Big Indian, New York
August 28th - September 1st, 2023
4 days and 4 nights of learning, playing, eating and sleeping fingerstyle, acoustic and jazz guitar in the beautiful Catskill Mountains.

Only 2.5 hours from New York City this retreat will be limited to only 30 participants who will join Martin Taylor, Tony McManus, Richard Smith and our other guest instructors for this unforgettable experience.
CLICK TO REGISTER
Overview

Players of all levels and styles are welcome at the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat in Big Indian, New York. Whether you’ve been playing for years, or you just know a couple of tunes, you'll be able to immerse yourself in learning fingerstyle, jazz and acoustic guitar at this four day guitar retreat with Martin Taylor and his guest teachers including Tony McManus, Richard Smith, Jim Cunningham, Alison Burns and James Taylor.

Martin will give you insight into the techniques, styles and tips to inspire and improve your playing. The retreat is designed to gather guitarists of all levels from around the globe with a common goal - learning and playing guitar.

This is the seventh year that the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat has been held at the Full Moon Resort (just 2.5 hours from New York City). Don’t miss this chance to spend a week in the beautiful Catskill Mountains, just 30 miles from historic Woodstock. What could be better than a musical holiday where you really learn something and have a great time with like-minded guitarists?

The Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat will take place this year from August 28 - September 1, 2023. During each day you'll learn directly with Martin and his guest teachers and each evening you can sit back with a wine or local handcrafted beer 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!

To really help you make the most from this event we have created a series of preparatory home study courses and cool bonuses (see below)!

What Is The Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat About?
The Martin Taylor Guitar Retreats are all about hands-on playing. Helping you achieve RESULTS and have fun in the process.
Improved Technique
Improved technique and a new level of confidence as a guitarist.
Multiple Styles
You'll be exposed to learning new guitar styles to strengthen your playing.
Inspiration
Spend four days and nights getting inspiration and making new friends.
Progress Your Playing
You'll learn plenty of new exercises to continue to progress your playing.
Learn New Tunes
During the Retreat you'll learn new tunes to add to your repertoire.
Live Performances
Opportunity to play onstage with Martin Taylor and his guitar teachers.
Provisional Schedule

Monday 28th August 2023
3pm - 5.00pm Check In & Registration
5.00pm - 6.00pm Meet & Greet
6.00pm - 7.30pm Dinner
8.00pm - 9.00pm Welcome & Faculty Concert
9.00pm - 11.00pm Jamming 

Tuesday 29th August 2023
8.30am - 10.00am Breakfast
10.00am - 11.45am Workshop 1 (Martin, Tony, Richard, and Jim)
12.00pm - 1.30pm Workshop 2
1.30pm - 2.30pm Lunch
2.45pm - 4.15pm Workshop 3
4.30pm - 6.00pm Workshop 4
6.30pm - 8.00pm Dinner
8.00pm - 8.45pm Faculty & Student Concert
9.00pm - 11.00pm Jamming

Wednesday 30th August 2023
8.30am - 10.00am Breakfast
10.00am - 11.45am Workshop 5
12.00pm - 1.30pm Workshop 6
1.30pm - 2.30pm Lunch
2.30pm - 4.00pm Workshop 7
4.15pm - 5.00pm Workshop 8
5.15pm - 6pm Workshop 9

6.30pm - 8.00pm Dinner
8.00pm - 8.45pm Faculty & Student Concert
9.00pm - 11.00pm Jamming

Thursday 31st August 2023
8.30am - 10.00am Breakfast
10.00am - 11.45am Workshop 10
12.00pm - 1.30pm Workshop 11
1.30pm - 2.30pm Lunch
2.30pm - 3.45pm Workshop 12
4.00pm - 5.00pm Workshop 13
5.00pm - 6pm Workshop 14

6.30pm - 8.00pm Dinner
8.00pm - 8.45pm Faculty & Student Concert
9.00pm - 11.00pm Jamming

Friday 1st September 2023
8.30am - 10.30am Breakfast
11.00am Checkout

***Note*** - Martin will also be doing 1-on-1 lessons with each student.

CLICK TO REGISTER
THE LOCATION - FULL MOON RESORT
Located one half hour west of Woodstock, is a year-round mountain resort in the heart of the “Forever Wild” Catskill Forest Preserve. Dedicated to the celebration of music and art in nature, this one hundred-acre wonderland of mountains, fields, and streams is a world of its own.
 
