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A M THEIR FINGERS ! Phone: 905-845-3824 (ext. 5559) Fax: 905-337-5567 e-mail: rjerred@haltonsearch.com I n s tr u c to r s l e t DO THE TALKIN' From left, D ave Long, from Sooke, B.C., plays a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughn during the student showcase at the N ational Guitar W orkshop at A ppleby C ollege last w eek. Ju stin H unterBechard, from M ount Forest, also plays a tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughn, while Ryan Groves, from San Jose California, partici pates in a rendition o f Sting's Fragile. P hotos b y B a r r ie E r s k in e Guitar enthusiasts learn from the best By Liz Campbell SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER hey come from all over Canada, I and even the United States, to meet and learn from the best in the business. The annual National Guitar Workshop (NGW) at Appleby College is a unique opportunity for strummers, pick ers, and pluckers of every age and interest to meet the stars of the stage and to hone their skills. Bob Hunziker, a Glen Abbey resident, has loved the music of Chet Atkins and John Knowles all his life, so when the opportunity arose to actu ally learn from Knowles, in a Nashville Finger Style class, he couldn't resist it. He and Sheldon Kay, who travelled from Detroit, have spent a con tented week, mastering some of the techniques of the legendary Nashville star. "I love his music and when he's only three miles away, I would have walked -- crawled -- route to England, he stopped in at the Oakville over here to see him," said Hunziker, who actually NGW for a day. He likes to encourage other play invited Knowles and his classmates home one ers to move forward. evening. "I'd like to practice for three months then ~ "Music is a fraternity and my experience is that do this all over again!" the really great players try to share what they've For Knowles who has taught at these work learned with the next generation," said Summers. shops in several U.S. cities, it's a chance to pass on `T he students are so enthusiastic. It's clarifying for what he has learned in more than 30 years in the yourself too. It's a two-way street." business. In particular, he's teaching what he Joel Beauchamps, 17, is back for a second year learned from Chet Atkins, who was a close friend and is in the rock guitar class. "It's a great place to meet neat people and get and with whom he played guitar for 25 years. "These are great people. They come from all better," said the Glen Abbey resident. "My tech over the world to take a guitar vacation," said niques really improve after this and it shows when Knowles. "So many people are really mastering I play with my metal band." the techniques of the great artists. You know what? In the same class, Kevin Hilton, 13, is there for I'm glad I don't have to get in the front of the line the first time. "I thought this would be a really and audition now." good experience for me," said the young Oakville In a different classroom, another legend chats student. "I'd like to play rock guitar." In a small auditorium, Trevor Colm is impro comfortably with a group of eight students. These days, Andy Summers, lead guitarist for the '70s vising with a blues class playing Santana's Black and '80s rock band, Police, lives in Los Angeles Magic Woman. "I've been playing for six years; I playing jazz with the Andy Summers Trio. En love the guitar," said the 16-year-old Glen Abbey resident, "and here we get to play a lot every day." In fact, students spend five hours a day in a small class, then do ensemble work some evenings, explained Brian Murray, director of the National Guitar Workshops. Other evenings there are concert/clinics. When jazz legend, Larry Coryell, gave his con cert last week, he stayed until after midnight, chat ting and playing with students. "That's what this place is about," said Murray. "It's about feedback, sharing musical ideas, learn ing from the best." Next year, the National Guitar Workshops cele brates its 20th year. For 11 of those years it has been operating in Oakville -- its only Canadian venue. The other seven campuses of NGW are in the U.S. The six-day program offers guitar lovers, from begin ner through advanced, an opportunity to learn from the best and encounter others who love the instru ment. Tuition is $750 and includes accommodation at Appleby College, all meals and courses. For infor mation on future workshops, call 905-785-7087. Above, Glen Abbey resident Bob Hunziker, centre, and Sheldon Kay, from Detroit, left, couldn't pass up the chance to participate in a Nashville Finger Style class put on by legendary N ashville guitarist John Knowles. "I love his music and when h e's only three m iles away, I would have walked -- crawled -- over here to see him ," said Hunziker. Top, left, Trevor Colm , from Glen Abbey, "loves the guitar" and was pleased to be able to play a lot every day. Joel Beaucham ps, also from Glen Abbey, is back for a second year. "M y techniques really im prove after this and it shows when I play with my m etal band," he said. Next year, the National G uitar W orkshops celebrates its 20th year. For 11 o f those years it has been operating in Oakville -- its only Canadian venue. P hotos b y R on K uzyk