Guthrie Govan Masterclass

The Institute presents an exclusive masterclass in London   26-Nov-14

Here's the press release from The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance:

On Wednesday 3rd December, the Institute will welcome Guthrie Govan to give an exclusive masterclass to students of the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, and a limited number of public guests, at the Tricycle Cinema in Kilburn.

Guthrie is arguably the most exciting and significant new guitarist to emerge in the virtuosic rock/fusion guitar scene in many years. He is a brilliant artist who is at home in a variety of musical genres and styles. Guthrie has recorded and toured with acts ranging all the way from melodic rock (Asia) to grime (Dizzee Rascal) and was recently seen onstage at the Hans Zimmer Revealed concerts, sharing guitar duties with Johnny Marr and incorporating instruments ranging from banjo to fretless electric guitar. His guitar and bass work for Replay Heaven (a sample recreation company) has graced hit singles by the likes of Gotye, The Sugababes, Cee Lo Green and Tinie Tempah. He is currently touring and recording extensively with (Porcupine Tree frontman) Steven Wilson and a rock-fusion power trio called The Aristocrats. 

The event will be of interest to any guitarist or guitar student, regardless of stylistic preferences, as the content will predominantly be dictated by questions from the audience. Typical topics include improvisation/note choice, efficient playing techniques, ear development and tone generation. This will be interspersed with some demo performances, to backing tracks from albums by Guthrie and the Aristocrats trio.

Talking about the class Guthrie said: "For me, an event like this essentially entails meeting a room full of guitar playing individuals for the first time ever so... I try to avoid simply demonstrating a series of "circus tricks" or working through a premeditated list of topics. I've found that it's invariably more constructive to open things up to the students, encouraging them to ask questions and thus enabling them to steer the general proceedings in the direction of their choice. With this kind of approach, every workshop/clinic/masterclass can be somewhat unique - it's more personalised and, dare I say, more fun!"

Pricing and Availability:

Whilst the masterclass is primarily a free event for current Institute students, the Institute is also opening the event up for alumni, who can purchase tickets for £5 from the school reception. A limited number of public tickets are available from the Tricycle, online or by calling the Box Office on 020 7328 1000.

More information:

• www.icmp.co.uk