The Creative Retreat
Throughout the week, Ariel and Scott will be focussing on some specific areas designed to unlock your true potential as a player: Topic areas they will be covering during the sessions include:
- Improvising (building your solos and telling a story)
- Effective rhythm playing (with a band or as a solo player)
- Triads and inversions
- Approaching slide
- Harmony
- Songwriting and composition
- Being an artist or a hired musician
- Tone generation (how to sound like you!)
…and much much more.
There will be dedicated sessions every morning and afternoon, plus there will be time for small group or 1-2-1. Alongside all of this, you will take time to team up with other players, decide on tunes you’d like to perform, rehearse and prep those tunes for the Thursday evening gig, with a live band.
Ariel Posen
Ariel’s music occupies the space between genres. It’s a rootsy sound that nods to his influences — heartland rock & roll, electrified Americana, blue-eyed soul, R&B, Beatles-inspired pop — while still moving forward, pushing Ariel into territory that’s uniquely his own.
Along the way, Ariel had received standing ovations not only from his audiences, but also from outlets like Rolling Stone, who dubbed him “a modern-day guitar hero,” Music Radar listing him as a fan voted top 10 rock guitarist of the year and the Western Canadian Music Awards who nominated him for Breakout Artist of the Year in 2020 and 2021, as well as Rock Artist of the Year and Recording of the Year in 2022.
Ariel is a great friend to Guitar Breaks, has joined us many times over the years and his workshops have always been special. So we are delighted that he is returning to Italy to spend some quality time working with you!
Scott McKeon
Scott is one of the UK’s most in-demand guitarists. Initially inspired by his dad’s love of blues, soul and rock music, he took up the guitar at the age of four and has dedicated his life to honing his craft.
A committed collaborator, Scott has played with the likes of Doyle Bramhall II, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Joe Bonamassa, Derek Trucks, Zigablo Modeliste, Lana Del Ray and Ed Sheeran, and has been a member of Sir Tom Jones‘ band for the last seven years.
Scott’s third album, New Morning, is an earthy, raw, guitar-led record, showcasing Scott’s range and ability as a guitarist. Recorded live at RAK Studios and produced by Paul Stacey, it features Jeremy Stacey on drums and Rocco Palladino on bass.
We love Scott’s playing, and can’t wait to get him to a Guitar Breaks event!
Check out Villa Pia and the surrounding area:
Venue
Our venue and accommodation for this camp is the award-winning traditional 15th century Italian manor house Villa Pia Family Hotel located on the stunning Tuscany / Umbria border.
Set in its own grounds and next to a medieval castle in the hilltop village of Lippiano, Villa Pia is the perfect ‘get away’ location.
The Detail
See below for more information about this event, how to travel to us and what to expect.
You have a number of different options available to you.
Once you have decided on your chosen accommodation (depending on availability), you can reserve your place by paying the deposit.
**Want to bring your non-playing loved one or friend with you? No problem!
If you are a guitarist who is planning to attend the workshop AND you would like your non-playing partner or friend to join you at the hotel, choose:
- an ‘Ensuite Single Occupancy’ room for you (this gives you a double bed with ensuite bathroom).
- and then add a ‘Partner Sharing with Guitarist’ for your partner.
Accommodation Options:
SHARED TWIN ROOM – Full Fee: £1795 / Deposit: £695
(price is per person, based on two guitar players sharing). Buddy up with a friend or be paired with a fellow attendee.
Includes:
- 6 nights accommodation – 2 musicians sharing a twin room
- Breakfast, buffet lunch and set menu dinner at the hotel
- Use of a shared bathroom (shared with one other room)
- All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at hotel
- Gives full access to 5 day workshop
- Includes masterclasses, performances, 1-2-1 and small group sessions
N.B: Price is per person based on two musicians sharing.
Click here now to book your place
NON ENSUITE ROOM – Full Fee: £2095 / Deposit: £695
Includes:
- 6 nights accommodation – Single Occupancy room
- Breakfast, buffet lunch and set menu dinner at the hotel
- Use of a shared bathroom (shared with one other room)
- All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at hotel
- Gives full access to 5 day workshop
- Includes masterclasses, performances, 1-2-1 and small group sessions
Click here now to book your place
ENSUITE ROOM – Full Fee: £2295 / Deposit: £695
Includes:
- 6 nights accommodation – Single Occupancy room
- Breakfast, buffet lunch and set menu dinner at the hotel
- Exclusive use of a bathroom
- All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at hotel
- Gives full access to 5 day workshop
- Includes masterclasses, performances, 1-2-1 and small group sessions
Click here now to book your place
Partner Sharing with Guitarist – Full Fee: £975 / Deposit: £695
Includes:
- Want your non instrument-playing partner to join you? No problem!
- Includes 6 nights accommodation
- Breakfast, buffet lunch and set menu dinner at the hotel
- All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks at hotel
Arriving:
You should plan to arrive on Sunday 8th June during the day, as we have welcome drinks in the evening followed by dinner. This is a great opportunity to get to know the tutors and the other guests. If you are arriving in the evening, just let us know and we can ask the kitchen staff to save you some food.
Departing:
You will need to plan to depart on Saturday 14th June in the morning. If your flight is later in the day, that’s fine. Just let the hotel staff know and they will supply you with some lunch, prior to your departure.
Workshop Dates:
The workshop starts on Monday 9th June at 10am. We aim to finish the workshop on Friday 13th June at around 4.00pm.
There are workshops, small group sessions, tutorials and jams arranged for each of the 5 days. Plus there will be a low key live performance. The ideal opportunity to totally immerse yourself!
Important Note:
Scott will be departing on Thursday 12th, as the Tom Jones Summer Tour commences on Friday 13th June.
Depending on where you are travelling from, you can use any of the airlines below:
- Ryanair flies into Perugia, Bologna, Pisa and Rome – https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/
- Easyjet flies into Bologna, Pisa and Rome – http://www.easyjet.com/en/
- Vueling flies into Florence, Bologna and Pisa – http://www.vueling.com/en
- British Airways flies into Florence, Bologna, Pisa and Rome – http://www.britishairways.com/travel/home/public/en
Once in Italy, you have three choices:
- You can hire a car. You can do this through the usual routes.
- You can travel by train* to Arezzo. We recommend you book in advance with Trenitalia: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html
- Once arriving at Arezzo train station, there is a taxi company based directly outside the station entrance.
* IMPORTANT – TRAIN TICKETS: If you do buy train tickets at a station you must remember to validate your tickets by stamping them using the stamping machines. These are usually located around the train station and on the platform. If you do not stamp your tickets, you may receive a fine from the ticket inspector! (If you have booked in advance on the internet and printed off your tickets at home, you will not need to validate them at the station).
We have a guide on flying to us with your guitar here.
During the week you will have access to workshops, small group tutorials, 1-2-1 guidance and Q&A sessions with:
- Ariel Posen
- Scott McKeon
- Ian Edwards