Accommodations
Accommodations are charming in their simplicity, with guest rooms available in a variety of lodges – some B&B style with shared hallway baths and others with private bath options. Also available are the new, deluxe cottages which feature a king bed (or two twins), sitting area with couch, private deck, picture windows with dramatic panoramic views, air conditioning, mini-fridge, coffee maker, Smart TV, WiFi, cell service (AT&T and Verizon) and custom tile bathroom with over-sized, dual head shower and radiant heat.​​​​​​​

Dining
Healthy cuisine served by a friendly, professional staff is the trademark of Full Moon Catering.  With menus offering – hot buffet breakfasts,  lunches and formal gourmet dinners with fresh, natural ingredients.
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 in partnership with ArtistWorks, 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 out-shred's 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

TONY MCMANUS
Fingerstyle & Celtic Guitar

Conjuring a unique but universal language from that most ubiquitous of instruments, the acoustic guitar, Tony McManus has both extended and transcended the parameters of contemporary Celtic music. Ranked by peers and predecessors alike alongside the guitar world’s all-time greats, his fiendishly dexterous, dazzlingly original playing draws on traditions from the entire Celtic diaspora – Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, Galicia, Asturias, Cape Breton, Quebec – along with still further-ranging flavours, such as jazz and east European music. Long applauded for his uncanny ability to transpose the delicate, complex ornamentation characteristic of traditional bagpipe or fiddle tunes – even the phrasing of a Gaelic song – onto his own six strings, McManus is increasingly being acknowledged also as a pioneering figure in bridging the realms of Celtic music and other guitar genres.

Born in 1965 in Paisley, near Glasgow, his surname the legacy of an Irish grandfather, McManus was introduced to traditional music via the family record collection. Having first tried his hand at the fiddle, whistle and mandolin, he took up the guitar aged ten, although subsequent academic inclinations got him halfway through a PhD in maths before the music won out. After rapidly making his name as an unusually fluent and sensitive accompanist, he took the solo plunge with a triumphant main-stage debut on the final night of Glasgow’s inaugural Celtic Connections festival in 1994, supporting Capercaillie in front of a 2500-strong crowd.

Over the years, Tony has recorded a catalog of dazzling albums, both solo and with friends, delivering a breadth of artistry and performance which conjures up images and themes of the traditional music of the Celts along with more global influences from far and wide. On the shop pages you will find all of Tony’s recordings along with the teaching DVD’s. The video section has a section of performances both studio and live.  Check out the dates for when Tony is next performing  near you – as the hardest working man in folk, it maybe sooner that you think!

RICHARD SMITH
Fingerstyle Guitar

Having witnessed one of his live performances, fellow musicians and music lovers alike sing hymns of praise about world-renowned fingerstyle guitarist Richard Smith. With fretboard fireworks and lyrical endeavours he will melt your heart-strings, make your toes tapping and your jaws hanging open. Richard's ever growing repertoire comprises a wide variety of music from classical Bach to Beatles pop. It includes Scott Joplin Rags just like Sousa marches, Chopin, Mozart and fiddle tunes. It ranges from jazz standards to Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed and to Django Rein-hardt gypsy swing, not to mention his intriguing originals. He delivers both, light-ning fast barn-burners and beautiful ballads, occasionally spiced with vocals.

Richard first met his hero, the “Godfather” of fingerstyle guitar, Chet Atkins, when he was only eleven. Richard was invited by Chet to share the stage with him at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London in front of an audience of 1,000. At first, the master ac-companied him, but later on he just listened in stunned silence while the child  played Chet’s own arrangements – perfectly. By the time Richard reached his early twenties, both Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed began to refer to him as their “Hero”.

Now residing in Nashville, Richard has toured the world as a solo artist, teaming up with his wife Julie Adams for a unique guitar and cello duo, performing with his brothers Rob and Sam as the Richard Smith Guitar Trio and with his swing band, The Hot Club of Nashville, featuring Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Pat Bergeson on guitar and Charlie Chadwick on bass. Fellow guitar wizard Tommy Emmanuel prefers Richard Smith as one of his favourite duet partners. In 2001, Richard became the National Finger-style Guitar Champion in Winfield, Kansas. He was elected Thumbpicker of the Year in 2008 and inducted into the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame in Kentucky in 2009. He is also a recipient of the Golden Thumbpick Award by the Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists in California.

