Robben Ford Master Class Comments from Students

"Words can't truly describe the joy I felt from spending time with
Robben on Saturday 14th of October. It was special. I have been
listening to Robben for quite a few years and you don't need to hear
from me how the man can start a fire with his axe. He has all kinds of
fires.I can only recommend taking part in one of his clinics as Robben
proves to be a very comforting and inspiring mentor."
- Daniel Weiss, London, England

"I was inspired by your playing and your encouragement. I will endeavor
to try to absorb and use what I learned.
Thanks again and I highly recommend one of your clinics to any
guitarist who wants to improve his/her skills, It was awesome." -Jerry Greer, Ceres, CA.

"As a repeat attendee (four times now), I can say Robben’s clinics
never disappoint and this was certainly no exception. Robben is truly
gifted and his desire to share his love of music with his fans is a
generous gift to us. After each clinic, I always come away with a
renewed sense of inspiration and a determination to continue to push
forward and grow musically."
-Jim Constant

"Thank you Anne and Robben for an unbelievable experience at the clinic
on Saturday. Me and my dad had a great time and i will never forget it.
Hopefully next time me, my dad and my uncle could come. I also have
been trying to practice more so that i can play with Robben at the next
clinic. Overall i had a great time and it was even better when we found
out that the clinic was going to be at your house( i doubt that a
guitar clinic has ever been at your house but for me to be able to have
experienced that was a once in a life time event). Nobody believed me
when i told them that i went to Robben Fords guitar clinic and it was
at his house! So to me the clinic was awesome and i wouldnt change a
thing.
Thanks alot, Phillip Benson

"Just a quick note to say "Thank You" for being so gracious and
accommodating at the Oct. 14, 2006 clinic. It's not often that someone
would welcome 10 strangers into their home and treat us as if we were
friends over for a musical morning and afternoon. As the oldest
attendee (62) in the group and having recently returned to playing
after 27 years of guitar playing inactivity, I wanted Robben to know
what a wonderful experience it was for me. Especially, his overall
approach to and love for music, in general. I really loved how Robben
focused mostly on chord structure and used single-note runs and scales
to get from one chord to another. No matter someone's age (our group
was teen's to 60's), I highly recommend this clinic to anyone wishing
to expand their musical horizons. Thanks, again, for a great day!" -Adrian Silva

"I wanted to thank you and Robben for an unforgettable experience in
Ojai this last Saturday. As you know, I attended with my 13-year-old
son, J.C., who was already a huge Robben fan. Robben let him plug into
the amp and play a song during a break. He will never forget the
compliment Robben gave him on his playing, especially coming from one
of his idols. It was a dream come true for him."- John Nara, Los
Angeles, CA.

"As for the clinic, I thought it was really well balanced with just the
right mix of history, insight, suggestions, musical theory and
philosophy, a few good yarns and, of course, getting to see you just
play some stuff (and fish for a few chords). It's a rare, but
important, experience to see an accomplished and learned artist just
being a regular person and sharing the wealth of their art form. I left
with lots to chew on and the benefits of the class will last a
lifetime..."
-Mike Curtis, Montreal

"Many thanks for a fun and informative guitar clinic on July 29. I was
very happy to be part of the group, and inspired to learn a little bit
about some of Robben's musical approaches and philosophies. I have
taken to heart Robben's encouragement to pay attention to what others
around me play, instead of focusing overly on myself, and have already
noticed that I am listening more attentively. I also really enjoyed
the book, Zen Guitar--a great recommendation!"
-Gretchen Menn, Hillsborough, CA

Anne and Robben,
"Wanted to drop a quick note to express my appreciation for the terrific clinic this past weekend. It was like spending the day with an old friend talking about guitars and past experiences. Thanks again for allowing me the opportunity to sit and experience the fun of being around someone who truly enjoys the music."
-Hunter Dodson, Round Rock, Texas

"Please relay to Robben my thanks and gratitude for the clinic on
Saturday. In the small amount of playing I've done since then, I've
seen a significant change in my approach to harmony and melody, one
that I can evolve upon over time. His insights into his songwriting
process and candor were also very valuable and appreciated."
- Jeff Battershall, Morton, PA.

"Just wanted to drop a line to Robben and you and say that I really
loved the opportunity to come to the clinic. I just got back to
Toronto from LA and thought I'd let you know it was great." -Cal Coons, Toronto

"Thank you so much for the clinic last Saturday. I am a working professional and have been for some time time, but the inspiration
alone was worth money and the crazy day I had driving in from Palm Dessert and back [I had gigs there on both Friday and Saturday night!]. Robben, you are an inspirating player and person for too many reasons to mention. Keep living well and doing those great, unexpected CDs like "Authorized Bootleg,"Supernatural," and "Tiger Walk" as well as the great Blue Line records."
-Chris Clermont, Palm Desert, CA.

