of this tuning. As far as your reading music or tabs, it's only a small part of what goes on at the seminar but would still help a lot if you can read at least the tablature.
Registration Fee
930 Euros (19.6 % V.A.T. included). This includes lessons and accommodations.
Preliminary Work
Pierre encourages his students to do some preliminary work before attending: to work on the 16 Arpeggio exercises contained in his first "Guitar Book" (pg 46 through 48, Hal Leonard). Each exercise is a technical key which will be used as a basis throughout the seminar. Also Pierre is asking you to start studying one of two of his following compositions:
l'Alchimiste (Album: Intuite - Book: The Intuite Guitar Book) or Hymn 11 (Album:
Altiplanos).
Download now and at no cost these two pieces from our web site and bring them along with you. We will study them during the seminar.
Download l'Alchimiste
Download Hymn 11
*A guide to reading the signs and symbols in the sheet music is available for
dowload here.
Location
The seminar is situated in France, in Pierre & Doatea Bensusan's home, a big 1830 renovated stone farm with several buildings, in a small and quiet village at the beginning of Champagne country. We are 9 km from Chateau-Thierry, one hour east of Paris, 50 mn from Paris-Charles de Gaulle International airport, accessible by car (motorway A4) or by train (Chateau-Thierry). You will need a car for shopping, and in order to facilitate your logistical arrangements, should our students ask for it, we will provide the list of all the participants.
Reservation & Registration
In order to register for our seminar, please send a deposit of 330.00 Euros (no other currency) by Visa, Eurocard or Mastercard. This is a secure payment. Email us the type of card, the name mentioned on the card, the card number, expiration date and the the 3 last digits of the security code that figures at the back of the card. For sake of security, feel free to place that info on 2 or 3 emails. You will be given a bill and receipt of payment at the seminar. Your reservation is confirmed from the moment your down payment has been received. The balance of 600.00 Euros will be paid
in cash, (No Visa or cheque) and is due on your arrival.
Accommodations
The accommodations are held on the same site in two houses. We have 8 bedrooms (6 singles and 2 doubles) and several bathrooms. Room assignments is depending on your date of registration: the first registered may get the singles if they wish. We also attribute the spaces to people on their arrival, following their taste: some people don't mind sharing a room, some do, and so forth. Our female students will get a private room automatically, unless they don't mind sharing a room with another female student. Couples enrolling will get a single room. Each student has a private space to study. There will be a welcoming buffet on the first evening to start off the seminar. The other meals are left to each one, and a private kitchen/dining room is on site with all the facilities. The last dinner will take place in a restaurant.
NB: Please note that we ask our students not to smoke inside the facilities.
Cancellation Policy
A. Cancellation more than 90 days from the start of the seminar:
Your deposit, less a 100 Euro cancellation fee, may be applied to a future seminar.
B. Cancellation within 90 days of the start of the seminar:
1- If we subsequently fill the vacant spot in the seminar, your deposit, less a 100 Euro cancellation fee, may be applied to a future seminar.
2- If we do not subsequently fill the vacant spot in the seminar, your entire deposit will be forfeited.
C. Should you cancel a second registration, you would lose your entire deposit.
NB: Please note:
1 - We do not refund deposit but keep it as a credit against a future registration.
2 - Should you not attend without having canceled, the entire seminar balance fee will be due.
Arrival in Paris
Should you fly, you will land at Paris CDG (Charles De Gaulle). All directions and logistics information will be provided.
Other Activities
When not in class, students can visit the attractions in the area, such as the Cathedral of Reims (a 45mn drive), the ruins of a 10th century fortress, champagne vineyards, First World War battlefields and memorials, walk or run in the country, etc. Paris is a one hour drive or train ride away. Do some shopping or occasional visits to restaurants in Chateau Thierry. Outside of class, however, most students find themselves quite busy practicing intensely. And the group tends to stick together, playing, eating, and interacting. Our students consider this short stay at our home a music retreat.
Guest Policy
Unfortunately we are not able to accommodate spouses or partners of our students unless they themselves are registered in the seminar as well.
We look forward to welcome you soon.
Doatea & Pierre Bensusan
