Nik Bärtsch and RONIN: Full Band Workshop

Internationally-acclaimed Swiss pianist Nik Bärtsch & his Zen Funk quartet Ronin

present a full-band Masterclass entitled

Polymetric Band Organism: Blending, Moving, Togetherness

Sunday March 31, 2024 / 11am – 4pm PST

@ the legendary London Bridge Studio

RSVP: Steve Ball workshop@steveball.com

INFO: www.tinyorchestralmoments.com/NB


SEATTLE, WA – March 31, 2024You are invited to join a Masterclass for listeners and musicians, all are welcome, no musical experience or ability is required.

The workshop is a participatory experience demonstrating how Nik and his band work together to craft their distinctive sound grounded in polymeter and precision. Ronin music consistently follows the same aesthetic vision under various instrumental guises: creating the maximum effect by minimal means, a principle that has guided their decades of work with Ritual Groove Music.

The workshop complements the band’s Saturday March 30th show at the Triple Door in Seattle. The masterclass aspires to be an enlightening experience for all attendees, offering a deeper understanding of the band’s music and their unique approach to composition, improvisation and performance.

The workshop fee is $150 / or $99 for students, and we have a few scholarships available from our generous sponsors, Seattle Circle, the Seattle Composers Alliance, and Tiny Orchestral Moments.

Space is limited, so please reserve early.

Posted in Seminars, Uncategorized, Workshops | Tagged | Comments Off on Nik Bärtsch and RONIN: Full Band Workshop

Seattle Guitar Circle: ‘Simple Songs’ Workshop

The ‘Simple Songs‘ team within the Seattle Guitar Circle is hosting a weeklong workshop from July 2nd – 6th including a live performance challenge on the evening of Wed July 5th. at the Chapel in the Good Shepherd Center in Seattle.

Repertoire includes compositions by Charles Ives, Chick Corea, Merredith Monk, Hanai Rani, John Coltrane, Leo Brouwer, Erik Satie, John Coltrane, Jon Brion, Jonny Greenwood, Robert Fripp – and well as new and classic pieces by longtime group members Curt Golden, Steve Ball, Jaxie Binder, Greg Meredith.

* * *

Posted in Performances, Seminars, Workshops | Comments Off on Seattle Guitar Circle: ‘Simple Songs’ Workshop

Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists Preparation Workshop

Seattle Circle and Ray of Light productions is co-sponsoring a residential workshop in the Seattle area from May 16th – 21st, 2023.

The workshop will be guided by experienced members of the (international) Guitar Circle, the Seattle Guitar Circle in collaboration with Seattle Circle, our not-for-profit arts entity.

Arrivals: Tuesday, May 16th, in time to settle in and for dinner at 7pm.
Departures: Sunday, May 21st by noon

This course is open to those who have attended at least one Guitar Craft / Guitar Circle course and have an established morning sitting practice. If you are new to this work and wish to attend, please contact us before applying. We welcome both guitarists and audience members alike to this course.  

The conditions at Raft Island are adequate. We will sleep in cabins with bunk beds, with communal bathroom facilities for some. 

Kitchen Craft and House Craft will be key parts of this course. 

Tuition: $850. A deposit of $250 is required to hold your space. The balance is due in full by April 17th, at which point your deposit becomes non-refundable. 

If you are interested in attending, please send an application letter to Dev at rayoflightinc@gmail.com focusing on the following:

1. Who are you?
2. Why do you wish to attend?
3. What is your aim?

If accepted, you will receive information about the exact location, what you need to bring, forms of payment and other practicalities. For any special financial questions, please do not hesitate to ask. 

Covid Policy:
While we may have passed through the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic, we ask that everyone who attends this course to be fully vaccinated. Mask wearing will be optional, though we will follow the local guidelines and current science. If you are not vaccinated for some reason, please let us know so we can come up with a plan. 

* * *

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists Preparation Workshop

Seattle Guitar Work Weekend: SeaProg Preparation

Tiny Orchestral Moments will be performing at the SeaProg Festival in Seattle on Sunday, June 3rd, 2018.

Columbia City Theater. 6-7pm. One set only.

This group of international musicians will meet in advance in Seattle Guitar Work Weekend residential retreat setting from June 1-3 to prepare, and we will be rehearsing from 12-10pm Friday and Saturday at the famous Robert Lang Studios.

This team is special because it also includes special guests Fernando Kabusacki and
Fernando Samalea from Argentina who are also members of Electric Gauchos with Steve Ball and Alex Anthony Faide.

Tiny Orchestral Moments troup meets for special performances and recordings like this one, and each iteration is completely original, new, and unique.