Richard has been a mainstay at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention in Nashville since 1991, where he has played with many world renowned artists inclu-ding Nato Lima of Los Indios Tabajaras, sax legend Boots Randolph and John Jor-genson of Desert Rose Band and Elton John Band fame. He has also performed with other great musicians such as Marcel Dadi, Tommy Tedesco, Thom Bresh, Joe Pass, Biréli Lagrène, Bryan Sutton, Les Paul, Mark O'Connor, Sam Bush, Martin Taylor, Jorge Morel, Suzy Bogguss, Muriel Anderson, Guy Van Duser, Béla Fleck, Victor Wooten, Tony McManus and Buster B. Jones and shared the bill with a host of others, most notably Steve Morse, Albert Lee, Paco Peña, Barney Kessel, Da-vid Russell and Johnny Hiland.

“The most amazing guy I know on the guitar. He can play anything I know, only better.” - Chet Atkins, CGP (music legend)

“If you like my playing, you should hear Richard Smith! The world champion!” - Tommy Emmanuel AM, CGP (two-time Grammy nominee)

YOUR OTHER RETREAT TEACHERS
JIM CUNNINGHAM
Jazz Guitarist & Luthier
From 1979-2004 Jim Cunningham was the guitarist with The United States Naval Academy Band in Annapolis, Maryland before retiring from the Navy as a Master Chief Musician. Today Jim continues to play across the US as well as building and repairing archtop and acoustic guitars.
ALISON BURNS
Vocal Coach
Alison Burns is an award-winning singer and vocal coach who has performed and run vocal workshops in the USA, Europe and Asia. Her vocal workshop for guitarists and 'how to accompany a singer' class is is always a popular one at the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat.
JAMES TAYLOR
Creativity & Music Biz Coach
James Taylor is a speaker, author, coach and creativity expert. He has worked with artists including Tommy Emmanuel, Paul Gilbert, Nathan East, Billy Cobham and coaches and consults to musicians, authors, artists and creative entrepreneurs around the world.
What They Are Saying...
Martin Taylor's Guitar Retreats are legendary! To date over 130 guitarists have attended a Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat. Here's what one recent retreat student said:

"I’ve had a wonderful experience. Playing at home I found that it’s hard to find other players that are interested in fingerstyle or jazz. When I came here I found many people with similar interests. Martin showed us different ways of approaching accompaniment improvisation and we were able to jam with other students, we were able to play with them as well. As much as I enjoyed my time here I can’t wait to go home and try all the new material that I’ve learned here.”
The Retreat Experience
Ever wondered what a Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat is actually like?

Check out this video from a previous retreat in New York which will give you a flavor of the retreat experience!
REGISTRATIONS OPEN - CLICK TO BOOK
2022 Retreat

