10th Annual Harp Guitar Retreat June 22nd – 25th 2017, 9th Annual Harp Guitar Retreat Great Success

John Doan’s Tenth Annual Harp Guitar Retreat is set for June 22nd to June 25th 2017.  I hope you will be able to make it. (see below for a daily itinerary, Saturday concert, testimonials, photos, fees, and registration information).

Harp Guitar Retreat Class with John Doan

The Ninth Annual Harp Guitar Retreat was a huge success with classes, private lessons, Harp Guitar Gallery, Music Nights, Concerts, and plenty of time hanging out talking about life and, what else, harp guitars!  We begin each day with a three hour group class where we are hands on the instrument exploring harp guitar playing techniques, music ideas, and even ensemble playing.

2. Harp Guitar Retreat Harp Guitars

We always have a great line up of harp guitars of all sizes and makes, all for you to test drive at your leisure.

3. Gerry Camp shows John Doan Emerald Harp Guitar

Gerry Camp brought his prototype 20 string Carbon Fiber Emerald harp guitar made in Ireland.  It is virtually indestructible and we were all impressed what a good sounding instrument it was, especially plugged in or with the new Tonewood Amp attached to its back. Continue reading

7th Annual Harp Guitar Retreat: Students Learn Lots About The Harp Guitar And Outdoor Concert with Special Guest Mason Williams Huge Success

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Harp Guitar Retreat Morning Class

Harp Guitar Retreat Morning Class

The 7th Annual Harp Guitar Retreat was a great event for all. All the participants made friends quickly starting off with a Thursday night performance for each other.

Weekend morning classes began with reviewing various exercises from the new harp guitar instruction book John Doan is preparing for publication. Continue reading

Seventh Annual Harp Guitar Retreat July 10th-13th – “Catch The Vision”

Harp Guitar Retreat 2013 3 harp guitars

 

“Catch The Vision” is the theme of The Seventh Annual Harp Guitar Retreat to be held July 10th-13th at the home of John and Deirdra Doan atop Prospect Ridge overlooking the verdant Willamette Valley of Oregon.

Hang Time, Instruction, and Lots of Harp Guitars!

Harp Guitar Retreat 2013 BBQ7

It is an intimate stress-free environment with all levels of playing/performing encouraged and accepted for an educational seminar limited to five to seven participants. The around the clock seminar not only involves playing the harp guitar but includes plenty of hang time to talk about, well, what else, harp guitar! Attendees are encouraged to arrive by the early evening of July 10th to get settled and acquainted.

Harp Guitar Retreat Class4 2013

 

 

John has a unique teaching style where students never know what he is going to do or say but the results always seem to inspire and transform the player.

 

 

19. John Doan Harp Guitar Retreat Harp Guitar Gallery

 

The array of harp guitars and other stringed instruments are not to be looked at from behind a security line at a museum.  These are to be touched and played by all!

 

DSC_John Doan. Steve Lesson

 

Each day will include a private lesson one on one to explore the areas of music making that are important to each student. Every lesson is customized to meet the needs of that individual, at their level. While John pushes students to learn and do more, the student takes the lead, creating a unique educational experience for student and teacher sometimes.

Intimate Concerts

12. John Doan Harp Guitar Retreat Evening Concert

An evening concert is scheduled for Saturday night to be up close and personal with the magic of the music and the setting. John’s concerts are an experience of the weaving together of the harp guitar, music and storytelling.

15. John Doan Harp Guitar Retreat Nick concert

Some attendees add to the program with hands on experience in front of a live audience. It’s a great way of testing your performance abilities, and interact with the audience.

john doan harp guitar retreat 2009 john private concert

One evening will be a private concert for only the retreat attendees. This exclusive evening is a chance for the retreat participants to relax and enjoy sharing their beautiful music together.

s vast instrument collection!

An open night is usually full of surprises. Anything can happen, and has over the years. People bring all types of instruments, sometimes from around the globe. We have a great time exploring the music and talents of all the participants.

Catching the Vision

This is more than a seminar but an opportunity to meet new friends, play a variety of harp guitars, and to become inspired, surrounded by talent of all levels and types.

5. John Doan Harp Guitar Retreat Will Brown Solo

“The retreat was really great for me, and I think you really helped open up some doors in my mind and in my heart. I am feeling very inspired. I’m filled with lots of good ideas and I’ve been feeling like my guitar work is valuable, important. I really appreciated our conversations and your kind words.

I really needed a little something to get me moving. I have been living in my own reclusive guitar universe for a long time now.  I had some fear in trying to bring my musical imagery to other people, but now I am prepared to really try.

You and your playing were inspiring. I find myself thinking about the difference between doing and being, and about the difference between doing music and being music.”

Will Brown

Harp Guitar Retreat 2013 BBQ5

“The Harp Guitar Retreat was a blast for me. It is hard to say which was my favorite moment because every moment was so much fun!”

“But if I had to choose I would say that it was my being able to sit in on all the “master classes” and learning from all the students!  I so enjoyed being “a fly on the wall” during the individual lessons as I heard Sensei John instruct all the players!  Everyone was so awesomely friendly, despite my weird South East (Asian) accent!  I Thank everyone in attendance for being my friends so quickly.  Wonderful sharing, from tons of music sheets from Angele, to experiencing for the first time new Twelve-Tone-thing-a-magic from Nick, to hearing the angelic voice of Mel that morning, to learning about peizo-pickups on the harpie from Jerry and of course, the see a rising star like Mr Bellue!  All of you ROCK…oh, I mean, TWANG!

