Bath Guitar Festival
and Summer School

2023
15-20
 August

Booking has closed for 2023

The summer school takes place on the Newton Park campus of Bath Spa University, four miles away from the centre of Bath.

  • Tuesday 15 August: Students arrive and check-in in the morning and begin their course in the afternoon.
  • Saturday 19 August: The courses end with a student concert on the Saturday evening
  • Sunday 20 August: Students depart in the morning

Tuition:
Students receive around 5 hours of tuition a day over the duration of the summer school. Courses will start at 10am and finish at 6pm, with a 2-hour lunch break as well as regular breaks throughout the day.

In the evenings students can enjoy jamming sessions from 8pm until late or watch an evening concert featuring special guests (TBA).
Students will be sent the necessary course materials in advance of the summer school in order to familiarise themselves with the subjects and songs that will be covered in their chosen course.

Accommodation:
Accommodation consists of an ensuite room for each student and includes:

  • 5 night’s stay (Tuesday- Sunday)
  • Breakfast and dinner (half-board)

Technique and theory levels are rated from 1 (beginner) through to 5 (advanced).
They can be considered from the perspective of:

Electric guitar grade levels (Grade 1= level 1, Grade 8= level 4/5)
or
Years playing/studying (1-2 years= level 1, 10+ years= level 5)

The levels listed for each course are what an average student would be expected to have; most courses have a basic setting of levels 2/3. It is expected that courses will go a little below and a little above these levels, depending on the abilities of students attending.

Tuition: £475
Accommodation: £520

Installment plan available – please email info@igf.org.uk to enquire

By booking for the summer school, you agree to abide by our terms and conditions below:
All bookings are non-refundable except in the following circumstances:
(1) positive COVID-19 test less than 14 full days before the start of the Summer School, or
(2) other medical reason certified by note from GP.
The Courses
New Course added

We’re introducing a new singing course to this year’s Bath Summer School, taught by the amazing Sara Davey.

We can’t wait to see singers and guitarists collaborating throughout the week.

Acoustic Songs with
Chris Quinn

About the tutor

Technique level: 1/2
Theory level: 1/2

This course focuses on roots based music, ranging from folk to blues songs. You will study guitar techniques used by some of the greats of popular songwriting and also touch on useful fingerstyle methods and open tunings.

Jump Blues with
Chris Corcoran

About the tutor

Technique level: 2
Theory level: 2

Referencing the big sound of ‘40s & ‘50s R&B and Jump Blues guitar, this course will give a fresh perspective on how to add drive, style and invention. Licks, riffs and phrases will be covered as well as the styles of guitarists like T-Bone Walker, Lonnie Johnson, Tiny Grimes and Barney Kessel.

Blues Songs with
Neville Marten

About the tutor

Technique level: 2
Theory level: 2

The aim for this course is to cover a range of blues tunes from classic to more modern. The onus is on great blues songs that everyone will know and enjoy playing. Guitarists of every level will be able to join in, whether you can improvise full solos or just play chords and a few licks.

Top 40 and funk with
Jason Sidwell

About the tutor

Technique level: 2
Theory level: 2

This course is for guitarists that desire strong abilities to suit being in a band. This will include picking approaches and band relevant chord voicings to modes for soloing and exciting repertoire analysis with a bias towards funk and RnB legends like Chic, James Brown and Michael Jackson.

Classic Rock and Indie with
Jon Bishop

About the tutor

Technique level: 2
Theory level: 2

This class will cover many of the main components that guitarists use, ranging from scales and chord riffing through to string bending and use of harmonics. Lots of classic rock and indie riffs will be looked at with iconic songs from bands like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and Oasis.

Modern Rock with
Tolis Zavaliaris

About the tutor

Technique level: 2/3
Theory level: 2/3

This class is designed to teach you everything you need to know about rock from the 80s and beyond. The focus will be on relevant techniques, from picking to legato, and on stunning guitar players to improve and supercharge your rock guitar playing. Guitarists covered will range from Randy Rhoads to Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen to Steve Vai.

COURSE CANCELLED

Unfortunately this course has been cancelled for 2023. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
If you are still interested in studying rock guitar styles, we recommend the Classic Rock and Indie Rock course taught by Jon Bishop.

Jazz with
Gianluca Corona

About the tutor

Technique level: 2/3
Theory level: 2/3

This class will cover the basics (extended chords, simple diatonic licks, swing feel, blues) through to more advanced concepts and devices (chord substitution, modal phrasing, outside playing). Well-known artists like Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass will be featured as well as more contemporary players such as John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Tim Miller and Scott Henderson.

Gypsy Jazz & Swing Jazz with
John Wheatcroft

About the tutor

Technique level: 2/3
Theory level: 2/3

This class will help to get your playing ‘campfire jam’ ready, with a hands on look at the fundamentals of this inclusive and engaging style – from using the correct chords and mastering ‘La Pompe’ to adding authentic licks and lines, delivering melodies with authority and improvising your own solos against a selection of popular progressions and complete tunes from this idiom. Django Reinhardt is the master of this style but Biréli Lagrène, Stochelo Rosenberg and Adrien Moignard will be covered too.

Classical Guitar with Berta Rojas, Marco Tamayo, Francisco Correa, Tom Kerstens and Steve Goss

Note that the Classical course has a different fee structure and dates (16-20 Aug). Please read the classical course page for details.

Friends & Family discount:

For bookings of more than one person where at least one person is attending IGF’s Bath Guitar Festival and Summer School (popular styles courses only) for the first time:

  • 15% off tuition fees for bookings of two people
  • 20% off tuition fees for bookings of three or more people

*Please note that accommodation fees are not included in the discount

Eligibility:
The discount applies for:

  • Bookings of two or more people, where no more than one person in the booking has attended IGF’s Bath Summer School since 2018 (Example: Player 1 attended in 2019, 2021, 2022 or any combination, and has a friend or family member, Player 2, that has not attended in these years).
  • A booking consisting of two or more friends or family members, none of whom have attended IGF’s Bath Summer School since 2018.

To book using the discount, please send an email to info@igf.org.uk with “Friends & Family Discount” in the subject line and the names of the students in the email, and we will send instructions for booking.