What some of my visiting guitarists have had to say about my Guitar Workshops.
I have just returned from a fabulous week in the Granada region of Spain, in a rural retreat, set amongst ancient olive groves and rolling hills. The beautiful and historic village of Montefrio is nearby, and is a little stunner. Clive and Susie are great hosts, and Susie’s home cooking each night was very special, as was the interesting conversation. As they say, “Behind every great man is a great woman.” Accommodation is a separate unit attached to the house and provides comfortably for all needs. Outside is a shaded terrace which is a pleasure for lessons or practice.
Clive is an extraordinary person and very original musician. He has self taught himself in classical guitar and also his very own Fusion styles with a huge mixed bag of influences. His lessons impart new takes on musical possibilities, often initially applied to very simple tunes such as Baa, Baa, Black sheep. He introduced me to a whole range of new alternative chords, rhythms and also classical guitar techniques. This latter may have been frustrating for him as I am a steel string guitarist, but he dealt with that very well. His enthusiasm for music is thoroughly infectious. Even with his classical background, he is not hide bound by tradition in his musical thinking. I had the intense privilege to be able to do some improvised duets with Clive during my time, and these were highlights of the week for me. I have been given more musical knowledge than I can just digest in one week, but have the notes and tabs to be able to continue to use Clive’s lessons for months and years to come. I would thoroughly recommend Clive’s Guitar Retreats to curious guitarists of all abilities - just bring an open mind.
Ed Scott, Nelson, NZ
Clive is an extraordinary person and very original musician. He has self taught himself in classical guitar and also his very own Fusion styles with a huge mixed bag of influences. His lessons impart new takes on musical possibilities, often initially applied to very simple tunes such as Baa, Baa, Black sheep. He introduced me to a whole range of new alternative chords, rhythms and also classical guitar techniques. This latter may have been frustrating for him as I am a steel string guitarist, but he dealt with that very well. His enthusiasm for music is thoroughly infectious. Even with his classical background, he is not hide bound by tradition in his musical thinking. I had the intense privilege to be able to do some improvised duets with Clive during my time, and these were highlights of the week for me. I have been given more musical knowledge than I can just digest in one week, but have the notes and tabs to be able to continue to use Clive’s lessons for months and years to come. I would thoroughly recommend Clive’s Guitar Retreats to curious guitarists of all abilities - just bring an open mind.
Ed Scott, Nelson, NZ
The accommodation is rustic and cosy with excellent home cooking (thank you Suzie!) and the Spring weather was comfortable during the day though a little chilly at night. I often walked for just over a mile through beautiful olive groves with great scenic views from Casa Capacha to the beautiful pueblo of Montefrio.
Being a classical guitarist for many years I'd indicated that I wanted to broaden my scope and refresh my approach to playing guitar: Clive obligingly tailored his guitar workshops to my needs, delivering far more than I expected. |
He was patient with instructions and reassuring with plenty of encouragement. His passion for the guitar and music making is immediately apparent and contagious. It was a delight for me to become creative, allowing my ears to lead my fingers through his inventive rhythmical pattern playing for blues and jazz. He also demonstrated his ease of playing unique techniques across many different genres, giving me a real insight into simple improvising and composing.
My technical difficulties were addressed with sound advice and practice tips: one of the most important being how to restructure my practice, making the most efficient use of my time with the guitar, adding his ideas on video benchmarking to help me to gauge my playing progress for future reference. Clive also encouraged me to take personal videos of his playing as he demonstrated certain techniques.
Clive generously supplied a guitar (because I was travelling light) and since I had no car, he often kindly ferried me to and from Montefrio on several occasions.
In conclusion it was a thoroughly enjoyable week, immersing myself in music and his guitar workshops.
Thank you Suzie & Clive
Morgan, UK.
My technical difficulties were addressed with sound advice and practice tips: one of the most important being how to restructure my practice, making the most efficient use of my time with the guitar, adding his ideas on video benchmarking to help me to gauge my playing progress for future reference. Clive also encouraged me to take personal videos of his playing as he demonstrated certain techniques.
Clive generously supplied a guitar (because I was travelling light) and since I had no car, he often kindly ferried me to and from Montefrio on several occasions.
In conclusion it was a thoroughly enjoyable week, immersing myself in music and his guitar workshops.
