Thursday, October 31, 2013

New Guitar Classes


CLASS INFORMATION & UPDATES

New classes at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center .. 

Starting on Monday, Jan. 6

 

CALL 704-216-7714 to Sign-Up Now !

 

    • Come have FUN and LEARN to PLAY the GUITAR !
 
    • Six week classes running from January 6 through February 24.


    • This class will only cost $30 (including workbook).  

    • Regular eight-week classes will resume in March for the regular cost of $35 (including workbook). 



    • Absolute Beginner Class (ABC's) from 1:30 to 2:30 pm
THIS CLASS IS FOR YOU IF YOU HAVE NEVER PLAYED THE GUITAR or
 IF YOU ARE WANTING TO RE-LEARN THE GUITAR 

    • Beginner 2 Class (ABC's) from 2:45 to 3:45 pm
THIS CLASS IS FOR YOU IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED MY "ABSOLUTE BEGINNER CLASS" .. 
& YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH A MORE FAST PACE OF TEACHING


    •  Intermediate Class  from 4:00 to 5:00 pm 
THIS CLASS IS FOR YOU IF YOU ALREADY PLAY THE GUITAR and
CAN ALREADY PLAY BASIC CHORDS AND SONGS

    •  We will be focusing on learning the basics of chord strumming and note reading during this session, plus learning to play new songs


    • Sign-Up NOW - by calling RHSC (Rufty-Holmes) at 704-216-7714 


Thursday, October 24, 2013

Bob Bennett- In Concert


 


Singer/songwriter and guitarist Bob Bennett, from the Los Angeles CA area, will be appearing "Live in Concert" this Sunday, Oct. 27 @ 3pm afternoon show in Columbia, SC. 

Bob rarely appears on the East Coast, so this is a musical event that is both rare and exciting.

What makes it even more rare is that this show is FREE.   An offering will be taken for the artist.

If you would be interested in attending this concert event, please reply to this post in the comment section and we will contact you with more information.


Tuesday, October 15, 2013

15th Annual Rowan Blues & Jazz Festival


This coming Saturday, Oct. 19- come & hear our groups from Rufty-Holmes & High Rock perform at the 15th annual Rowan Blues & Jazz Festival.   We are to appear at appx. 2:15 p.m.

Bob @ The Buskers Bash


Busker's Bash- Friday, Oct. 4th



I was privileged to perform at the 1st Annual Busker's Bash in downtown Salisbury this past Friday, October 4th from 6-8 pm.   I was located on E. Innes Street in front of the Bangkok Downtown.
Bob @ The Buskers Bash
  


  I was joined by a surprise friend -- Teresa Hulce -- on vocals.   If you happened by to listen to us, you probably saw something like this(see pic)  Thanks for coming out & supporting me and  all of the musicians!



Thursday, October 10, 2013

Original Songs Downloaded to YouTube


I'm happy to say that live versions of several of my original songs have been downloaded to my YouTube channel.


     They are--

1 "Squirrel's World" (a catchy bluegrass tune about the little animals in my yard);

2 "Cat's Wail" (a bluesy guitar instrumental) ;

3 "Set Me Free" (a bluesy prayer to God) ;  &

4 "Snooze" (a sarcastic, soulful look at sleep).



These were all recorded in August "live" at The Inn, a Christian night spot in Salisbury, NC. 

I'd like to personally thank Melinda Watkins for recording these songs and making them available for downloading to YouTube.

  I just noticed that there is a lot of "lag time" at the beginning of songs, where I either chattered or made a mistake and started the song over.   I hope to "edit" these to trim the time length of the songs down a bit;  until then, I apologize for making you watch the "unedited" versions.   At least, you get to see the "raw uncut" performance for now.

Hope you enjoy them  =)

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

My Guitar is My Friend

   I'll be honest with you.   I have a Love-Hate relationship with my guitar.   The title of this blog is "My Guitar is My Friend".. and it is..  really.   I love my guitar.  Very much.  If I had to pick one thing that I would take with me, if I were to go to a deserted island.. well, it would probably be one of my guitars.  The second thing(s) would probably be a CD player and a collection of my favorite disks.  

   You know that something is a "favorite thing" when you keep on going back to it over and over, and over again.   And you know because, when you really need a "fix", it always comes through for you.  I've often been lonely, or frustrated, or a combination of the two, and found that my guitar provided an outlet that not so many other things do.. a way for me to work out my feelings and emotions through a musical instrument.

  I love that my guitar is portable.  I do not have to "go-to" my guitar.  I can bring it with me, wherever I go.  I can always have it with me, or nearby, to pick up.  When I want to hang out and play some music, my guitar is always there.  It's always available to me.

  And yet-- even though I love my guitar-- sometimes I hate it.   It's done nothing to me to really deserve this feeling.   Of course- it's an inanimate object, right ?   Sometimes I wonder. And I can't really pin this on the guitar.   Not like I might be able to on a particular person that I find annoying or irritating.  But sometimes, it just wears on me.

  I've gotten to know my guitar really well over the years.  We've shared a lot of experiences together, good and bad.   But I think the one thing that bothers me the most about my guitar is that-  it reflects me.   It's like a mirror or perfect picture of myself.   And so, when I'm feeling on top of the world, or excited and joyful, my guitar seems that way to me.  But when I'm down or frustrated about something in my life, my guitar also reflects that.  

  In a couple of weeks, I'm getting the opportunity to play for the first time in a festival, the local Blues & Jazz Festival.   I'm looking forward to it.   I've got some friends and students that are joining me to play for it.   We're picking out some nice jazzy/bluesy songs.  But if the truth be told, most of the blues that has come out of my guitar has never found a song title or a place of performance.  It's been those quiet, subtle moments in the middle of the night when I've picked up my guitar and twanged out a seventh chord, or did a string bend.

  I think all relationships have a "ying" and "yang", a plus and minus, a good and bad.  And what's cool is even in the bad moments, my guitar seems to come through for me.  Because it allows me an outlet for those feelings.  And while the situation may not seem so good at the moment, somehow after awhile it starts to get better.

  Thank you, Friendly-Guitar-180, for being my good and trusted friend for so many years.   Here's to many, many more.