Bath Guitar Festival
and Summer School

2024
13-18
 August

NEWS! 
Venue change –  this year, we will be on campus at the University of Bath

The summer school takes place at the University of Bath, Claverton Down campus, approx. two miles away from the centre of Bath.

  • Tuesday 13 August: Students arrive and check-in in the morning and begin their course in the afternoon
  • Saturday 17 August: The courses end with a student concert on the Saturday evening
  • Sunday 18 August: Students depart in the morning

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 and get free entry to all lunchtime and evening concerts. 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 costs £545 for a single occupancy room with ensuite bathroom and includes:

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

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 as based upon the typical technique and theory requirements of official guitar grade exams offered by institutions such as Rockschool, Trinity and RGT. (Grade 1= level 1, Grade 8= level 4/5)
or
Years of regular 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 setting of levels 2 and 3. It is expected that courses will go a little below and a little above these levels, depending on the abilities of students attending.

Full price for tuition (pay by 31 July 2024): £500 NB: all fees are non-refundable.

15% Saving on tuition: to apply the discount please enter this promo code SPRINGSAVING when booking (valid until midnight 16 June).

25% Students (full-time) and Young People (18yrs old or under) discount: to apply the discount please enter this promo code YOUTHGUITAR when booking.

IGF will request verification of student membership/age before the event.

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Early Bird discount on tuition extended to 30 April 2024

The Courses
New Course added

Singing with Sara DaveyLevel: All

A course for all levels of singing. While teaching and reinforcing basic healthy singing habits Sara will help each singer to find their own style and unique voice. We will work on personal technique and skill, anatomy of the voice, one to one coaching, stage craft, improvisation harmony singing. There will be opportunities for soloing, duets and small ensemble acapella singing in addition to singing on stage with a band. Vocal students will have the opportunity to sit in on other guitar classes while one-to-one voice lesson slots are offered in the afternoon.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this course has been cancelled. Please accept our apologies.

Blues/Rock Foundations with
David Mead

Level: 1/5

This course will address all the skills you need to make sure-footed progress with your playing. Typical topics will involve mapping out the fretboard using the CAGED System, the major and minor scales you need to make your solos ignite, picking hand technique – specifically alternate picking and muting – fretting-hand skills like slurs, bends, double stops and vibrato, etc, and much more. We’ll also look at the fundamentals of blues playing, both rhythm and lead, the 12-bar blues format and some of the common variations like the ‘quick change’ and ‘riff blues’. But most of all, we’re going to have fun! 

Acoustic songs with
Chris Quinn

Level: 2/5

This acoustic course promises to reveal how techniques from Robert Johnson through to Ed Sheeran will make you a better fingerstylist. Looking at guitar masters like Merle Travis, Jason Isbell, John Mayer, James Taylor and Paul Simon, you’ll study important exercises and techniques that can give you that solid, timeless sound. You’ll learn how to use these skills in modern guitar arrangements and for your own live performances. This inclusive week of workshops and group playing is aimed at lovers of quality songwriting, fingerpicking and guitarists wishing to take their acoustic playing to the next level.

Blues Songs with
Neville Marten 

About the tutor

Level: 2-3/5

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this course has been cancelled. Please accept our apologies.

This in an inclusive get-together of guitarists on a quest to play and perform great blues songs. During a week of intensive but fun learning the collective talents of the group will put together four, possibly five great bluesy tracks both classic and modern. A solid degree of competence is required, such as ability with the major and minor pentatonic scales, blues scales and standard 7th chords, but everyone’s abilities will be put to good use whatever their level. The student concert set list will be made from everyone’s suggestions and they will be worked on from day one alongside technique and guitar tone considerations.

Rock ‘n’ Roll with
Jon Bishop

Level: 2-3/5

If you are looking for a good time course then look no further than rock ‘n’ roll. The rock ‘n’ roll style is an exiting blend of country, blues and rock with artists as diverse as Elvis (Scotty Moore), Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Brian Setzer and Albert Lee will be studied. Your tutor Jon Bishop is perfectly placed to help you in your quest as he has recorded and toured for the past 16 years with UK rock ‘n’ roll legend Shakin’ Stevens. Throughout the week, many iconic riffs and songs will be covered.

Jump Blues with
Chris Corcoran

Level: 2-3/5

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 Freddie King, Matt Guitar Murphy, Bill Jennings, Earl Hooker, T-Bone Walker, Tiny Grimes and Barney Kessel. Chris will also include examples and pointers of his signature chromatic blues style.

Groove! with
Jason Sidwell

Level: 2-3/5

Playing in time with energy and sophistication is what this involving course is about. Typical funk/soul artists include James Brown, Prince, Chic, Michael Jackson, Rick James and Earth Wind and Fire. The core topics will be rhythmic syncopation, chord vocabulary, octaves, double-stops, Dorian and Mixolydian mode usage and how best to interact with drums and bass. There will be additional modules that cover soloing over unique chord progressions (Stevie Wonder to Steely Dan) and deep dives into expanding alternate and hybrid picking techniques.

Blues with
Andy Saphir

Level: 3/5

This course looks at the techniques, musical approaches and lick vocabulary used in electric blues lead guitar. By delving into the styles of blues guitar greats of the past and present like T Bone Walker, BB King, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa and Kirk Fletcher, you will learn staple blues guitar approaches such as mixing minor and major pentatonics, string bending and double stops. In addition, the course looks at the theory behind some of those cool jazz sounding approaches used by players like Robben Ford, Larry Carlton and Josh Smith.

Rock with
Jamie Hunt

Level: 3/5

Due to unforeseen circumstances, this course has been cancelled. Please accept our apologies.

For the rock course, key techniques like picking and legato plus phrasing approaches will be explored, ranging from classic acts such as ACDC and Black Sabbath through to modern players like Joe Satriani and Alter Bridge’s Mark Tremonti. You will study typical scales and modes plus soloing approaches that enhance your familiarity with the fretboard and expand your vocabulary as a lead player. Alongside this, you’ll explore equipment and tone settings that achieve chugging rhythm guitar tones and screaming leads. To bring it all together, numerous famous riffs will be enjoyed as well as three songs learnt for the closing student concert.

Jazz with
John Wheatcroft

Level: 3/5

This course focuses on the exciting sounds of jazz, looking at players ranging from Wes Montgomery to John Scofield, George Benson to Mike Stern. We’ll be covering a wide range of topics, ranging from accessible simple and direct ideas to more sophisticated and complex concepts, all framed into repertoire coming directly from the American Songbook. You’ll learn immediately applicable ideas to expand your comping, melodic delivery, ensemble interplay, technique, improvisation and creativity. 

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