"Your clinic was great! Thank you so much--I left Ojai feeling
inspired. I plan to come again and bring my two sons."
Ron Smith

"I just got back to my home here in Orange County. Just wanted to letyou know what an honor it was to be with you Saturday afternoon in Ojai. Robben... I have been enjoying your music since the L.A. Express days. You continue to stir me up after all these years and I thank you for that.Looking forward to seeing you again. "
- Mark Shapiro, Fountain Valley, CA.

"Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the Guitar clinic... I can’t say enough about how good it was!"
-John Spousta, Mission Viejo, CA.

"Dave and I had great time Saturday...I for one discovered Robben a few years ago and he rejuvenated my interest in the guitar. I was tired of the same old standard guitar Rif's, Mesa Boogie loud crunch power chord tones, etc. so had pretty much stopped playing. When I heard Robbens playing and sound for the first time I was amazed and said: "Here's a guy who understands that a guitar can rock and still be musical". To be able to spend a day learning how he apraoches the
instrument from a holistic view is a dream come true for me and I am honored. I truly believe that he is the greatest blues/ jazz guitar
player in the world..."
- Steve Wahrer, Coquitlam, B.C.

"I just wanted to thank you and Robben again for such a great clinic today. Please pass on to Robben that playing "All Blues" and "Stolen Moments" with him was unquestionably a highlight of my musical life. Robben's compassionate and spiritually grounded soul clearly comes out through his music, and interacting with him today completely supported
this notion. On the business side, I will highly recommend Robben's clinics to every musician I know!"
-Jim Fisk, Long Beach, CA.

"I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Robben's clinic on Saturday.
What a great way to spend the day listening to truly one of the great artists of our time and hearing him speak about his musical theories and his experiences with other artists. His stories alone were very interesting and it was very generous of him to share them with his students.Robben's sense of himor and demeanor was very pleasant and enjoyable... I came away from the class with a much better understanding of what it is to be a true musician. I found Robben's emphasis on listening with your ears and your heart to be very helpful. It is a true crime that there are so many well known musicians that do not come close to Robben's brilliance. I'm looking forward to seeing him sometime in the future, perhaps at the next clinic."
-A lifelong fan, Paul from Whiittier, CA.

"I came away from the last clinic with so much great information and inspiration."
-Gary Pierce, New York, N.Y.

"I attended the last Guitar Clinic, and enjoyed it completely, as did the friend I brought. Thanks to both you and Robben for making the clinics
available to us."
-Dan Peyton, Camarillo, CA

"For me, I learned a number of lessons that go way beyond the technical stuff. Moreover, it is very inspirational to spend time with Robben. I’m totally fired up about working on my playing and enjoying the simple pleasure of making music. I would highly recommend this clinic to anyone at any level."
- Jack DiFranco, Rochester, MI.

"Much to learn, much to share, much to be inspired by..." - Rob Sawyer, Santa Paula, CA.

"My friend and I enjoyed the clinic very much. The first hour and a half of Robben's presentation, during which he explained chord formation and soloing within chord structures, was worth the entire tuition. We also enjoyed having the opportunity to play with Robben -- really nice touch. And many of the participants enjoyed Robben's presentation on song writing and how he developed his own talents in that area."
-Jeff Wheeler, Calabasas, CA.

"Just wanted to send a quick thanks to both of you for having me at the clinic last week. It was very inspirational. It was just what a young guitarist needs to get psyched for playing. I couldn't wait to get home and experiment with what I learned..." - Frank Velardo, Lancaster, PA.

" I did really enjoy the clinic and would recommend it. Robben's philosophy and personality made it a joy."
-Larry Finder, Evanston, Illonois

Many thanks for an amazing clinic. For many reasons, including the open sharing of your musical soul and roots, motivating me to stop messing around and finally learn some voicings, as well as knowing my son will remember the day for a long time, I am more grateful than I can say.
-Jeff Kittrelle

Thank you for your labor of love. The clinic was beyond what I
expected. The good, nurturing energy was so thick you could see it in the air. It was
more than worth my time and the money.
- Rich Giglio, Coronado, CA.

I just wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for making sure all
five in my group were able to attend the Robben Ford clinic together this past Saturday. We really enjoyed
ourselves. Please let Robben know how much everyone in my group enjoyed and appreciated the clinic.
-Paul Rosenthal, North Hollywood, CA.

