Perthshire, Scotland
October 19-21, 2018
Learn acoustic, fingerstyle and jazz guitar at this immersive three day retreat with Martin Taylor and Martin Simpson.
Overview

Players of all levels and styles are welcome at the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat in historic Scotland. Whether you’ve been playing for years, or you just know a couple of chords, you'll be able to immerse yourself in learning guitar at this three day guitar retreat with two of the world's leading acoustic guitarists... Martin Taylor and Martin Simpson

From fingerstyle to acoustic to jazz and more, Martin Taylor will give you insight into the techniques, styles, and tips to inspire and improve your playing. Meanwhile award-winning acoustic guitarist, composer and songwriter Martin Simpson will be teaching different guitar tunings, arranging and accompaniment. The retreat is designed to gather guitarists of all levels from around the globe with a common goal - learning, playing, eating and sleeping music.

This is the second time a Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat has been held on the mainland of Scotland. Don’t miss this chance to spend a week-end in the heart of historic Scotland, a place of legends, golf courses, castles, stunning landscapes and fine whisky distilleries! What could be better than a musical holiday where you really learn something and have a great time with like-minded people?

The Retreat will take place in the heart of Scotland, around 90 minutes north-west of Edinburgh on October 19th, 20th and 21st, 2018.

During the day you'll learn directly with Martin and his guest teachers and every evening you can sit back with a fine malt whiskey or Scottish ale and take part in intimate, once-in-a-lifetime jam sessions. Just bring your guitar, get ready to learn, jam, make friends and have fun!

What Are The Martin Taylor Guitar Retreats About?
The Martin Taylor Guitar Retreats are all about hands-on playing. This retreat is about helping you FIND YOUR UNIQUE CREATIVE VOICE as a guitarist and having fun in the process.
Improved Technique
Improved technique and a new level of confidence as a guitarist.
Multiple Styles
You'll be exposed to different guitar styles to develop your guitar playing.
Inspiration
Spend three days getting inspiration and making new friends. 
Guitar Exercises
You'll learn plenty of new exercises to continue to progress on the guitar.
Crafting Your Guitar Arrangements
During the Retreat you'll learn to take a song and craft your own unique arrangement of it.
Live Performances
Opportunity to perform onstage with Martin Taylor and your fellow creatives.
The Daily Schedule

Friday 19th October 2018
2:00 - 3:00 pm Students Arrive
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Retreat Welcome & Introductions
4:00 – 5:30 Opening Session
5:30 - 6:30 Workshop I
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Dinner
9:00 pm - 11:00 pm Evening Jams

Saturday 20th October 2018
9:30 am – 10:30 am Workshop II
11:00 - 12:30 pm Workshop  III
12:30 pm - 1:45 pm Lunch
2:00 pm – 3:30 Workshop IV
​3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Coffee Break
4:00 - 5:30 pm  Workshop V 
7:00 - 8:30 pm Dinner
8:30 pm - 11:00 pm Evening Jams

Sunday 21st October 2018
9:30 am – 11:00 Workshop VI
11:30 am - 1:00 pm Workshop VII
1:00 pm – 2:15 pm Lunch
2:15 pm – 3:30 pm Workshop VIII
3:30pm - 4:00pm - Coffee Break
4:00 pm - 5:30 Workshop IX
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm End of Retreat Performance (optional)

* Detailed schedule to follow.

The Location - Scotland!
Picture Scotland and you will often think of ancient castles against a backdrop of dramatic hills and glens. Despite its small size, Scotland has many treasures crammed into its compact territory – big skies, breathtaking landscapes, spectacular wildlife, superb seafood and hospitable, down-to-earth people. 

For many, autumn is the best time to visit Perthshire as the area is known as Big Tree Country. An excursion to nearby St. Andrews is a pilgrimage for golf aficionados and numerous castles polka-dot this part of Scotland. Its local products, customs, music, and traditional dress—from tartans and bagpipes to tweeds—travel all over the globe, but there's nothing like experiencing them firsthand. We look forward to welcoming you to Scotland!
MEET YOUR RETREAT TEACHERS
MARTIN TAYLOR
Fingerstyle and Jazz Guitar
Grammy nominated musician Dr. Martin Taylor, MBE, is a virtuoso guitarist, composer, educator and musical innovator whom Acoustic Guitar magazine calls ‘THE Acoustic Guitarist of his Generation’.