Musicians for June 3rd Performance include:

Nora Germain (violin)
Jaxie Binder (violin, voices)
Kathy Moore (guitars)
Rachael Beaver (cello)
Alex Anthony Faide (guitars)
Igor Abuladze (bass)
Fernando Kabusacki (guitars)
Fernando Samalea (drums/percussion)
Carl Germain (guitars)
Nathan Grigg (keyboards)
Paul O’Rear (bass, guitar, voices)
Steve Ball (guitar, voices, producer)

https://www.thestranger.com/events/25913592/seaprog-2018
http://steveball.com/TOM

* * *

Posted in Performances, Seminars, Uncategorized, Workshops | Tagged | Comments Off on Seattle Guitar Work Weekend: SeaProg Preparation

Seattle Guitar Work Weekend: Bass Camp

Feb 9-11 2018:Weekend Workshop for Bass Players, Low End Inhabitors and Modern Collaborating Musicians. Featuring masterful Bass, Guitar, and Music Instructors from Italy, Philadelphia, Buenos Aires and Seattle: Julie SlickMarco MacheraAlessandro InoltiAlex Anthony Faide and Steve Ball.

Given the presence of some rather accomplished guitarists and a rather talented drummer, please note that this event would also be suitable for guitarists, rhythm enthusiasts and other instrumentalists as well.

Also featuring Special Guest presenters Frank Sheldon and Beth Fleenor – and a number of other surprise guests. Some in person, some via remote connectivity.

Q: Is this course for you?

1. This is a residential retreat: all food / lodging is included.

2. It is open to anyone with aspiration to learn, commitment and growth mindset.

3. The aim of the retreat is to share and invent collaborative practices focused on the Low End: bass playing, looping, writing, integration, innovation and motivation.

4. The musical aspect of this retreat will focus on intensive personal and group work with the bass, and attention to rhythm and the low end of the sonic spectrum.

5. Additional session(s) may include: personal and group practices, tonal innovation, new group improvisation techniques, performance and presence – depending on interest.

6. Teams/groups are encouraged to attend together.

7. Electric basses and/or acoustic basses / acoustic guitars are recommended in the tuning of your choice, and other instruments are also welcome.

Private and personal coaching will also be available on a range of relevant topics including, above and beyond Music.

Applications are being accepted for Bassists / Guitarists / Musicians as well as a small Kitchen / House / Logistics team. Space is limited.

A draft daily schedule will be published at the beginning of February so those in Seattle who wish to participate a la carte will also have an opportunity to plug in and contribute to specific events.

Tuition: $750 includes instruction, food and lodging.
Scholarships and discounts are available for those in need.

* * *

Posted in Seminars, Workshops | Tagged , | Comments Off on Seattle Guitar Work Weekend: Bass Camp

Seattle Guitar Work Weekend: Orchestral Management

Announcing: Seattle Guitar Work Weekend: Orchestral Management 
A Workshop for Circle and Project Leaders

September 22 -25, 2017 in Seattle, WA

Featuring Masterful Guitar and Music Instructors from Argentina and Seattle. Also featuring Special Guest presenters: Frank Sheldon, Patricia Fripp, Tom Redmond, Nora Germain, Chris Doering, Leilani Lewis, Amy Denio, Steve Turnidge, Paul Richards, Brian Lucey and Fabio Mittino.

Q: Is this course for you? 

1. This is a residential retreat: all food / lodging is included.
2. It is open to anyone, ideally those with previous Guitar Craft or Guitar Circle experience.
3. The aim of the retreat is to share proven leadership and management practices that lead to profitable projects, products and performances.
4. The musical aspect of this retreat will focus on intensive personal and group work with the guitar, including application, extension and application of leadership principles and practices designed to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of circle, project and performance leaders.
5. Additional presentation(s) may include: “the Musician’s Business”, Goal Diffusion, Crowd Sourcing, finding funding, new group improvisation techniques, advanced circulation, leadership, and event management – depending on interest.
6. Teams/groups are encouraged to attend together.
7. Acoustic guitars are recommended in the tuning of your choice, and other instruments are also welcome.
8. Friday evening, we will attend (part of) a live show (featuring Amy Denio) to begin the event with a shared, high-energy musical experience.

Private and personal coaching will also be available.

UPDATE September 9th

Presenters

In Person
1. Frank Sheldon – “Frankertronix” Frank unlocks musicians from habits – there is no formula for this, and no one understands how Frank does this. But he does.

2. Christian Doering – “Understanding Why: Better ‘hows’ are great. I am interested “why.” Not about defining a common aim, but about maintaining a connection with it. Bicycle wheel -> to hula hoop transition is one part of that. Also covering 3 enneagrams of a manifestation / performance event.”