I just wanted to say how much i enjoyed the May 22 clinic. I had a gig
the next day and applied some of the concepts learned to Miles' "All
Blues". It came out great !! Also getting to play with Robben was a very cool thing.
Thanks again,
-Drew DeAscentis, Los Angeles, CA.

All of us who have had the opportunity to participate appreciate your
and Robben's willingness to organize and provide these classes. They
are very inspirational. We stayed at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa this
trip. My wife had a wonderful time. Food was great. I got lots of
new ideas and enjoyed Robben's perspective immensely. Just got back
today and I am going over to my partners house this evening to
practice.
-Douglas G. Melton, Helena, Montana

"It is a challenge to create a learning environment for so many people
of such varied backgrounds. Robben certainly delivered on my part and
all the other participants I spoke with very much enjoyed the experience."
-Allan Ievers, San Jose, CA.

"Just a thank you note for the great time yesterday. It was a pleasure to
get to hear your musical approach to theory, rhythm guitar (also my favorite
part) and soloing. And I really enjoyed spending time during lunch talking
about guitars, improvising and other guitarists"
-Barney Doyle, Aliso Viego, CA.

"Please extend to Robben my great appreciation for a wonderful clinic on
Saturday. It was well-worth the drive from Sonoma County. I just ordered
Zen Guitar from Amazon. Perhaps the greatest lesson I received is seeing
the joy that Robben has for his music and the enthusiasm and openness
with which he shared it with all of his "disciples" in the room that
day. Which brings me to another profound treat: meeting nearly two dozen
guitar players all with the same deep love of Robben's music that I
have. Amazing!"
- Mark Weddle, Rohnert Park, CA.

" Thank you again for your generosity and inspiration. I will highly
recommend your clinic to others."
- Wolf Puckett, Amarillo, Texas

"I wanted to thank you for a wonderful experience in Ojai. The setting
couldn't have been better for rest, relaxation , rejuvenation and
inspiration... Robben's presentation was very inspiring. I find myself many
times focusing too much on acquiring knowledge and too little on enjoying
the beauty of the instrument and the power of personal creativity. Robben's
presentation really drove these points home.( I even wrote a song yesterday
which is a rarity for me!)." - Gary Pierce, Garden City, N.Y.

"The guitar clinic in Ojai was outstanding; everything that I expected and
more. Robben was very open and willing to share his approach to music. That
was maybe the best lesson - Robben's "philosophy" toward music. It was a
treat to watch and listen to Robben play the material he enjoys most." - Tom
Olin, Richland, MI.

"It is nice to be around such positive people... I feel like this has been a
nice turning point for my playing... It's really great to have a feeling of
forward motion in music, and I am deeply grateful. And I have hardly
scratched the surface of what was presented." - Mark Robinson, Redondo
Beach, CA.

"I did want to say that I get as much or more out of just being around
Robben as a kind of inspiration as I do from grasping the ideas of specific
academic approaches to the music. To my mind, Robben is and has been for
decades, the greatest living electric guitar player period. So, to know him
is a tremendous honor. I appreciate the opportunity to attend these
workshops very, very much. They mean more than I can say." - Steve Fox,
Carmel Valley, CA.

"I just wanted to follow up with a BIG thank you. Not only did I immensely
enjoy the workshop atmosphere and learning from Robben, but it really
kick-started my progress into learning the blues. Most importantly, Robben
demystified the blues for me and gave what I thought was very wise advice
about learning and playing (e.g. learn those chords! & listen more than you
play). It was also inspiring to hear Robben share some spiritual views as
well)." - Bill Harris

"Thank you for a terrific day. It was a pleasure to have Robben give so
much of himself... Please express my appreciation to Robben for his time and
his sharing of musical insight."-John Buffaloe

"Thank you both for the opportunity to attend such an enlightening clinic as
Robben shared with us today. I wanted to let you know that Robben opened a
few key doors for me that, before today, had seemed beyond my grasp and
forever closed to me. Actually, I wasn't even aware that one of those doors
existed before Robben's lucid explanation showed me the pathway to some very
musical possibilities. I expect to enjoy a quantum leap in my musical
ability and enjoyment as a result." - Rick Lunetta, Corona, CA.

"Please convey to Robben how much I gained from the
clinic today! He very graciously answered questions but more
importantly was a real spark to my continuing to play guitar.
Thanks once again." - Ann Thompson

"Thank you and Robben for a most enjoyable and informative clinic in Ojai
last Saturday. It was a weekend that, as a guitarist, will go down as one
of the best ever." - Jim Von Kreuter, Glencoe, IL

"My most sincere thanks for such a fabulous event. I learned so much more
than guitar stuff at Robben's clinic. It was truly a dream come true!" -
John Juul