Widely considered to be the world’s foremost exponent of solo jazz and fingerstyle guitar playing, Martin possesses an inimitable style that has earned him global acclaim from fellow musicians, fans and critics alike. He dazzles audiences with a signature style that artfully combines his virtuosity, emotion and humor with a strong, engaging stage presence.

Taylor has enjoyed a remarkable musical career spanning across five decades, with more than 100 recordings to his credit. Completely self-taught beginning at the early age of 4, he has invented and developed a unique way of playing the guitar that is greatly admired, and often emulated, by guitarists all over the world.

In addition to his solo concerts and recordings, he has also collaborated with musicians from many different musical genres, including: Jeff Beck, Tommy Emmanuel, Bill Wyman, Chet Atkins, Stephane Grappelli, David Grisman, George Harrison, Jamie Cullum, Bryn Terfel, Dianne Schuur and Gary Burton.

He has been awarded two honorary doctorates, a BBC lifetime achievement award, Top 10 albums in both the USA and Europe, a record 14 British Jazz Awards and in 2002 he was appointed MBE 'For Services to Jazz Music' by Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain.  

As one of the world's most recognized online guitar teachers his innovative online guitar school with its headquarters in Napa, CA has been featured on NPR, BBC, Fox News and the LA Times and is subscribed to by guitarists in over 58 countries.

'Martin Taylor is one of the most awesome solo guitar players in the history of the instrument. He's unbelievable' - Pat Metheny

'He outshreds all of us put together....I've never seen anything like it' Jeff Beck

"There is a touch of genius in his playing" - Classical Guitar Magazine

"No matter how complex or daring, Taylor's interpretations never short change the melodies; indeed, his remarkable fluid touch imbues a seamless beauty. Martin Taylor is something to behold."The Washington Post

"Taylor is the finest British guitarist of his generation" - The Times of London


 
MARTIN SIMPSON
Fingerstyle, Acoustic & Slide Guitar
There is no doubt that after 45 years as a professional musician Martin is, right now, better than ever. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, his interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. His solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving.

There is no-one who has more successfully combined the diverse elements of British, Afro-American and old-timey music than Simpson. His 15 years living in the US were well spent. In addition his own songwriting has produced some real gems, from the truck-stop epic, “Love Never Dies” to the profoundly moving “Never Any Good” and "One Day".

His career includes collaborations on stage and record with Richard Hawley, Richard Thompson, June Tabor, Kelly Joe Phelps, Jackson Browne, Danny Thompson, Danú, Martin Carthy, Cara Dillon, David Lindley, Roy Bailey, Martin Taylor, David Hidalgo, Steve Miller, Dick Gaughan, Dom Flemons and many more.

Martin has been nominated an astounding 27 times in the fifteen years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - more than any other performer - with 9 consecutive years as nominee for Musician of The Year, which he has won twice. 2008 saw an incredible 5 nominations for "Prodigal Son' and 2 wins, whilst in 2010 he had an unprecedented 6 nominations for his CD, "True Stories" and a win for Best Traditional Track, "Sir Patrick Spens". 2012's nominations for Martin include, Best Album for 'Purpose & Grace", Best Traditional Track for "The Lakes Of Ponchartrain" and Best Musician. In 2014 his album, 'Vagrant Stanzas' was nominated for Album Of The Year, but it was a member of The Full English that he collectively took home awards that year, for Best Group and Album Of The Year. 2015 saw him working in a new trio with the wonderful Andy Cutting and Nancy Kerr and they also released an album together, 'Murmurs', to wide, critical acclaim. He is currently working on new material for his next solo album.

Whether playing American old-time music, blues, a Dylan song or his own material, Martin Simpson is unpredictable, individual and a guitarist of immense subtlety.
ALISON BURNS
Vocal Coach
Alison Burns is an award-winning singer and vocal coach who has performed and run singing workshops in the USA, Europe and Asia.

