My GIT Timeline
Background
I have been thinking about attending GIT for about as long as I
have been playing (over 20 years) .
After moving to USA and getting Green Card, changes at work mean I
can afford to take a year out and get a bit more serious about
Guitar stuff.
I will start 1 year Certificate course in October 06 and will write
down a few bits of information here, as I progress, that may be of
interest to anyone thinking about attending.
Timeline
1985-2005: Think about GIT, make progress on Guitar with
semi-regular lessons and on own. Try to develop own techniques
for unique sound.
March 2006: Apply to GIT (with CD) and get accepted.
March-Sept 2006: Pre-study with several Guitar books, a Metronome
and CD player.
Sept 2006: Register and get assessed for level 2 on everything
except ear training.
2nd Oct 2006: Start 1 year Certificate course
24th Sept 2007: Graduate with 'Journeyman' Performance Certificate
Update Dec 2006
Finished first quarter, with 'mid-term' exams in last week, I
think I passed everything...
Did Electives in Blues (Keith Wyatt), Jazz Workshop I (Joe Elliot),
Rock Lead (Lenny Widegren)
Core classes were Rhythm, Single String, Theory, Music Reading & Ear
Training.
Rhythm and Single String were with Jamie Findlay:
http://www.jamiefindlay.com/
I did 11 Live Playing workshops, mainly Blues and R&B, but also Hip
Hop and Metal.
It was hard work, with much study time needed outside of class;
classes are ~18 hours a week but I worked 9am-9pm or more almost
every day.
Looking forward to next quarter, with Electives in Jazz Workshop II,
Eclectic Electric (Dan Gilbert) and Fretboard Workout.
Update March 2007
Finished second quarter level II for Single String, Rhythm,
Reading & Theory, so will enter level III ('professional level')
next quarter.
Did Electives in Jazz Workshop II (Joe Elliot), Eclectic Electric
(Dan Gilbert), Guitar Workout (Dan Gilbert).
I learnt a huge amount from Jazz Workshop, like how to write II V I
licks in major and minor, connecting seventh arpeggios, Altered and
Locrian #2 scales, how to break down a Jazz tune into 'common
situations', how to make a walking bass line,.....
Eclectic electric was a bit of an eye (and mind) opener with concept
of extended harmony (playing one arpeggio or triad over another
chord to get chord extension tones), triad pair lead lines and some
great licks based on playing of Larry Carlton, Pat Martino, etc.
I did 10 Live Playing workshops, mainly Blues, but also 80's pop and
R&B.
I beginning to think differently about soloing and how to play
written music, so am definitely finding GIT worthwhile.
Using metronome while practicing seems to be rubbing off gradually,
to improve timing.
Update June 2007
Finished third quarter, with Dave Hill instructing on Single
String and Rhythm
http://www.davehillmusic.com/ , and Dale Turner instructing on
Theory and Ear Training
http://www.intimateaudio.com/ .
Theory is now finished and will do 'Performance Recording' next
quarter. Ear training has got harder now have to sing along in
head, rather than verbally.
Reading got a lot harder with syncopated rhythms, odd meter and lots
of 'accidentals'.
Did Advanced Electric elective with Scott Henderson, which had a lot
of useful information which I had not heard before on Licks,
Composition, Tone and Music Business.
Also did electives on Jazz Guitar with Sid Jacobs
http://www.sidjacobs.com/
and (Jazz) Chord Melody with Bruce Buckingham
http://www.funkybucks.com/
.
Now considering staying another six months to do Recording Artist
Program (RAP), to learn about recording, Logic Pro and Production
http://www.mi.edu/independentartist
Update end Sep 2007
Finished fourth quarter, with electives in Chord Melody II, Jazz
Guitar II and Shred with Greg Harrison.
Also did extra two electives of Melodic Soloing with Tom Kolb and
Advanced Groove concepts with Ross Bolton
http://www.rossbolton.com/
and was glad I paid the extra money for these two.
Performance recording with Scott Parker gave the opportunity to
learn a bit about ProTools, learn some new tunes and get a feel for
what recording a session must be like.
Did LPWs in Blues, Hard Rock and Schroeder.
Final performance at the Knitting Factory went well, with Blake and
George adapting parts of two of my tunes for three guitars, to give
something a lot better than I could make up on my own.
Made a difficult decision to finish at MI after 12 months, rather
that do another 6 months in GIT or RAP.