Firstly, it's very informal. John's head of being informal - that's him with the bare feet!
Both Pete and John are incredibly relaxed and approachable - not that you have to approach them - they're in the same room as you and responding to your questions and comments.
In most of sessions, we split into two groups with a tutor for each group. There are a couple of joint sessions, like this one on Sunday morning where they're demonstrating how to build interest when there's only one chord. "So What" did I hear someone say?
Occassionaly there are handouts to accompany a session. Attendees of the 2006 event still speak about his clapping exercises, some of us actually still do them, but probably not often enough.
Here Pete is demonstrating a comping rhythm. Someone asked what the chords he was playing were. Looks like it was an E7#9 and a Bø at the VII position. Some people knew those chords, others didn't.
The weekend abounds with "Ah-ha!" moments as things suddenly make sense. Past experience shows that lessons are learnt for many months after the actual weekend too as the content is very rich and can take time to digest.
I was so inspired by the two instructors and fellow students who have travelled further along the road than me. I SO want to catch-up... WOW
Start Date: 13th August 2010
Venue: Holiday Inn, Oxford
Tutors: John Etheridge & Pete Oxley
Dates: 8-10 October 2010 26-28 November 2010 25-27 February 2011
Venue: Missenden Abbey, Bucks
Tutor: Mark Bassey
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