A lifelong love of music started at home, with an early education in the Great American Songbook from a father who played guitar and a mother who would carry the guitar case into his gigs! As a young girl in Dundee, an industrial city on the east coast of Scotland, the dreams were of singing and acting in Hollywood and the soundtrack was Peggy Lee, Lena Horne, and Bessie Smith among many others. 

Her debut album, Kissing Bug was received with universal acclaim and became the first album by a Scottish jazz singer to reach the Jazz Top 10. So far she has packed her bag to perform in far-flung destinations such as Tokyo, New York, Nashville, Cannes, Italy and Shanghai.

The International Association for Jazz Education has awarded her for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education and in 2013 she received the Brand Personality Award by the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation, previous recipients of this award include Aretha Franklin and Steve Jobs.
What they say about the retreat experience.
Watch this video to learn what Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat students have to say about the experience.
What you will learn.
Watch this video to discover the kinds of things you'll learn at the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT MARTIN TAYLOR GUITAR RETREATS...
"It was a fabulous experience. My impressions were that Martin and the teaching staff were very very gracious, very talented certainly, and really ensured that every master class session was run well, the content was perfect for the class, the students themselves really became very close friends and almost family atmosphere after the first night.  I know that I learned a lot, I had a lot of aha moments. I have a lot of things to work on but without a doubt the time spent this week was not only enjoyable, something I remember all my life, but absolutely will improve my playing and my confidence in playing".
-Ted Clark (New Jersey, USA)
“This was my first guitar retreat for Martin Taylor and it was an awesome experience. I learned so much and everyone is just so open and shares all this info and totally approachable. I also take the online classes, I just started a couple of months ago and coming to this retreat has just really fulfilled and filled out a lot of information that I had a lot of questions for. Highly recommended and check it out.”
- Lisa Liu (Brooklyn, USA)
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Accommodation
The Gold Package includes accommodation at The Lands of Loyal Country House Hotel. The Lands of Loyal is an impressive Victorian mansion built in the 1830's, commissioned by Sir William Ogilvy who on his return from Waterloo chose Loyal Hills the site for this magnificent home. This country house was transformed into a very prominent hotel in the heart of Scotland in 1945. The hall is modeled on one of the magnificent lounges from the famous steamship the Mauritania and has warmed, welcomed and comforted its guests in the same unique way as in the days of Sir William Ogilvy himselfTheir highly acclaimed restaurant earned a deserving feature in the Michelin Guide and boasts an extensive a la carte menu offering traditional, yet imaginative food using local fish, game and produce. The hotel has has three dining rooms, two of which have open fires, providing glorious views and a unique ambiance for the retreat. There is also a wonderful whisky bar in the hotel and you'll be able to enjoy the evening jam sessions by the fire in the grand hall each night.
LEARN HERE






Pricing
Silver Package
$1499
Only 13 places available
  • All Workshops (over 13hrs of instruction)
  • Welcome goodie bag
  • Sunday night performance (optional)
  • 2 Lunches & 3 Dinners
  • Evening jam sessions & instructor performances!
  • Includes over $1,500 worth of bonuses
Gold Package
$1999
Only 17 places available
  • All Workshops (over 13hrs of instruction)
  • Welcome goodie bag
  • Sunday night performance (optional)
  • 2 Lunches & 3 Dinners
  • Evening jam sessions and instructor performances!
  • Includes over $1,500 worth of bonuses
  • 3 Nights Accommodation with Breakfast at The Lands of Loyal
** BONUSES ** 
Bonus #1 ($997 Value)
Gold and Silver Package members will receive immediate access to the 'Guitar Mastery' online precourse (value $997).

This six week home-study online course will help you get the most from the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat. It includes over 40 HD videos on scales, melody playing, arranging for guitar, improvisation, performance technique and other areas that will be taught in more depth on the retreat. This online precourse is only available to Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat students.
Bonus #2 ($297 Value)
Gold and Silver Package members will receive access to a new six-part online course from Martin Simpson. (value $297).

This six part home-study online course will help you get the most from the workshops that Martin Simpson will be teaching at the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat. This online pre-course is only available to Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat students and students will be given online access in September.
Bonus #3 ($297 Value)
Gold and Silver Package members will also receive access to James Taylor's online course on the creative process (value $297).

