Dendrinos Chapel - Recital Hall

Nothing inspires, reinvigorates, informs, and builds camaraderie among guitarists the way workshops and concerts at the best festivals do. While representatives of venerable institutions of learning from Julliard to Peabody have appeared at conferences and guitar festivals to offer instruction in jazz and classical studies, many other modern styles have not made the cut.

This August 23-25, the Interlochen Guitar Institute will shatter this precedent to offer workshops and master classes in virtually every guitar style. In addition to classical, jazz, rock, acoustic fingerstyle, blues, flamenco, slide, and Hawaiian slack key guitar workshops and master classes, related guitar skills such as recording technique and instrument maintenance will be taught. Equally eclectic gala concerts will cap off each evening.

Artists and faculty members include acoustic master Leo Kottke, classical virtuosos Jason Vieaux and Martha Masters, and jazz giants Gene Bertoncini and Howard Alden. The offerings in rock and blues will be taught by luminary founding guitarist for Kid Rock, Kenny Olson, John Defaria of Kenny Loggins' and Gloria Estefan's bands, Emmy winner and Son Seals band member Jeff Bihlman, and many others.

Enough courses are offered in most styles to keep a workshop participant busy in his or her area of specialty alone, but in addition to courses in enhancing base skills such as reading, scale visualization, and technique, offerings at this year's institute have been laid out to allow exploration of a number of styles. An exciting cross-fertilization of ideas and outlooks among a broad spectrum of guitarists occurred in the Institute's first year. This exchange of ideas was made possible by the availability of lakeside housing for both faculty and registrants and by locating all class offerings right on the same campus. Despite a significant expansion of offerings, all workshops will again be on the same beautiful campus and participants and faculty will again be able to inspire each other in this unique pastoral setting.

It may be hard to tell if this is a weekend vacation or a weekend seminar. Located in beautiful northern Michigan near top tourist attractions, this event can serve as a getaway for the whole family. While the guitar enthusiasts among your crew play on strings the rest can play on the beaches.

The extremely high standards and rich tradition at Interlochen have resulted in a longstanding program for youth that counts among its alumni notable guitarists Michael Hedges, Bill Frisell, and Bruce Dunlap. The 2007 Guitar Institute is for all ages and in the same tradition presents programs to take intermediate players to the next level, reinvigorate professional performers and teachers, reintroduce the best in music making to those who have not played for many years, and give beginners the best start possible. Even non-playing aficionados will find a combination of survey/lecture demonstration courses that can add tremendous depth to their enjoyment of guitar performances and recordings.

Institute technique classes are based on the same approach used at the Interlochen Arts Academy during the academic year. Select units from that program, specifically designed to help players with a wide variety of experience, will focus on practice attitude, body posture, hand speed, and touch. The Interlochen approach has helped graduates from the Interlochen Arts Academy boarding high school program gain acceptance at most of the world's top conservatory and university programs, including the Royal Academy of Music, the Peabody School of Music, USC, the Eastman School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, Yale and many, many others.

The central purpose of this event is to keep the joy of playing the guitar alive for all who attend. While all of us originally came to the guitar for the pure joy it offers, it’s possible to experience circumstances that allow that joy to be diminished. Whether we are professional teachers and performers constantly immersed in the world of the guitar, or seasoned amateurs who have sustained a guitar life only by exploiting every spare moment, we may have reached a point where our guitar time has either become too much like a job, or simply let the hobby and the passion we felt for it slip away. Exposure to fresh ideas, inspiring performances, and opportunities for camaraderie and the exploration of new styles can refresh the vital relationship we have with the guitar and the magical language of music. An investment of time in this highly affordable festival experience can pay dividends for years to come, and inspire a new phase of life as a guitarist.

Each morning 2 levels of beginner instruction are offered, including seldom-taught “Technique for Beginners”. Don’t wait until you have played for years to approach the instrument on a seriously informed and well organized level. For true first-time beginners, rental guitars will be available. The evening concerts will inspire and inform beginners and non-playing aficionados, and each afternoon includes informative lecture demo sessions in addition to the hands-on approach of the majority of offerings. In this setting, beginners will find the inspiration and the vision to see where they are going with the guitar in many styles of playing. Observing a hands-on session will provide a great start to an exciting future with the instrument, and lecture demo sessions are truly meant for everyone, from the aficionado and beginner to the growing professional.

A great intermediate course selection includes building base skills, such as technique and more fluent reading along with pushing the intermediate player’s more experienced style to the next level. A course such as comparative blues will present the best licks and moves from a wide variety of the most important players, and the slide guitar sessions bring that all-important side of the style to life. Master classes are excellent for a wide range of players, since they are in effect observed private lessons, tailored to the performing student’s exact needs on the spot by the instructor, yet always of value to observers.

In addition there can be room in the schedule to approach something brand new, such as flamenco guitar, either for the ability to authentically play with the fire of a flamenco artist, or to take advantage of the inherent way rasgueado increases hand speed. Other options include jazz chord/melody playing or Latin jazz. These courses provide a great opportunity to get started with these skills, and take-home materials provide plenty to work on during the rest of the year. The acoustic guitar style classes taught by John Stropes are carefully structured to include the techniques necessary for intermediate guitarists to become comfortable with the material presented.

