News from the 2024 Retreat

[DianeB]

It’s Tuesday, and the scouts and advance teams are moving into position. This year I am accompanied by my guitar pal Amy, who lives a few minutes from me in Maryland, just over the state line. Tonight we’re in Knoxville, and oh, yes, there are guitars here, too.

Yesterday, our first day on the road, was an adventure. We were penalized 150 miles for a false start. Nearing Baltimore, we had car trouble and had to be rescued by AAA and towed back home. But we got all the gear swapped to a rental, ate lunch and regrouped. Six hours behind schedule, making memories by the minute, we reached our destination hotel in Virginia.     

Today’s leg put us in Knoxville with time to spare. Amy, utterly undeterred and ebullient as ever, suggested we go guitar hunting. We opted for Lane Music — she has a soft spot for Martins — where we were welcomed by manager Derek Harvey. He was curious about the retreat. To my surprise, he was unaware of Steve Kaufman’s annual acoustic camp only a half hour away in Maryville, so I pointed him to the web site.

While Amy shopped, I had a delightful visit with a customer who brought his Tele in for service: 40-ish Army vet, cancer survivor, pensioned off by the VA, now guitar was a big part of his new life. His story would tug at any beating heart. We got a recommendation for dinner, said our goodbyes, and set out for Calhoun’s. It lived up to its reputation.

[Nancy Lawing]

So happy you made it there (where's the car hanging out now?) AND to see you online.  Brightens my day, and I hope you enjoy what's ahead the next few days, too.  Keep posting!

[Anne Hill]

Thank you for sharing.

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

Quite your adventure already 

I had a small panic attack this morning with my booked return flight home on the 21st as the layover in Atlanta didn’t give enough time to get in from Nashville grab gear and head to the security/boarding in the next terminal in Atlanta to get to Toronto.

i worked with westjet got a deal to switch to a direct flight home on Monday at 6pm (yes there was some extra cash involved)
so now i can relax not be so rushed

Steve Dosh coming out to get me now (Wed Oct16); we’ll hang out on broadway for a bit

when do you and Amy get to Nashville 

[DianeB]

A brilliant fall day found the Persistent Purple Picking Pair rocking down the highway right to Ryman Auditorium. It’s Amy’s first visit to Nashville. I wanted her to get the immersive experience, so after touring the Mother Church, we hit Lower Broadway. Today’s crazy level was a manageable 3/10, so our eardrums and dignity survived the hike intact.

Even the midweek rush hour traffic moved along. We had time to relax in our rooms at the Franklin-Cool Springs Holiday Inn, then we set a heading for Alexander’s in the Galleria district for dinner. It wouldn’t be right to describe our fare and make my readers heartsick with envy. But I’ll do it anyway: spectacular veggie burger and spaghetti squash for my nutrition-conscious pal, and pecan encrusted swordfish over couscous for this reporter. Oh yeah, peanut butter pie to finish — with French pressed coffee to fend off the cool Nashville night.

[Anne Hill]

Envious indeed, Peanut butter pie sounds good.

[DianeB]

Arrival day dawned sunny and bright and frost on the (rented) car’s windshield in the hotel parking lot. As I let the wipers work, Dave White materialized at my window. “You’re here!” “Where else would I be?” We caught up on the situation in Asheville. Dave had a much longer, arduous trip through Atlanta to Nashville, and was too tired the previous night to meet Amy and me for dinner.

Dave set off for breakfast, and Amy and I rehearsed our song a while. Satisfied with it, we toured the Parthenon at Centennial Park, then it was off to Gruhn’s. Inside we met Benjamin, Michael, and Greg Voros. Some early bird retreaters were there, too. Greg arranged for Amy and I to go upstairs to see George, who showed off his Versitars. We made the short walk to Hattie B’s for lunch, then it was off through the Franklin countryside to Deer Run.

Steve welcomed us and explained the new logistics associated with the second venue. After a short lesson, we sat down for our lasagna dinner, then immediately formed a caravan of cars up to the Valley View building for a concert by Tim Lerch. The caravan then retraced its steps though the winding road in the woods back to the lodge — not without the occasional detour — for s’mores around the fire pit while Greg Voros held court. We laughed ourselves weary and called it a day.

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

I was sort of hoping to have gotten a picture of George and I together, as I didn’t last trip I was here. 
 

I’ll only add Tim’s picture as not to go out of your story sequence 

[DianeB]

Friday’s first business: I left my nylon string guitar with Julio at the lodge for a tune up. Navigating to the Valley View building is much easier by day than having to rely on the stars. Steve led us through basic pattern exercises, then we had a few student performances, in a variation from our past schedules. I accompanied Amy in a duet of “Long May You Run”, which she re-dedicated to my Camry.

Student songs were followed by Tim Lerch’s masterclass, with insights on playing over chords. Another hop back to the lodge  for our lunch of club sandwiches. The food, and even the food service, is improved over last year, when meals seemed to be running a bit behind schedule. We split our drowsy heads into two groups: half for Collin Hill’s workshop, and the other half for Steve on arranging for fingerstyle. The next hour, we switched places

I collected my spiffed up Cordoba from Julio, then it was break time, for naps, chilling out, and the first round of the cornhole tourney. My team, the Dead Earpieces, was quickly obliterated, so I retired for a short nap before dinner.

After more student performances, Collin Hill led off the evening concert. We all were left to wonder, “How much better can he get?” In a new twist, Steve brought in a drummer and upright bass player for a trio, and he clearly had a ball. Good to see, after all the work he puts into these retreats. Cherry and raspberry cobbler with ice cream finished off our day.

 

[Anne Hill]

I enjoy your take on the retreat, wish I was there. I am such a beginner though, so much more enjoyable practice to do.

