Preston's Legendary Summer Guitar Workshop Is Back!
9th to 13th July 2018
Preston’s invitation
“Last year was so much fun we're doing it again! Come join us this coming July at my home in beautiful southwest Scotland. I will be teaching my integrated percussive guitar techniques and compositional approach to a limited number of students. All ages and skill levels are welcome."
Girvan Bay, facing southwest.
About the workshop.
In order to ensure the highest quality experience with the maximum amount of one on one access to Preston, the course will be limited to six students. You will have the full attention of the man who invented the integrated percussive style of playing, influenced players such as Andy McKee and Jon Gomm and taught Ed Sheeran at one of Preston’s previous summer workshops. Come and immerse yourself!
Kathy and Ryan practicing in the sunshine
The Course
The materials for the course will be compositions from Preston’s recordings and concert repertoire (tablature will be provided). Students will learn Preston’s techniques as well as the thinking behind them in both a group setting and one-on-one coaching sessions.
Over the 3-day teaching span students will be encouraged to create their own original compositions using what they have learned.
Goals for the course will be to expand technical skills, composing skills, creative thinking and musicality, and to increase self-confidence on the instrument.
Areas such as how to get the most out of practicing, developing technical and musical goals, tracking your progress, maintaining enthusiasm and focus, and injury-avoidance will be explored.
Road and studio gear, recording techniques, album production, live performance, developing a career as a guitarist and the music business will also be discussed.
The boys playing Ladies Night on the roof terrace.
Location
Girvan is situated on the Ayrshire coast, 56 miles south of Glasgow.
The coastal scenery includes the island of Ailsa Craig, lying just offshore, while inland are lush green hills, with many walkers' trails in Carrick Forest.
Girvan’s attractions include the Stumpy Tower, originally built as a prison. The McKechnie Institute is also found in Girvan’s town centre, as is a variety of restaurants, cafés and shops to enjoy.
There are no fewer than 20 different castles in the local area. Some are mere ruins and others like Culzean are viewable in all their splendour. Girvan also boasts its own golf course and a two-mile-long sandy beach, perfect for an evening stroll.
Accommodation
The Woodland Bay Hotel offers a fabulous range of luxury en suite bedrooms which are non-smoking. All rooms offer 6’ king size or twin beds, colour TVs with satellite channels, free wifi, hospitality trays and en suite bathrooms.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Breakfast and dinner will both be served in the Woodland Bay Hotel’s Beulah’s restaurant. For lunch, Preston and the students will decide which café / restaurant they want to eat at each day.
Evening Activities with Preston
As in previous years we leave the evening activity schedule open so it can be decided among the group. Previous years have included visits to the local pubs, a barbeque at Preston’s house and an afternoon boat trip to Ailsa Craig.
Juan and Jocelyn Celeya with Ed Sheeran and Preston on a boat trip to the Ailsa Craig
Getting Here.
Girvan is situated 56 miles south of Glasgow on the A77. Our closest international airport is Glasgow Airport. Prestwick Airport caters for flights from some European cities. Stena Line Ferries operates from Belfast to Cairnryan, a scenic 35-minute drive from Girvan.
Equipment
Please bring a steel string or nylon string acoustic guitar.
Pricing and registration
Private ensuite hotel room, dinner on night of arrival, three meals per day Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and breakfast on Friday
Total cost £1,200
To register for the course or if you have any questions about the course or travel, please email scarycath@gmail.com
Pricing and registration policy:
Upon registration a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the course price is due, this can be made by bank transfer or Paypal.
The balance is payable in full by 18th June 2018.
Any registrations made on or after the 18th June 2018 will require payment in full at the time of registration.
All payments and deposits are final and non-refundable.
Participants under 16 years of age are welcome as long as they are accompanied by an adult.
If you would like to bring your partner along or if you are accompanying a minor there will be a charge for the additional accommodation and meals.
Here are comments about the workshop from two of last years students
I've been playing acoustic guitar for 47 years, and traditional fingerstyle for 45. I had wanted to expand into integrative percussive style, but my efforts to teach myself had left me quite lost. I thought that I would benefit from some personal instruction, so I signed up for Preston's workshop, and it changed everything. Preston's individualized tips, encouragement and kind feedback made all the difference. We covered the various percussion sounds on the guitar body and strings, tunings, techniques for overhand hammer ons, pull offs, slides and bends, two-handed fretboard tapping, harmonics, and how to put it all together. As study tools, we used Preston's compositions, and tablature was provided. We also covered tips on composition, gear, performance and promotion. I left with an excellent collection of new techniques to play with, and even the beginnings of an original composition to work on - something I had never dreamed I would be capable of. The accommodations were top notch at a lovely hotel by the sea, and after classes each day, Preston showed us around his beautiful home town. The entire experience was a lot of fun and it expanded my guitar abilities as well as my mind in new and unexpected ways. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone who is looking to grow as a guitarist. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Kathy Foley)
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Preston Reed's Summer Guitar Workshop was amazing! It was an invaluable experience learning the details of Preston's signature techniques and gaining an understanding of Preston's unique approach to the acoustic guitar. I discovered a whole new set of tools to play with which led me to generate new compositional ideas throughout the workshop. I left the workshop inspired and confident as a result of the encouraging environment that Preston created. The setting of the workshop, the coastal town of Girvan, Scotland, is incredibly beautiful and the locals are very friendly. I would recommend this workshop to anyone looking to explore the acoustic guitar from a fresh perspective. (Ryan Hall)