This online home-study course from James Taylor's C.SCHOOL™ includes over 40 HD videos, pdf worksheets, and audio files on understanding your creative process and breaking down creative blocks.
Bonus #4 ($197 Value)
Gold Package customers will receive access to the video and audio library from the Online Guitar Summit™ where Martin Taylor and James Taylor interview over 30 leading guitarists including Tommy Emmanuel, Clive Carroll, Ulf Wakenius, Andy McKee, Robin Nolan, John Knowles, Peppino D'Agostino, Richard Smith, Muriel Anderson, Frank Gambale, Pierre Bensusan, Justin Sandercoe, Pat Bergeson and many more.
 
Bonus #5 ($25 Value)
Gold and Silver Package members will receive a copy of Martin's new book 'Beyond Chord Melody' (value $25).

Beyond Chord Melody with Martin Taylor MBE condenses over 40 years of playing expertise and insight into this beautiful jazz guitar book. Learn from the internationally acclaimed master of jazz chord melody guitar as he guides you through his 7-step method to creating your own guitar
arrangements. Copies will be mailed out to students in May.
NON-PARTICIPATING
PARTNER PACKAGE
PARTNER REGISTRATIONS OPEN SOON
Why Not Bring Your Partner
If you would like to have your loved one join you at the retreat but not participate in workshops, we recommend this package. You both dine together with the group for meals, and attend all evening concerts/jams together. During the days, while one of you is participating in workshops, your partner can enjoy the fun things to do in the area.

So here's how to register your partner. Firstly register yourself. Then come back to this page and click on the non-participating partner package button and make this week-end a get-away both of you can enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When does the retreat take place.

A. The retreat classes run from the Friday afternoon until Sunday evening.

Q. Where does the retreat take place.

A.The retreat classes will take place at the Lands of Loyal Country House in Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland..

Q. Can my partner attend even though they won't participate in the classes.

A. Absolutely, non-participating partners are very welcome and the price per non-participating partner to cover the 2 lunches and 3 dinners and attendance at the jam sessions/performances is $350 and will be available when registration open. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR PARTNER.

Q. What is your cancellation policy?

A. You can receive a full refund minus any credit card/hotel booking fees within the first 30 days of booking. Please consider getting travel insurance to cover unexpected occurrences.

Q. What about accommodation?

A. The Gold Package includes accommodation on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings. There are only 17 Gold Package places available. For Silver Package customers you will need to arrange your own accommodation in the area.

Q. Can I book extra nights of accommodation?

A. Yes. If you are a Gold Package customer you can contact the hotel directly to book extra nights.

Q. Who can I contact if I have other questions related to the retreat?

A. Please email support@p3music.com

Q. Can you accommodate those with specific dietary requirements?

A. We are happy to cater for people with dietary requirements. Vegetarian, vegans and basic diet requirements are included in the price. Please just contact support@p3music.com with details.

Q. Is the venue and accommodation suitable for those with mobility issues?

A. We are not able to accommodate anyone with severe mobility problems. Please get in touch with support@p3music.com to discuss your particular needs.

Q. How do I get there?

A. You can travel to Alyth either by air, road or rail.

By air: Alyth is 75 minutes from Edinburgh International Airport and 2hrs from Glasgow International Airport. Both of these airports have direct flights to UK regional airports and a number of airports in the USA, Canada, Europe and the Middle East.

The nearest train stations are Dundee and Perth. There are bus services from both Dundee and Perth that will take you to Alyth. The Lands of Loyal is a 10minute walk from the bus stop.

Detailed driving directions will be emailed to you once you have confirmed your registration.

 

The Premier Music Retreat Experiences
This will be the first Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat in mainland Scotland. James Taylor's C.SCHOOL™ also produces music and creativity retreats for Mike Marshall, David Wilcox & Peppino D'Agostino. Our Scotland team is focused on giving you the very best experience in which to learn guitar.

Other C.SCHOOL™ retreats take place in London, New York, Italy, France and Asia. We are honored to work with Martin Taylor for our first Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat in Perthshire, Scotland. We hope you decided to join us for three day days of eating, sleeping, learning and playing guitar.
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