[Nancy Lawing]

Love the humor and great descriptions in your posts, Diane.  Hope Amy will join the GG family! We need more women!

[DianeB]

Okay, it’s late, but here’s the Saturday report. So sorry, but it was such a full day, I could not manage to post at bedtime. The shuttling between venues is taking extra time and energy. Our day started with Steve’s lesson on using a looper creatively. More student performances, including Barb. Steve apparently had time to fill, so I had a solo slot for “Melissa,” which I sent out to our departed friends Gregg Cobler and Paul Opitz. Collin’s masterclass rounded out the morning sessions.

Then it was back to the lodge for lunch and workshops with Collin on intervals and Steve on “Ashoken Farewell”. We scattered for the final cornhole rounds, solitary practice, impromptu duets, setups with Julio, phone calls, snacks, coffee, and naps.

Now, for Saturday night at Deer Run: first, presentation of the coveted Cornhole Championship trophies (again) to the Nasholes! On to the drawing for the door prizes, which has now evolved into a strategic exercise more convoluted than a back door ii-V-I. Your name is drawn! But — if you have more than one chance to win — do you pass, in hope of snagging a bigger prize?

I passed on winning a subscription to Acoustic Guitar magazine because I already subscribe, and I had three chances to win (attendee, cornhole contestant, student performer). It paid off, as later I won a guitar strap and took the sure thing. There were Fishman micro Loudbox amps, Fishman pickups, and the big prize, a Fender acoustic to Dave White.

The Main Event: fingerstyle master Christie Lenée’s concert was dazzling, moving, exhilirating. Afterwards, we decompressed over popcorn, sodas, and decaf. Christie had CDs and tees; Paulette had a new line of Guitar Gathering caps. Another nighttime caravan back to the lodge, where it fell quiet rather quickly.

[DianeB]

Sunday: the outro. The lodge came to life about 6:30, earlier than usual. We fueled up on pancakes, and one more time, up the hill, around the bends, past the lake, by the cabins, through the swarm of eighth grade girls, up to Valley View. Steve made final announcements and we welcomed Christie Lenée back for her workshop. She touched on (sorry, had to) tapping, hammer-ons and pull offs, the mentality of practicing, and connecting with the music inside oneself. We celebrated our host and hostess one more time, then it was time to say goodbye.

Some left from Valley View, at least one met a Uber at the front gate, while the rest of us returned to the lodge to retrieve our luggage. Hugs, handshakes, shouts, and waves. Amy and I sent our roommate Barb off with hugs, loaded our loaner Corolla, and set off for lunch in downtown Franklin. With the sunshine of another perfect day above, my faithful friend and copilot alongside me, I recalled a byword of Deer Run: I am blessed.

 

[DianeB]

Never mind the concerts, here’s a taste of the heart-stopping cornhole action:

[Steve Krenz]

Fantastic play by play as always.  I love your pictures.  We're often too busy to grab many shots so it's wonderful to see these.

Hope you made it back safely.  We are catching up on our sleep and basking in the afterglow of the fantastic time we had.  Love you guys.  - Steve

[NeilES335]

Looks like you all had a terrific time. 🙂 Thanks for the photos and commentary Diane.  I was wondering... are there any videos of the teaching sessions available or in the works? It would be nice to see some of the instruction. 

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

And of course a special guest “The book of knowledge “ himself 

George Gruhn

 

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

Special Guest Instructors 

Tim Lerch, Colin Hill and Christie Lenee 

[Mike Hoodenpyle]

On 10/21/2024 at 2:21 PM, NeilES335 said:

Looks like you all had a terrific time. 🙂 Thanks for the photos and commentary Diane.  I was wondering... are there any videos of the teaching sessions available or in the works? It would be nice to see some of the instruction. 

I'd really like to see the session on Ashokan Farewell. 

[Eracer_Team-DougH]

@NeilES335 @Mike Hoodenpyle

my “other brother” Doug, videoed most of the conference 

im not sure how wide spread those videos will be outside the attendees 

[DianeB]

Epilog

Amy and I are safely home. We sang our way northeast along the interstates for two days and 800 miles, harmonizing to Mary Chapin-Carpenter (we passed her general vicinity in Virginia), the Indigo Girls, and whoever else turned up on her Pandora playlist. Already we're making our plans for next year.

Thanks for reading my modest diary. Much was omitted for lack of time. I've discovered that when I compose these posts in another app, then copy and paste them here, the text is sometimes illegible on other devices. I apologize for the annoyance, and I suspect the issue lies with this web site. Sigh.

Steve faces a dilemma: how to open up the retreat to all who want to attend while maintaining its intimacy. I don't have an answer: thirty students, as this year, seems to be the limit to the current arrangement. This time the weather was perfect. But cold, wind, or rain might present other challenges as we shuttle between buildings in the future.

Collin, Tim Lerch, and Christie Lenée were all terrific. But I tip my denim hat and bow to all those who offered a student performance. We had three times as many participants this year as last. Way to go, everyone! We had covers, originals, the mirthful, and the mournful.

And to all who were there whether in person or in spirit, you — whose generosity and encouragement and humor and artistry have kept me from going off the rails along this journey — may your music always be a comfort. Nurture it, cherish it, and put it out there in this world that craves it so. 

[Sharont]

Thanks for sharing the adventures again @DianeB.  Helps to make up for not being able to attend in person.  It sounds (and looks) like it was packed with learning and fun.   As always, big kudos to Steve and Paulette for that they do enabling this to happen.  

[Nancy Lawing]

Love the last sentence in that last post, thanks Diane.

[Gene C]

I certainly enjoyed my time at the Fingerstyle Retreat, Many thanks to all of the staff that put it together again for all us.

 

[Gene C]

Student Performances and a Versitar demo by Sir George, Thanks !

Gene C