Total Guitar Workshops

Ever wondered what they taught at music colleges but couldn't go to one?

WHAT IS IT?

Total Guitar Workshops is a series of monthly workshops beginning in March that will present a new, in-depth method of learning of the electric guitar. These workshops were designed as a practical approach covering all the essential aspects of the electric guitar from major and minor scales to four-note chords, tensions, modes, symmetrical scales such as Diminished and Whole Tone scales. The objective of the workshops is to break down music learning, chord by chord and mode by mode so that the guitarist will be equipped the conceptual knowledge to confidently tackle any chord changes, to break out of the box and to eventually learn to play outside the scale.

WHO IS IT FOR?

Total Guitar Workshops is designed for serious guitar students, hobbyists and professionals who are keen on improving their playing or simply wish to take their improvisational technique to the next level. The program is the culmination of years of pedagogical research resulting in the most effective way to teach the electric guitar. The program was designed by Mr. Rizal Hefni, BMus from University of Westminster. A professional session guitarist, recording engineer and music educator, he has been teaching guitar for over 10 years and has had taught at music department at the International University College of Twintech.

PREREQUISITE:

There is no minimum grade prerequisite to attend the workshops but to fully maximize what can be learnt from the workshops, it is advised that the participants at least know the major - and pentatonic scales on the entire fretboard.

WHAT IF I DON’T MEET THE REQUIREMENTS?

Those who do not meet the requirements can sign up for the foundational workshop held on the 26th February 2010 at 630pm at Young Musicians Society.

WHAT IF I DON’T KNOW MUSIC THEORY?

While some theory is important, we at Total Guitar Workshops understand that many guitarists have a weakness in music theory compared to other instrumentalists. However, fret not because the workshops are designed to incorporate only the necessary theory at the right time so learning it will be painless for the guitarist.

REGISTRATION

As seats are limited, registration is on a first come first served basis. The Cost of the Foundational Workshop is $38/-.

For enquiries contact
8th Note Music School
Trudy @ 64651416
Rizal@ 84484754

Alternatively, you can reply here for your queries and we will promptly get back to you. Thank you.
 
Thank you for those who have inquired about the workshops.

The (first) Foundational Workshop on the 26th February is meant as a bridging workshop to prepare the participants with the necessary knowledge on scales and chords as well as an introduction to the methodology of learning Total Guitar Workshops. This session will consist of two 45 minute workshops.

Part 1:
Scales and 'Box' Patterns
  • Major Scale and Pentatonic Scales
  • Scalar Deconstruction
Chords
  • Chord Construction
  • Triads vs 7th Chords
  • Chord Tones, Tensions

Part 2:
Introduction to MODES
  • Diatonic Improvisation vs Modal Improvisation
  • Classification of MODES and treatment of Chords
Introduction to Methodology for Total Guitar Method
  • Shape Shifting
  • Box Substitutions
  • How to use your existing licks in new way to get a new sound

For more information, please visit http://www.theeighthnote.com.sg/

Thank you
 
Hi to everyone who has inquired and apologies for the late reply to those who have emailed.

To answer some of your queries, no Total Guitar Workshops is NOT a clinic if by traditional definition a clinic is usually a one off event. Total Guitar Workshops is a structured method of instruction that is spread out over the course of a year. Each session will cover different topics and build up on what was in previous sessions.

Secondly Total Guitar Workshops isn't so much technique based like a clinic but rather a harmony or theory based approach so if you see any chord or set of chords, you will know exactly how to treat and hence tackle them in an improv type of situation both diatonically and modally.

Finally for the foundational workshop on the 26th February, yes you may register at the door. Thank you.

For more information on each session click http://www.theeighthnote.com.sg/gseries.htm

Cheers
 
Answer to more inquries

Hi all,

Some of you have asked if each session is to cover a different topic and if you haven't completely mastered what is covered in one session before the next workshop date, won't you fall behind?

Total Guitar Workshops is not designed that way, (i.e. for a participant to master one session before proceeding to the next). The seminar pack will include all the notes for that session, backing tracks and other information for your self study. It does not mean that what is covered in one session is supposed to last you for one month. Some may just be content with the easier aspects of the notes while others might choose to study more in depth on the topic and and for these, you will find the notes useful more a very long time.

Also, some of you asked what if you missed a workshop, won't you miss out on what's covered and will you have difficulty catching up? The answer is not necessarily. We are working to have make up sessions depending on the response for those who are unable to attend a particular session.

Lastly, there are some who have inquired what exactly is playing 'out' as described in the website. In the simplest definition, it means to not play diatonically to the given key. Jazz and fusion guitarists always use this during solos, rockers use less of it. There are various approaches to playing out but these will be covered in detail after all the other topics so will be easier to understand. We'll try to get our instructor to do a quick video to demonstrate this. In the mean watch this space for updates.

Thank you
 
Hi all,

to answer a few more queries, the foundational workshop will consist of two 45 minute sessions as well as a 30 minute question and answer session on any topic related or unrelated to the sessions.

Some of you asked what the foundational workshop is for and is it part of the actual program itself. We understand that guitarists come is all levels of experience and not everyone has had the privilege of a formal music education. In fact many guitarists feel that learning music that way is somewhat daunting. We hear you so we have designed a foundational workshop to teach you only the parts of theory that a guitarists needs particularly for beginners and intermediate players who wish to learn modern electric guitar not the classical way.

One inquiry we had was whether Total Guitar Workshops is a jazz workshop or rock workshop. Total Guitar Workshop isn't based on genre. It is simply an in-depth course in the study of the electric guitar regardless of what genre you play. You can use what is presented in Total Guitar Workshops for jazz, rock, pop, reggae etc.

Cheers
 
Venue clarification

Hi all

one clarification pertaining to the workshop. The venue for the foundational workshop this Friday 630pm is

Young Musician's Society
54 Waterloo Street
(S) 187953

The banner on Soft might be misleading. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. It is organized by The Eighth Note Music School but the venue is Young Musician's Society. Just to clarify

Also if you so choose you may bring your own guitars to the workshop but we won't be providing amplifiers. You can however, bring your own if you have devices that you can plug headphones into for instance Vox Amplugs, Line 6 POD express etc

Cheers
 
Good job!

Kudos to TGW for an interesting session today. I went down for the foundation workshop, and it was quite an eye opener. Eagerly waiting for more.

Good job Rizal and guys! Keep them coming! :D
 
Hey Luke,

thanks for the nice comments, we hope that you found the foundational workshop useful and picked up a few things along the way. Till the next workshop!

Cheers
 
So when is TGW starting? How much are registration fees?

Hi waxlyrical,

currently we are resolving the venue issues with our partners and hence the costing. We are looking to have it on a Saturday instead since it would be more convenient for everybody. However, we will advertise again and as well as inform those interested via our mailing list. To join our mailing list simply email your name and contact number to totalguitarworkshops@yahoo.com

As for the actual workshops, each workshop will be four 45 minute (plus or minus) sessions long with intermissions in between for a total of around 4 hours of instruction.

Thank you for your interest in Total Guitar Workshops

Cheers
 
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