3. Nora Germain – Nora is a master musician and master of raising cash for project(s) via PledgeMusic, and she will present a discussion on “Crowd Funding, Common Habits of Artists Who Have Broken Through, Principles for a Satisfying Creative Existence, & Personal Organization”

4. Leilani Lewis – Artist Coach, University of Washington and Artist Trust educator, Leilani hosts an extended course for artists designed to “create a 10-year vision for your artistic practice, set short- and long-term goals, and practice the professional skills you’ll need to turn your plans into action. By the end of her (six week) class, you’ll know what it takes to make it as an artist and sustain their work over the course of a career.”

5. Amy Denio – “Gig Life: juggling the day to day, week to week life of the professional musician, including bands, gigs, grants, interns and working w arts organizations” or a topic of her choice.

6. Ingrid Pape-Sheldon: extending the present moment via photographs of participants for future products.

7. Paul Richards, guitarist of the California Guitar Trio; discussing life logistics of the working indie band.

8. Steve Turnidge: applied business practices, Beyond Mastering.

Via Zoom Video

9. Tom Redmond – “Goal Diffusion: too many competing priorities, conflicting goals or even contradictory goals. Goal Diffusion is a career threatening condition that literally drives us away from our highest payoff activities and robs us of motivation and energy. Other than that, everything is fine! The session will offer examples of Goal Diffusion for individuals and on a team level plus deliver practical solutions that can be applied immediately.”

10. Patricia Fripp – Exec coach and internationally acclaimed Public Speaking expert. Patricia will cover “Stand Up, Speak Out and Connect OR The Overlooked Element in Performance OR All Speaking is Public Speaking.” Patricia is dear sister of Robert Fripp, and she shares a certain aspect of his genius: she works to transform the potential, skills and abilities of execs while Robert works to transform the potential skills and abilities of musicians. Both are hilarious and masterful storytellers.

11. Brian Lucey: “Mastering and Mastery”, or a refined topic of his choice.

12. Fabio Mittino: tips and tricks for the modern working musician.

* * *

Applications are being accepted for Guitarists / Musicians / Managers as well as a small Kitchen / House / Logistics team.

A draft daily schedule will be published at the beginning of September so those in Seattle who wish to participate a la carte will also have an opportunity to plug in and contribute to specific events.

Tuition: $750 includes instruction, food and lodging.

* * *

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on Seattle Guitar Work Weekend: Orchestral Management

Intro to the Guitar Circle and Intermediate Course

The North American Federation of Guitar Circles has announced a Introduction to the Guitar Circle course that will take place in Cuernavaca, Mexico: February 10-20, 2014. This course will be directed by Robert Fripp, assisted by experienced members of the NAFGC, including several of the Seattle Circle Guitar School‘s instructors.

This is the second Introductory course in Mexico, and is open to anyone who wishes to attend, even those without any prior experience on the guitar. Those with previous Guitar Circle experience are invited to take part in the Intermediate course.

Visit the NAFGC website for details or to apply to this courses.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Intro to the Guitar Circle and Intermediate Course

Intro to the Guitar Circle, Cuernavaca Mexico

The North American Federation of Guitar Circles has announced a Introduction to the Guitar Circle course that will take place in Cuernavaca, Mexico: January 28 – February 6, 2013. This course will be directed by Robert Fripp, assisted by experienced members of the NAFGC, including several of Seattle Circle’s instructors.

The Introductory course is open to anyone who wishes to attend, even those without any prior experience on the guitar.

Visit the NAFGC website for details or to apply to this courses.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Intro to the Guitar Circle, Cuernavaca Mexico

Seattle Circle Guitar School Winter Classes

Seattle Circle Guitar School has begun its Winter Term. We are currently conducting three circles; one on Fridays during the school day with third graders at Salmon Bay Elementary, one after-school program for third to fifth graders on Tuesdays at Thornton Creek Elementary, and the third is a before-school class for third to fifth graders on Mondays at Gatewood Elementary in West Seattle.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Seattle Circle Guitar School Winter Classes

Announcement: Guitar Circle Courses

The North American Federation of Guitar Circles has announced two seminars that will take place in Royalston, MA: May 23-29, 2012. Both courses will be directed by Robert Fripp, assisted by experienced members of the NAFGC, including several of Seattle Circle’s instructors.

  1. Introduction to the Guitar Circle
  2. Advanced-Beginner and Intermediate Course

The Introductory course is open to anyone who wishes to attend, even those without any prior experience on the guitar. The Advanced-Beginner/Intermediate course is for those who have attended an Introduction To Guitar Circle or Beginners/Level One Guitar Craft course, and have worked with and applied the principles presented.

Visit the NAFGC website for details or to apply to one of these courses.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Announcement: Guitar Circle Courses