Testimonials

" Bob, Woody, Trevor -
Just a quick note to thank you all once again for a spectacular week. I feel that I got more out this past week than in my entire last year of playing. Your complete dedication to making sure that each student gets the maximum out of the IGS week is truly amazing. After the IGS week it's a damn good thing that I can't even pretend that I could make a living playing guitar because mentally I would be the first to bail out on the regular 9-to-5 job. This reassimilation into society thing is a nightmare... I've got my deposit ready for next year...
Thanks again! "
James Allard

" Dear Woody, Greetings. Blessings to you this 4th of July weekend. I've just returned Saturday evening from my east coast adventure visiting family and friends following my extraordinary experience with you, Bob and the rest of the IGS staff and community.

I've had some amazing experiences in my life. The camp was without a doubt one of the most wonderful learning adventures I've ever had. Thank you.I've been beaming and singing IGS praises to all my friends and family.

The generosity of spirit, kindness and overall nurturing environment shared and cultivated by you and the IGS team was inspiring,uplifting and even healing. Thank you. Thanks again for your patience, and gentle manner of encouraging. I had been a little bit anxious about my relative inexperience with the guitar but from the moment I arrived I felt welcomed, reassured, and supported.

As I said at the meeting, Trevor was extremely gracious and helpful answering questions in the months preceding the seminar. He also gave me a good idea of what classes would be most appropriate for me.

In addition to being most appreciative for your organizing of the event and the individual time I had to work with you, Woody. I wanted to thank you for your dedication to this gift that you have as a musician. I wanted to thank you for your initiative in finding Rev. Gary Davis and for the discipline of all your years of concentrated play (that sounded better to me than hard work).

Your playing is moving both to hear and to see and clearly an inspiration to all of us who were there.

I'm having great fun learning every day. I will keep you posted on my progresss and thanks again for everything. "
Gregory Vahanian

" Just a note to thanks you guys once again for the incredible time at Santa Cruz. As a beginner I wasn't sure where (or if) I would fit in, but all your claims about catering to people of all levels were very true. I came away not only with renewed inspiration to practice but also with more than enough material to keep me busy till next year. Thanks so much for your dedication and efforts toward insuring a great time for all of us. Also please pass on thanks to all the rest of the teaching staff, Trevor, Haley, and anyone else I'm forgetting for their superhuman efforts Lastly PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep me informed of plans for next year's courses. Would'nt miss it for the world! And, if you do have a Colorado course and need help from some of the locals let me know."
Tom Downes

" Well, I've been back at the daily grind for a bit, but I still wanted to take a second and thank each and every one of you for the tremendous week in Santa Cruz. I learned a great deal, made some fine new friends and was able to connect back into what makes music such a special magic.

Thanks, and hope to see you all next year,"
Dennis Roger Reed

" Greetings!
I thought it'd be nice to hear from you all again--and, here you are. I never expected the l00% amount of kindness, support, thoughtfulness, and generosity I experienced last week. I'm still high. I especially want to thank my two main teachers, Woody and Orville, for detaching my thumb from my fingers, and giving me tools to create my own fingerpicking tunes. I find myself building on ideas I learned from John and Martin last year. And Bob B., Bob T., Mary, Piper and Bob, the sound man, were very special supporters.
And so was, well, just everyone. I thought Trevor said it best. We were complimenting one another, and I said I'd be working on my guitar playing. And he said he wanted to work on his singing, and, if we both did that, then we'd be even next year! Believe me, I'll be hard at work and enjoying! Did I say work? I mean playing. "
Bobbie

" Many thanks to each and every one for a wonderful week. I have attended 5 weeklong music workshops (Kaufman and Aebersold) in the past and yours will remain a highlight for many years. I truly took away a year and more's worth of work.

Individually I'd like to thank The Tillings for their generous spirit and desire to make everyone feel at home, in touch and appreciated. Bob's jokes are awful but the spirit burns bright
Bob for his energy, creativity and general merrymaking. A true entertainer and showperson. Should that I gain 10% of the power of his playing
Woody for his quiet professionalism, his overall musicianship. The boy's been to school ! Wished we could have played some jazz together. Would have loved to hear some of the stories as well
Mary for her humor and showing the world that middle aged white women can cook with the best of them, an amazing reality to her music. Love the CD as does my wife
Trevor and Haley for their seamless logistics and ability to make it all seem so easy. You had the hardest jobs of all I'm sure this past week
John for his honesty and good humor, even in light of all the madness
Martin for his ironic and fun sense of humor, his vast knowledge of the mixing of Anglo/American/African sounds through the years, his amazing technique. His mother would be proud of what the lad's done in the New World
Piper for her strength in the face of illness, and her great tone on that bass
Orville for his gentle spirit and ability to sing through his instrument(s). He made everyone sound wonderful by the strength of his playing. "
Charlie Neff

"Dear I.G.S. friends,
Can I nominate you folks to the Guitar Seminar Hall of Fame?

Returning as an alumna from last year, I wasn't sure if I would derive the same amount of benefit from another seminar. "Au contrare" the atmosphere was charged with good vibes & musical notes bouncing off all the walls. Beginners and advanced students alike, left their egos at the door and spent the week exploring music. Once again, the instructors were incredibly talented and gave of themselves well beyond my expectations.

