2009 Guitar Workshop Plus Program Announced

Guitar Workshop Plus has announced three sessions at two locations for its 2009 summer schedule. Confirmed session dates are as follows:

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• Toronto (Session 1) — July 19-24, 2009.
• Toronto (Session 2) — July 26-31, 2009.
• Vancouver Session — August 9-14, 2009.

So far, some of this year's incredible guest artists will include rock legend Paul Gilbert (solo, Mr. Big, Racer X), blues great Duke Robillard (solo, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Roomful of Blues), bass master Stuart Hamm (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, solo), Hall of Fame inductee Rik Emmett (Triumph, solo), multi-stylist Andy Timmons, rock virtuoso Greg Howe, acoustic guru Don Ross, drummer Mark Kelso, and guitar designer Robert Godin.

Designed for aspiring musicians of all ages including teenagers, adult hobbyists, students pursuing music careers, semi-professional and professional musicians, Guitar Workshop Plus offers students a unique setting for intense musical and personal growth. As well, this program allows for group development (entire bands will sometimes attend) and the family experience (father and son, mother and daughter, brothers and sisters, etc.). The program provides students with the opportunity to study multiple styles, courses, and levels with some of the industry's leading musicians. Having enjoyed the experience of a lifetime, students leave each session with enough material to work on until the following year. The program's administration has been organizing and directing summer music workshops across North America for fourteen years. This unique Canadian program has been sold out the last few years running. Musicians of all ages and levels have been attending from across Canada, the U.S., Europe, South America, Asia, and Australia. Considered by many to be the premier summer music education program in Canada, the program has been offering workshops in Toronto and Vancouver for the past several years and plans for expansion are in the works.

By directing instruction to the student's personal style, level of experience, and musical goals, the program creates a healthy, non-competitive environment in which to learn. Furthermore, in addition to an outstanding faculty roster, the list of artists who have worked and continue to work with the administration is truly astounding. Joe Satriani, Alex Lifeson (Rush), Robben Ford, Rik Emmett, Randy Bachman, Andy Summers (The Police), John Scofield, Billy Sheehan, Pierre Bensusan, John Abercrombie, Jennifer Batten, Sue Foley, Lorne Lofsky, John Knowles, John Jorgenson, Paul DeLong, and Orin Isaacs are just a few of the world class artists on this list. Courses are offered for all levels (Beginner to Advanced), ages (12 through Adult), and styles including blues, jazz, rock, acoustic, and classical. The intensive bass, drum, keyboard, and vocal courses cover many styles and afford students with many rhythm section and ensemble performance opportunities. Each day consists of morning and afternoon classes that involve a hands-on approach, late afternoon clinics (songwriting, improvisation, vocal, etc.), ensemble performances, and evening concerts.

Both Toronto sessions will once again be held at Appleby College in Oakville just west of Toronto. This location has undergone extensive renovations and will be providing outstanding facilities including new classrooms, new dorm rooms, and a new dining hall. The grounds, as always, remain immaculate and picturesque overlooking the lake. The Vancouver session will take place at Quest University, which is located just north of Vancouver in Squamish, BC. Quest is a brand new university located along the Pacific Ocean offering breathtaking views of the mountains and ocean. The facilities and accommodations are pristine and provide fantastic accommodations, modern classrooms, performance space, and exceptional dining facilities.

Resident and non-resident tuitions are available and registration has already begun for the 2009 sessions.