News from the 2023 Retreat

[DianeB]

We are unofficially under way. I was slumming around Carter’s Vintage Guitars today, craning my neck for the telltale cap and golf shirt, but Dave wasn’t in sight. The shop was busy and I had nowhere to sit with a guitar, so I turned south in the direction of the aroma. No, not Hattie B’s — I mean that new guitar smell. I visited with Britt and Benjamin — Greg was off — and indulged my Macpherson crush a while. Sigh. Back at the hotel, on a hunch, I texted Dave and learned I had just missed him and Keith at Carter’s. We met for dinner at Bonefish Grill, aware that the Deer Run menu doesn’t extend to filet or scallops. Pro tip: if you go to Carter’s, take a Land Rover; that parking lot is brutal.

[Sharont]

Really going to miss seeing you there this year but hopeful we will be there in June for the next gathering.  In the meantime, I will be looking enjoy reading your postings of your adventures

 

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

That’s why I can’t go into stores anymore, $10,000+ guitars are too appealing 

even though I know they’d make me a better player 😂

[DianeB]

Today, reunion day. I began once again at the airport, this year to pick up newcomer Anne from Maine. We had time for the traditional lunch at M. L. Rose’s, then we were off through the balmy afternoon to the Franklin countryside and into Deer Run. New faces and old friends greeted us once more. A full house. What a joy to see Steve again and especially Paulette.

Once we found our rooms, Steve welcomed us and we went around the living room for introductions. After a short lesson in the basics, with help from volunteers Gary and Carson, it was time for dinner. The Deer Run kitchen staff were on their game, with beef brisket for the entree and chocolate mousse cake for dessert.

Now hyperglycemic as well as thoroughly unrehearsed, I led off the student performances with a shaky take on Greg Lake’s “From the Beginning”: from here things could only get better. Our evening guest was Walter Rodrigues, Jr., who entertained us with his bright, warm, and brilliant original arrangements on his customized Cordoba.

We retired to the fire pit in the back for s’mores and conversation. A bright moon glowed above on a comfortably warm night as we charred marshmallows and chatted away. Finally it was time for Steve to put out the fire, and with that cue, we called it a night.

[DianeB]

Birdsong. Acorns dropping from trees and crunching underfoot among the leaves. A lilting melody wafts into the lodge from the back porch. Laughter from the dining room.

Amid the lessons and performances and animated mealtime gatherings, the small pleasures, easy to overlook, can found in all directions. Friday began with a workshop by Walter Rodrigues on arranging. As I recognized the approach chords and contrary motion, I silently thanked my theory teacher.

After lunch, Grammy winner Ron Block offered his masterclass on technique, which could be summed up as: touch. He related a story about Allison Krauss describing him to another guitarist who had to fill in: “When Ron plays, it’s like he’s either talking to a baby, or talking to Jesus.” 

We adjourned to the Field of Honor for the first rounds of the Guitar Gathering Cornhole Championship. Details to be published elsewhere in Pseudosports Illustrated.

Our evening concert was a tour de force by percussive powerhouse Thomas Leeb. We dialed it back for the day over cookies, cake, and Paulette’s hot chocolate and apple cider.

[Plantsman13]

Thanks for sharing, looks like a fantastic guitar moment!   

[DianeB]

The balmy temperatures have turned the season upside down: looks like autumn, feels like spring. It was so warm upon arrival that Deer Run had the AC on rather than the heat. I spent my first night balled up like an armadillo, then I remembered the spare blanket and space heater hidden behind the bunk beds. All better.

Steve started Saturday with a lesson on movable chord shapes. Thomas Leeb returned for a workshop focusing on polyrhythms, which figure prominently in his Michael Hedges-like percussion playing. As we recessed for lunch, fellow student Jim Felter and I slipped out to the back porch where I made another, cleaner pass at “From the Beginning” — and with him playing a duet with me. What a happy surprise.

Practice methods was the first afternoon topic with Steve. Bill Cooley used “Amazing Grace” to illustrate variations in progressions when creating arrangements. Then, the final, raucous, high-stakes final rounds of the GG Cornhole Championship. Last ones standing were the Pickups: David White (for the second year in a row) and partner Jim Nash. Best team name: “All Rights Reserved”, but I might be, ahem, biased.

After dinner, Steve presented the Cornhole trophy, and Vanessa’s granddaughter drew the names of the door prize winners. Prizes included subscriptions to Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Fishman pickups, and a Fender acoustic as the grand prize, carried home by a thoroughly deserving Bob.

He left a gig in Virginia Beach at 1:00 am, caught four hours’ sleep, then drove 742 miles to join us: Matt Thomas seems human enough, but it’s hard to believe. For the next 90 minutes he blew the roof off.