Save a spot for me next year! "
Bill Keitel

" I have just returned from Woody and Bob's IGS Workshop at New York. It was astounding. My second year there and I was prepared for learning this time. I have returned hone with at least a year's work. I am a serious musician and I love playing lap guitar. I found IGS inspirational and I will try to keep motivated and develop my music further. The quality of the tutors was excellent: I spent time at various afternoon classes, learning and listening to the likes of John Renbourn, John Cephas, Orville Johnson, Woody and Bob. I also had the once in a lifetime opportunity to have an old master, John Renbourn accompany me (no rehearsal) at the student concert. He was quite good really, well not bad, kept it in tune.
My resources are limited. Without the support of a scholarship I would not be able to participate in IGS. I would simply not be there, not be a part of it. Thank you for your input and support toÜIGS.Your contribution cannot be measured in purely financial terms, but in the value of good teaching and potentially great music and musical experiences.! "
Tom Doughty

"Dear Friends at IGS,

Just a note to let you know how pleased I was with your seminar. I was hoping to get a little bit of attention from the instructors, instead I feel I received their complete attention when ever I was in need of it. My guitar strings were set ablaze by the intsructors, they have given me  years worth of musical bits and pieces that I will be able to incorporate into my own music.  This is an event of uncommon merit. Your seminar far exceded my expectations! Save a spot for me next year! "
-Bill Keitel Mn.
NY 1999 Alumni

"Good Afternoon Woody,
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed the first annual IGS. I wasn't in any of your classes ( Bob in the morning, Martin in the afternoon) but I still wanted to tell you what a fantastic job you guys did. All of the staff where absolutely 100 percent excellent.  From the moment I saw the sign on the front gate directing me to the registration desk to the time I left every detail was of the highest quality. If you guys keep this up you are going to give musicians a bad name. Next thing you know drummers will start showing up at rehearsals on time, and you will have to ask them to play a little louder. Seriously, you guys did a first class job, it was all I could have hoped it would be and more.  I can't say enough good things about the whole experience and I can't wait until next year!! "
Thank you,"
Tim Mitchell
Alumni NY, 1999

"When I read the brochure's promise of a "life changing experience" I was a little skeptical. But the seminar actually met and exceeded everything it claimed to be. I have never been so inspired to write and play my music! The seminar made me realize that we can all continually reach higher and higher musical ground if we just keep climbing! And the atmoshpere was really special, everyone, including the teachers, ate, slept and drank music 20 hours a day for a week. See you all next year!"
-Paul Heumiller
NY 1999 Alumni

"I am still getting value from the seminar almost 3 months later. I've improved more since June than I have in the last 5 years. You guys are doing a good thing. Thanks."
-Paul Heumiller
NY 1999 Alumni

"Thanks to all at IGS for a fantastic, life-changing week! To all of you planning to attend the Santa Cruz seminar, you are in for a real treat. The folks at IGS take good care of you from beginning to end. They even hailed a cab for me when I departed on Friday. Now, that's service you won't find at just any guitar camp. Thanks Woody, Bob,Trevor, and all for an incredible week. I look forward to seeing you next year."
David Horn (posted at the Guitar Forum)
NY 1999 Alumni

"It is my prediction that this event will become a highly renowned institution within acoustic blues guitar circles. (You heard it here first)."
-Donny Payjack
Phoenix, AZ
Santa Cruz 1999 Alumni


"Hi Woody,
Greetings from Australia, just touched down a few hours ago.  Just wanted to personally thank you for your morning classes during the week and for the whole deal in general. It was a great effort on the part of everyone involved. Barring any major problems I am already looking forward to next year, I can't give higher praise than that."
Steve Brennan
Sydney
Santa Cruz 1999 Alumni

"I'm suffering from IGS withdrawl. Even though I couldn't handle any more information, I sure am glad for the time spent with, and all the support from, everyone involved! I'll be there next year for sure and hope you are too!
See ya soon,.
Randy Fortune
Santa Cruz 1999 Alumni

"Ya know, I go to guitar camp(s) for one bottom-line reason: TO GET INSPIRED. And ya know what?  IT WORKS. And IGS Santa Cruz was simply THE MOST inspiring camp I've ever attended. So much so that I'm now seriously pondering doing music full-time rather than continue in my Frighteningly Secure Professional Position. This of course would result in a dramatically reduced income, probably a few tattoos, and...well, you get the picture.  Rather than rambling endlessly, let me just say that with all the jamming, learning, laughing, talking, sleep deprivation, pizza, performance, practicing, etc., IGS guitar camp is, to put it as concisely as I am able, SERIOUS SHIT."
HAMBONE HASBROUCK
Santa Cruz 1999 Alumni

"WOW! International Guitar Seminars at New York was absolutely wonderful. Everybody there had a blast and would love to do it again. The info I got will last me years. We stayed up late and got up early every day. We didn't want to miss anything. A totally life changing experience.  Also, guitar players can be very fun, wacky people to hang out with.  Thanks to Bob, Woody, Martin, John, Kristina, Orville, Robert, Thelma, Michelle & Trevor."
Kurt Gallagher (posted at the Guitar Forum)
NY 1999 Alumni