Thank you Suzie & Clive
Morgan, UK.
It wasn't until I got back home that I realised what a huge impression Clive had actually had on my guitar playing. I wrote 3 songs the day I got back and have continued to think about guitar in a very different way thanks to my time in Montefrio. Although the 2 day workshop wasn't the particular style of guitar I had hoped for, Clive's enthusiasm and his encouragement really helped me understand what I was doing in a way I had never been shown before, which is more than I could have asked for.
Ricc, UK I cannot thank you enough for your inspirational guitar workshops in Montefrio. I am so pleased that I found you, after much searching, for a private guitar teacher in Granada.
Rebecca, UK. Clive's enthusiasm for both teaching and our friend the guitar is contagious. I was taught techniques I never dreamed of. Laurie-Anne, Canada As a student of the guitar who enthusiastically enjoys getting my hands upon any sort of new knowledge or material to advance my own skills, I must say that Clive is a fountain of musical and life knowledge. In just a few sessions he blew the door wide open on what I had thought I had known. His ability to blend his own thoughts and techniques with my abilities was uncanny. He doesn't push his views, he just shows you what could be and allows you to pursue to your hearts content, I have enough to keep me busy for quiet a while! Susie and Clive's hospitality is second to none, I could not more highly recommend a visit to the beautiful Andalusian countryside to absorb what Clive has to offer. Cheers! Hasta luego!
Spencer, California
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I spent five wonderful days attending a guitar workshop
in which I learned finger picking techniques, new eye opening chords and mind blowing possibilities. Mario, USA. Clive's guitar workshops have been simply inspirational . Not only for hearing and watching a fantastically gifted guitarist play so many pieces off by heart like a true stage performer, but also for me, classically trained for ten years, Clive is a very knowledgeable and patient teacher. He's taught me so much about his novel methods of jazz guitar playing that I am now able to add these to my playing.
Henry, 16yrs old, France Paul,USA
Clive, another great visit to your guitar workshops. In just four days we set the course for another year of guitar practice and progress by further incorporating the 'Clive Davies' technique to my music.
As an absolute newbie to the guitar I made my way to Montefrio. I was a little worried about my experience but my fears soon abated. Clive is such a calm, passionate and patient teacher. I am now playing for an hour each day and I feel so inspired. I wouldn't be feeling this without Clive. Casa Capacha was a tranquil place to stay and I am looking forward to a return visit. I feel as if I have achieved a great deal in such a short time. Thank you so much Clive, Jackie. Jackie, U.K. Ten days of guitar were just what I needed. The setting is idyllic, among mountains and olive groves with
beautiful Montefrio a steep 45 minutes walk away. I had challenging daily workshops with Clive and even as a 40+ year veteran of classical guitar, my playing has really benefited, with some essential learning about tone production, right hand work, lightening my left hand grip, working on core repertoire, organising rehearsal time.... I was also memorably well fed, thanks to Suzie! And not to be missed is the magical city of Granada, Spanish guitar heaven. Andrew, UK |
Clive's workshops embrace unorthodox but a highly effective approach to teaching beginners like me on how to play the guitar. The workshops are individualised and tailored to one's abilities and music interests. As a first time guitar player, I was quickly able to build confidence and inspiration to dig deeper into the finer details and knowledge of the guitar.
Andrew, South Africa. I had a great time studying the guitar together with Clive. I specially found his ideas of applying jazz chords, and the patterns he relates to them very useful. I am already using his methods in my own compositions.
Henrik, Norway I had my guitar workshop with Clive for five days on my winter vacation. His lessons uncovered many aspects of playing the guitar which I as an acoustic and electric guitar player, had never thought of before. His broad taste and deep knowledge of music, which can be seen in his songs and YouTube videos, made me able to access new techniques, fingerpicking styles and chord combination.
The simple life in his cottage in the countryside of Andalusia is a brilliant occasion to concentrate and focus on your guitar workshop. Even though the cottage is surrounded by nothing but olive groves. I promise you won't be bored since you are staying with one of the World's loveliest couples, Clive and Sue (the dinner she cooks is fantastic)! i strongly recommend you, no matter how long you have played the guitar, to visit them and experience the workshop. Moeto, Japan |