Letter from the Managing Editor | Happy Camper
What started as a way to go beyond the printed page and connect readers with some of the top players and instructors in the guitar universe has grown into a vibrant online community
Last time I sat down to write one of these notes, it was spring of 2023, and Acoustic Guitar’s brand new Patreon Workshop program was just flapping its wings and starting to take flight. It’s hard to believe that since then we’ve hosted nearly 30 Zoom workshops covering guitar-centric subjects ranging from health, wellness, and injury prevention (with Sean McGowan) to slack-key guitar fundamentals (with Jeff Peterson) to a deep dive on the guitar stylings of Willie Nelson (with Jackson Emmer).
What started as a way to go beyond the printed page and connect AG readers and Patrons with some of the top players and instructors in the guitar universe has grown into a vibrant online community where guitarists of all stripes gather to hang out, learn about new techniques and musical styles, and most importantly, share great music.
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Simply put, it’s been a good thing. And what’s better than a good thing? More of a good thing!
So with that in mind we’ve launched Acoustic Guitar Couch Camp, a two-day virtual guitar retreat featuring interactive workshops, presentations, performances, special guest appearances, prize giveaways, a community open mic, and more. That’s right, instead of an hour-long workshop with a singular focus, we’ve decided to make a weekend out of it! And you’re invited.
I’m excited to be hosting the festivities, which kick off on Friday November 7 at 4:00 PM (Pacific) with a keynote address from John Leventhal, followed by a live conversation and Q&A with John moderated by Isa Burke. We’ll then gather around the virtual campfire for a community open mic, where campers and counselors and guests can introduce themselves and share some songs.
The fun continues at 9:30 AM on Saturday November 8, when, after some coffee talk, we’ll dive into a full schedule of workshops: Arranging in Dropped-D Tuning with Mary Flower; Explore the West Georgia Blues with Jontavious Willis; The Magical Range of Nylon Strings with Laura Snowden; Lunch and Learn with Adam Perlmutter; Get Good Tone with Chris “Critter” Eldridge; Take Your Accompaniment Beyond Strumming with Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers; Bluegrass Improvisation with Stash Wyslouch. We’ll wrap things up with a group strum-along and bid farewell to our fellow campers until the next time.
It’s not all about workshops though; throughout the camp there will be special guest appearances and surprises, prize giveaways from our wonderful sponsors, and all-around good vibes. I hope you’ll join us for some or all of the awesomeness. No bug spray required (depending on where you log in from), and no tents to pitch; just some good ol’ six-string hang time with your acoustic community. For more information, including the schedule of workshops, instructor bios, and a list of sponsors, head to acousticguitar.com/couch-camp. I hope to see you there! —Kevin Owens, kevin.owens@stringletter.com