As we recovered in the warm night air, we didn’t need the fire pit. The rocking chairs on the front porch did just fine.

[Sharont]

Once again, it would seem as though another successful retreat is in the books.  Kudos to the GG Cornhole champions and congrats to the winners of all the draws, especially Bob on his new Fender acoustic.  

I am sure everyone enjoyed themselves and as they travel or arrive safely home,  I hope they are able to pick out one nugget of information they learned and use that to further their musical journeys.  

 

[DianeB]

Sunday dawned with the clouds giving way to sunshine, then back again. As Steve started the morning workshop, I settled into the press box with my reporter’s notebook, glanced around, and realized to my horror that I was the only one without a guitar. “Where’s your guitar?” Steve wondered aloud to the whole group. I buried my face in shame (!) and hurried to retrieve it. I thought we were here for the Cornhole.

Matt Thomas demonstrated how right hand exercises in DADGAD can give the left hand a rest while the exercise still sounds musical. As he explained “See how it sounds when we drop to the parallel minor, from C major to C minor?” it occurred to me to raise my hand and point out how that’s a Picardy Third in reverse. I kept my mouth shut, and my remaining dignity for the day intact.

Finally, announcements time: next year’s retreat will be October 17–20, 2024. Maybe, Christie Lenée again. The registration link is up. Guitars quieted, the lodge filled with the sounds of thumping staircases, rolling suitcases, and shouted goodbyes. We jotted our thanks in Steve’s memory book, messaged our photos back and forth, and loaded our cars — as the falling acorns tapped their gentle polyrhythm on the ground.

[Gary Nelson]

Diane, thanks so much for this play-by-play.     Hopefully it is an inspiration to those that may be thinking about attending one of the future events.   It is totally worth it!   And for those of us that were able to attend, it is a reminder of fantastic instruction, but more importantly,  great times with good friends.

[DianeB]

Epilog

One more day on the road tomorrow. Almost home. At Deer Run, I mopped the floor, extinguished a fire, and took my turn in front of the fireplace. (Use your imagination, it will be more dramatic.) For now, I leave you with a final lesson learned, or more accurately, re-learned.

Our guest artists are phenomenal, inspirational, humble, world class musicians. But I can’t aspire to their level of play. I so look forward to hearing my fellow students perform. In them — in you — I can better imagine my future self. Yet of my two dozen companions this week, only five of us elected to play a song for the group. There was time for at least twice that number.

It’s ironic that so many of us who love to make music in privacy are so terrified of performing the very same music for others. No, it’s worse than ironic, it’s joy denied. I get it. Steve gets it: “You sit in front here and you freak out.” People, please: make peace with making mistakes. I have, because what matters is what happens along the way.

I knew my song would be shaky after three days of travel without rehearsing. But I reminded myself that two months ago, I couldn’t play a single note of it. It was getting better. In front of my teacher and my friends, I stumbled here and there, but I caught a little magic. You deserve some of your own. Give us what you’ve got.

It might have been things I missed
But don’t be unkind, it don’t mean I’m blind…
You see, it’s all clear, you were meant to be here
From the beginning

— Greg Lake, “From the Beginning”

[Nancy Lawing]

I'm not afraid of mistakes, but I am afraid of the shakes......that could be a blues tune!  Maybe small groups of 3-4 people would amend the lack of performers?  Thanks, Diane, for the great photo-journalism and your wit and clarity.  Great stuff, fun to read.  

[Gary Nelson]

I was one of the 5 that Diane mentioned (we need to come up with a name for ourselves).    When I relayed my experience to my wife, she had some good advice - don't use the word "performance".    Just think of this as playing in front of your friends.    I volunteered to be a guinea pig in Steve's session on the basics - I provide an excellent demonstration of what not to do.  But I got up there and Steve said - "Play something".    So I start playing his arrangement of "Yesterday" from the Beatles Academy a couple of years ago.   I know that song cold.   I play it at home all the time - fairly well I think.    I stumbled through the first two verses and the bridge - and then - bang.   My mind went totally blank.  I froze.   I tried to restart.    Didn't work.   So Steve rescued me and continued his class.     Then later that evening I played my planned "performance" of "If" by Bread (my wife's favorite).    I had practiced this at home so many times I could play it in my sleep.    I made it through the song - not as smooth as I would like - and since I was playing through Steve's amp (which I rarely do on acoustic at home) I could hear every mistake amplified.    And yes, I could feel my right hand starting to quiver a bit, particularly as I realized the song was almost over.   But you know what?  I would do it again.   I'll be better next time.    And yes, there will be a next time.

[DianeB]

Here are some videos of our guests performing. Walter Rodrigues (blue shirt), Ron Block (black shirt), Thomas Leeb (goatee), and Matt Thomas (blue shirt and glasses).