Master classes will be offered in every area. Auditing or performing in a master class with Jason Vieaux or Martha Masters provides classical players with the opportunity to refine interpretation and technique, while the class by Gene Bertoncini exposes jazz guitarists to the concepts of a leading jazz arranger and performer. Gene’s work is undeniably masterful and he loves to teach this topic.

An experienced rocker can benefit tremendously by learning the secrets of Kenny Olson, a guitarist who not only was critical to the success and sound of Kid Rock from 1995 to 2005 but is widely regarded as the best effective torch bearer of the Jimmy Hendrix style. The Hendrix family approached Kenny and Chaka Khan to record “Little Wing”, which upon completion was combined with the work of artists such as Prince, Santana, Eric Clapton, and others to create the album The Power of Soul.

Finally, accomplished acoustic guitarists can take this opportunity to refine and expand their repertoires and skills in specialty classes on a wide variety of the dominant artists of the style, and certainly the offerings for blues, slide, flamenco, and other styles also include advanced sessions.

The institute’s lecture/demonstration of some of the world’s best handmade guitars will be of interest to all levels of guitarists and non-guitarists alike. Tonewood selection and various approaches to construction will be addressed in conjunction with performance/demonstrations on sample instruments.

All musicians from beginning to advanced levels would benefit from recording themselves and listening intently to the playback. This self-critical process is best performed with a quality recording .Towards that end, this year’s institute will offer a class in how to record acoustic and classic guitars at home at a professional level.

In addition, the 2007 institute will present a comprehensive survey of guitar literature from around the world that will open any teacher, player or aficionado’s eyes and ears to new joys and insights in guitar music.

Finally, special music business courses will be offered to assist anyone currently involved in or planning a music-related career.

I was thrilled to be one of the guest instructor/performers at the Interlochen Guitar Institute last summer. The atmosphere of the campus, the enthusiasm of the students, and the diversity of the faculty was second to none. Festival director John Wunsch’s interest in a wide range of guitar styles is reflected in the eclectic nature of the workshop, and the openness of the approach is very refreshing. I would recommend this event for any aspiring classical, jazz or fingerstyle guitarist!
William Kanengiser, concert artist and master class faculty

The information and personal attention I received changed the way I approach the guitar. As a private teacher, I went back home with a plethora of information and renewed energy to offer my students. As a performer, the classes at the institute revitalized my approach to playing. The nightly concerts were well beyond what was expected, a great way to end each inspiring day!
Lynn Wiles, workshop participant, Syracuse, NY

As a professional musician and educator, I can honestly say that the Interlochen Guitar Institute is among the finest educational programs that I’ve had the honor of attending. Whether you’re a beginning guitarist or a professional musician, I urge you not to miss this important and inspirational gathering of world-class performers and instructors.
Nick Raffaele, workshop participant, Traverse City, MI

The Interlochen Guitar Institute is a great opportunity to meet, hear, and learn from a variety of guitarists and educators in the vanguard of today's contemporary guitar scene. Personally, I had a blast!
Alex de Grassi, concert artist and workshop faculty

I was fortunate to attend last summer's Interlochen Guitar Institute as a faculty member and as a vendor. As a result, I experienced this beautifully managed event from two somewhat different perspectives. From both perspectives I was extremely impressed by the warmth, interest and support the faculty, staff and students shared with me and one another.
Armin Kelly, Guitars International, Institute Faculty

The institute opened me up to a whole new world of flamenco playing that is still paying off. I learned things I am still using, and I continue to be inspired to pursue more of the style almost a year later. I am registered to return this year. Sam Weber, workshop participant, Suttons Bay, MI

Whatever style of guitar interests you and no matter what your playing level, there is a tailor-made workshop waiting for you at the Interlochen Guitar Institute.

Complete course descriptions, faculty bios, a master schedule, a listing of courses by topic and grid schedules can be viewed at:

John Wunsch has combined his folk roots, classical training, and jazz experience to specialize in solo guitar performances which include a wide range of music from classical tangos and malagueñas to bluesy renditions of popular music, jazz standards, and gospel-tinged versions of hymns. His original compositions include rhythmic Latin-inspired music, unique fingerstyle 12-string pieces, and heartfelt ballads.

John has released 7 recordings and toured extensively, appearing in Europe and Japan as well as the United States. He has appeared in such venues as the Newport Jazz festival, the New York Seagram’s Festival, The Philadelphia Seaport Festival, Blues Alley, and the Blue Note. He has been nominated three times for the “Best Instrumental” category of the New York Music Awards and received numerous grants from Meet the Composer, New York State Council for the Arts, Arts Serve, and The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, among others.

John is currently the Instructor of Guitar at the Interlochen Arts Academy. He formerly served as Music Theory Instructor at the North Carolina School of the Arts, Guitar Instructor at Oakland University, and Director of Guitar Studies at Northwestern Michigan College. He studied with Jesus Silva, Nicholas Goluses, Fred Hand, Oswald Rantucci, and in master classes with Maestro Andrés Segovia, Janos Starker, and David Russell.

His music has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered, network television's Entertainment Tonight, and in films and documentaries in both the United States and Europe. He has shared performance billings with B.B. King, Dave Brubeck, Kilimanjaro, Special EFX and others.

Critics have described John's work as:

"Pure enjoyment..." (Baltimore Evening Sun)
"Extraordinarily original" (Boston Globe).
"First rate!” (Guitar Player Magazine)
"Subtle and elegant... especially sensitive..." (Frets Magazine)

For more information, bookings, and recordings please visit: