Jeff - you might be interested in this class at Wolftrap

[Anonymous]

Sorry to intrude on Website Feedback but I figured you'd see it here. Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek is holding a songwriting class at Wolftrap this Saturday before his concert - only $20 - such a deal!

http://www.wolftrap.org/tickets/calendar/class/beforethebarns/beforethebarns-sean-watkins-s16.aspx

[jsteele]

Thanks. Nickel Creek would be worth seeing even without the class. Unfortunately, I think a class would be wasted on me. I'd need a lot more help than that.

[Anonymous]

Please, I suck and am going anyway - I subscribe to the Harlan Howard "Three Chords and the Truth" theory of songwriting (with some minor chords thrown in...key of G and C seem to be my forte). I need to learn some new tricks.

I wrote a piece of a song tonight I'll take along. WTF.

[jsteele]

I forgot to mention, did you see what was added to Acoustifest:

In addition, this year we have added a bonus feature: Acoustifest attendees are invited to attend "Master Class Monday" on Monday, April 11th at 6:00 PM at Melodee Music's Sterling location. Master Class Monday is an opportunity for attendees to bring their guitar and get instruction from renown guitarist Wayne Johnson.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:I forgot to mention, did you see what was added to Acoustifest:

In addition, this year we have added a bonus feature: Acoustifest attendees are invited to attend "Master Class Monday" on Monday, April 11th at 6:00 PM at Melodee Music's Sterling location. Master Class Monday is an opportunity for attendees to bring their guitar and get instruction from renown guitarist Wayne Johnson.

I didn't! I might be back for that - missing Acoustifest this year unfortunately! I'm going to Charleston that weekend, but I think I'll be back before then.

Did you know that Rob is retiring and this will probably be the last Acoustifest if his brother doesn't continue them?

[Anonymous]

Class was quite good. Lots of Q&A, he played about three songs for us, and talked to us about the songwriting process in general. Found out I'm doing a lot of things right, a few things wrong, and that songs are often run through a computer program that analyzes them for their 'hit' potential, which just might explain some of the crap out there in mainstream

One thing I've had to let go of is being afraid to suck. I just don't take myself as seriously anymore. I was concerned about not being a fantastic player, and he brought up that one should just learn as many chords as one can, and that even if that's only 10 (I can play more - PHEW), that's plenty to write with.

I do have to work on different rhythms and different fingerpicking styles. I tend to like my ruts, but then everything ends up sounding the same.