Be initiated into the Guitar Circle with Robert Fripp’s workshop event

King Crimson guitarist (and accomplished axeman in his own right) Robert Fripp has announced Introduction To The Guitar Circle, a four-day-long event for guitarists. It will feature a series of workshops, activities and masterclasses divulging some of Fripp’ guitar secrets, and is billed as an event for “guitar players and music-lovers of all levels, interests, and tastes.” Take a look at Fripp’s introductory video above.

The course will take place on 22-26 October 2020, in Saratoga Springs, NY, and is open to those over the age of 18. The course’s website gave a teaser of what it will include, listing the following diverse activities:

• Introduction to the New Standard Tuning
• Working in a Guitar Circle
• How to Play Schizoid Man!
• The Right Hand
• The Left Hand
• Fingerboard Exercises
• Counting and Rhythm
• How to Make and Recover from Mistakes
• Proper Posture
• The Practice of Doing Nothing
• The Alexander Technique
• Tai Chi
• Meditation and Mindfulness
• Walking Meditation
• Audience Craft

Interestingly, quite a few of the activities aren’t specifically about the nitty-gritty of guitar techniques – offering a more holistic, meditative approach to the instrument. Fripp said about the concept behind the ‘guitar circle:’ “If music is to enter our world, the role of the audience is as necessary as the role of the musician. So, for the first time in the life of Guitar Craft and the Guitar Circle, we are inviting audients to this Intro, to learn the techniques and approaches available to Crafty Guitarists.

“Music has its own intelligence, but can music change the world? If so, how? How does a musician become present in the place within them where music lives, or visits for a while? How is an audient present within themself when music visits? How does music come into our lives? What is involved in the process of musical performance? … There is nothing solemn about any of this, and I’m intending to have a good time. This is an approach to play, playing, serious play and playing seriously.”

Attendance to the event (including accomodation) starts at $2,099. Find out more at robertfrippguitarcircle.com. For more music news, click here.