And of course, John and Deirdre were wonderful hosts at the top of that big rock somewhere in Salem.  From the time I came until the time I left, nothing was amiss!  It was so surreal playing “Farewell” on the original Sullivan-Elliott harp guitar, something I have only seen on YouTube and heard on my iTunes.  It was worth the 3 years that I had to plan for this.”

Joshua Tan

Harp Guitar Retreat 2013 Gerry Face

Gerry Camp, initially tried to disguise himself so that no one would know that it was he who was secretly desiring to master the 20 string harp guitar.

Harp Guitar Retreat 2013 Campfire Adrian

Adrian Bellue also had initially been hiding behind a false mustache and a six string guitar while secretly dreaming what he would do if he ever got his hands on a twenty string harp guitar.

Harp Guitar Retreat 2013 3 harp guitarists5

They, and the others at the retreat, began to catch the vision that there really is a  world to explore of musical ideas when using the added range, resonance, and increased facility of the twenty string harp guitar. It was only natural to wonder what it would sound like with multiple harp guitars being played at the same time

 

 

Enjoying the Setting

Harp Guitar Retreat Living Rm

Harp Guitar Retreat Hot Tub

The setting is the incredible backdrop for this memorable retreat – dazzling views, twenty-four hour hot tub, and sunsets to cause one to stop and ponder what life is all about. We just ask that you keep your guitar out of the hot tub, if that is not too much to ask.

john doan harp Guitar Retreat has scenic views of the Willamette Valley

For More Information and Registration

This event emphasizes instruction and inspiration for those wanting to learn or improve their harp guitar playing skills in a hands-on environment. To read more about past Harp Guitar Retreats see posting else where on this site (6th Annual Harp Guitar Retreat Huge Success in “Featured Posts”).

Instruction will address playing harp guitars with sub-basses as well as harp guitars with sub-basses and super-trebles.  There will be several harp guitars available to use if you don’t have a harp guitar or would have trouble bringing one to the seminar. There will be private and group lessons, intimate concerts, and lots of kick back and practice time to suit your interests.

Instruction:  Instruction will include two daily group sessions and a half hour private session.  John Doan will perform an evening concert on Friday and Saturday and the participants may perform on Friday and Sunday evening if there is interest.  The morning and afternoon private and group sessions will focus on harp guitar fingerboard and string theory, performance issues, music composition, and just having fun.

Location: The retreat is at the home of John and Deirdra Doan nestled near the summit of Prospect Ridge in Oregon’s mid-Willamette Valley.  The location is simply breathtaking with180 degree westerly views of green rugged forests, sprawling farmlands, and distant coastal mountains which explains why Oregon is a very popular summer vacation destination.

The site is approximately one hour from the Portland International Airport with local bus and train service fifteen minutes away in Salem.  There is a bus service direct from the airport to downtown Salem where you can be picked up or you can elect to rent a car for greater freedom to explore the area.

Included with registration: All lodging and meals are on site and included with registration.  Printed materials are provided for each student with a series of exercises and compositions to take home after the retreat.

Instruments available on site:  There will be seven or more harp guitars on site for your use if you do not have one of your own to bring to the seminar.

These include the following:

  1. Knutsen harp guitar (1897) with 5 sub-basses and 7 super-trebles
  2. Gibson harp guitar (1906) with six sub-basses
  3. Dyer harp guitar (1920’s) with six sub-basses
  4. Two or more Jay Buckey harp guitars (2013-14) with 6 sub-basses 7 sub-basses and 8 super trebles
  5. Sullivan/Elliot harp guitar (1986- the first harp guitar of modern times with 6 sub-basses and 8 super-trebles
  6. Brunner Travel Harp guitar (2011) with 6 sub-basses and 8 super-trebles

Incidental Activities: There is plenty of hiking trails, tax free shopping, local wine tasting, on site hot tub, trampoline, and wireless internet.  The site is central and about one hour away from the Oregon Coast, the high desert of Bend, and the cities of Portland and Eugene.  In between classes and private lessons there will be time to just relax, practice, read, explore the area, or casually visit with other harp guitarists.

Space is limited: Retreats are limited from five to seven participants and their guests. Spouses, friends, or family attend at a reduced rate. If needed an additional weekend retreat will be scheduled to accommodate more participants.

Participants Fee: $685. Includes four nights stay, three group sessions, three private lessons, meals, evening presentations, and various incidentals.

Additional guests Fee: $250. Includes four nights stay, meals, evening presentations, and various incidentals.

To enroll or for more information call or write:  [email protected]

Phone: 503-364-4787

Snail Mail: PO Box 5081, Salem, OR 97304

Sixth Annual Harp Guitar Retreat Huge Success

Harp Guitar Retreat 2013 Gerry Class

The Sixth Annual Harp Guitar Retreat held at my home in Oregon was a huge success. Not only did we talk about and play harp guitars all day and night but we all became great friends!

Harp Guitar Retreat 2013 BBQ7

Holding the Retreat atop of an extinct volcanic plug seemed to encourage harp guitar music to erupt from every room along with great conversations at outdoor meals.

Evening Barbecues were great fun outdoors and provided a perfect opportunity to talk more about harp guitars.

Joshua Tan won the award for coming the furthest distance (8,148.6 miles) as he flew all the way from Malaysia for the Harp Guitar Retreat. Where he comes from a cool day is 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 celsius). It may have been a new experience to actually place coals in the barbecue to cook the food.
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