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An unsolicited review of the Pelletier Guitar and Music Camp, Week 1, July 18-21, 2011.
In a word 'inspirational', where multi talented professional musicians shared their abilities and musical wizardry with
student's aged 12 to 83.
The camp offered group guitar, violin and voice instruction, with an additional Rise and Shine Class, plus time set aside
each day for 'one on one' mini lessons. Topic specific workshops each afternoon covered studio recording, improvisation,
instrument repair, beginner vocals, and performing etiquette, truly covering all bases! Each evening ended with a nightly
concert/jam session initiated by the 'experts'. Their performances were nothing short of fabulous. Impromptu creations,
dazzling us all! Nashville could offer no better! And the camp program was all so expertly coordinated, right down to
awesome parting gifts on departure, complements of Long and McQuade Music. What a format!!!
And the facilities were amazing! The Pelletier's opened their beautiful yard and home to us all. They provided a dining room
with three substantial meals plus two tasty coffee breaks per day, a concert hall with stage, a trailer park court for
rentable lodging, with separate washroom and shower house facilities available to all, plus a generous parking area for
any and all additional and always welcomed guests. Six separate lesson areas were designated within the yard, including a
gazebo and 'the Enchanted Forest', all interspersed and surrounded by beautiful Black Popular tree groves, and a healthy
row of tasty, ready to pick, Saskatoon bushes.
The lessons were phenomenal! Unbelievably skilled, vastly experienced instructors were sharing their passion for music with
beginners and others seeking the next step. One could seriously equate their vast musical knowledge to those of rocket
scientists teaching kindergarten and up! As one student said to Freddie, 'you taught us to play with and enjoy our guitar,
not just play the guitar!' Their patience and passion encouraged us all, giving us the tools and confidence to begin our
musical journey.
The instructors' individual biographies speak for their accomplishments, and travels and performances within the music
industry. But sharing their own personal skills and experiences, and patiently working with students one-on-one, shows
their total commitment and dedication to music. And their jovial, personable nature combined with their teaching skills,
allowed individual students the opportunity to find pleasure in their own accomplishments. Indeed they are extraordinary
teachers!!
Definitely a camp most worthy of attendance!
Thank you Freddie, Sheila, Clint and Thea!!
Sincerely,
Val Muller
Turtleford, Saskatchewan.
Here's what some past participants have said about The Pelletier Guitar and
Music Camp .....
"I am filled to overflowing with music, happiness, possibility and HOPE!"
Elizabeth Cabalka, Annandale, MN, USA
The website doesn't capture how much fun this is. The most fun I've had in a long,
long time! Darrell Wingerak, Saskatoon, SK
"This is the most awesome camp in the universe! Aimee Fauteux, Abbotsford, BC
"As a beginner I worried I'd be out of my league but the instructors really made me feel welcome and not once did I feel
over whelmed." Scotty Butcher, Saskatoon, SK
"At most camps you just learn a bunch of tunes but at this camp they teach you skills that really help you improve which
is far more valuable than learning tunes!" Celeste Smith, fiddler, Allen, SK
Other anonymous camp evaluation quotes:
"I had never been somewhere that everyone was doing what they truly loved and
their very souls seemed to shine. You have made my life richer!"
"A place where music is the master and everyone is equal"
"Few events in my life exceed expectations but this camp and these people surely did!"
"I went from impossible to anything's possible!"
"The instructors, people and food are all world class!"
"I have played guitar for 40 years but my session kindled more enthusiasm
than I have ever had."
"I learned more in four days than I did in a whole year of lessons."
"Come one, come all, this is the greatest guitar camp of all!"
"This camp is as good or better than Christmas!"
"The camp is all about music and the students. I felt like an equal and like I was #1!"
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