2021 Retreat

Retreat Students

2019 Retreat

2017 Retreat

2016 Retreat

Unforgettable Jam Sessions

Learn Directly From Martin Taylor

2018 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)
YES, I understand that spaces are limited to 30 places so it's important that I act now before public registration close!
YES, I understand this includes one (1) ticket to the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat in Big Indian, NY on August 28 - Sep 1, 2023. I understand I will receive registration information for the Retreat when I register.
YES, I understand my registration includes lodging at the Full Moon Resort for four nights as well as 3 amazing meals a day.
Your Special Bonus Bundle
To ensure your success at the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat, we’ve created this exclusive and valuable bonus package of online courses and more. Use these to get geared up and ready for New York and beyond!
BONUS #1: HOME-STUDY RETREAT PREPARATION COURSE ($997 value)
You will also receive access to the Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat home-study preparation course with video lessons covering some of the concepts and tunes you’ll be learning at the Retreat. This prep-course will help you gear up and get ready for the “Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat” by learning the chords and melody for tunes, and many of the other cool tips and lessons.
BONUS #2: JAZZ PHRASEOLOGY ($197 value)
Based on Martin Taylor's popular solo jazz guitar etudes book this brand new course is only available for New York retreat attendees. Learning Martin Taylor’s original solos is like taking a conversation class when studying a new language. You’ll start with a small seed of an idea inspired by the song’s melody, then naturally develop it into longer, more complex musical guitar solo. Instead of just playing licks, you’ll learn to develop an actual musical conversation that always links back to the source. These etudes videos have been crafted to help you progress beyond predictable scales and exercises into playing actual music. 
BONUS #3: WALKING BASS COURSE ($197 value)
Martin Taylor will be teaching how to play walking bass lines at the New York retreat. To help you with this technique he has filmed a ten video pre-course for you to watch before you come to New York so you can get the most from the retreat experience.
BONUS #4: BRAND NEW GUITAR COURSE ($197 value)
Martin Taylor will be creating a brand new online pre-course that will accompany the new workshops he'll be teaching at this retreat for the first time!
BONUS #5: AUDIO AND VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH OVER 40 LEADING GUITARISTS ($197 value)
Recorded as part of the Online Guitar Summit you will receive access to 40+ video and audio interviews with some of the world's finest living fingerstyle, jazz and acoustic guitarists. These in-depth interviews are with guitarists including Andy McKee, Tommy Emmanuel, Ulf Wakenius, Justin Sandercoe, John Knowles, Johnny Hiland, Peppino D'Agostino, Brian Gore, Clive Carroll, Richard Smith, Muriel Anderson, Frank Gambale, Scott Perry, Bill Piburn and Pat Bergeson amongst others. 
BONUS #6: CREATIVE PROCESS COURSE ($197 value)
You will also receive 40+ HD Video Lessons from James Taylor as he breaks down each of the five stages of the creative process to help you unlock your creative potential as a guitarist.
BONUS #7: MARKETING FOR MUSICIANS COURSE ($150 value)
Learn how to brand, market and sell your music. Whether you want to get more gigs, release an album or promote your songs this marketing course for creatives will help. 
CLICK TO REGISTER TODAY
Special Bonus For First 20 Guitarists That Enroll
- Martin's New Book
In Martin Taylor’s Latin Jazz Rhythm Guitar, iconic guitar virtuoso Dr Martin Taylor shows you how to quickly master the basic bossa groove, then transform it into endless musical comping patterns.

Part One – Boss Nova Guitar from the Ground Up

For those new to Latin Jazz, have no fear – this book begins with an easy-to-follow, practical guide to nailing the bossa nova groove and breaking it down beat by beat.Part Two – A Masterclass in Chord Embellishment

In Part Two you’ll learn Martin’s stunning chord embellishments and how to apply them to the greatest Latin Jazz tunes ever written.

You’ll learn how Martin plays these Antônio Carlos Jobim classics:

The Girl from Ipanema
Wave
Corcovado (Quiet Nights)
Triste
How Insensitive

Plus, two classic standards often played in the Latin Jazz style:

The Shadow of Your Smile
Night and Day

 
PRICING AND REGISTRATION
Standards Room, B&B Style, Shared-Hall Bathroom, Single Occupancy
$2,573 + taxes
B&B style accommodation with no roommate(s).
  • All workshops and activities for 4 days and nights.
  • Accommodation for 4 nights
  • 3 amazing meals a day
  • Welcome goodie bag.
  • Parking
  • Wi-Fi
  • Home-study preparation course (valued at $997)
  • Bonus bundle (valued at $1,000)
CLICK TO REGISTER
Standard Room, En-Suite Private Bathroom, Single Occupancy
$2,778 + taxes
Private accommodation with a private bathroom - no roommate(s).
  • All workshops and activities for 4 days and nights.
  • Accommodation for 4 nights.
  • 3 amazing meals a day.
  • Welcome goodie bag.
  • Parking
  • Wi-Fi
  • Home-study preparation course (valued at $997)
  • Bonus bundle (valued at $1,000)
CLICK TO REGISTER
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When and where does the retreat take place?

A. This Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat takes place on August 28th - September 1st, 2023 at Full Moon Resort in Big Indian, New York which is approximately 2.5hrs drive from New York City. Upon registering you will receive a confirmation email which includes an info sheet with exact directions, timings, etc.

Q. When should I plan to be there?

A. We suggest you arrive between 3pm-5pm on Monday 28th August to check-in. There will be a meet and greet for everyone at 5pm after which we'll have dinner and faculty concert and jam session.

Q. Is lodging provided?

A. Yes, and you can choose from six different lodging options ranging from shared room with a shared-hall bath to a private cottage. 

Q. Are meals provided?

A. Yes and everyone sits down for three wonderful meals each day. Menus include hot buffet breakfasts, lunches and formal gourmet dinners with fresh, natural ingredients (many that are organic and local).

Q. What level and style of guitarist is this retreat intended for?

A. The Martin Taylor Guitar Retreats are for all levels of players, from beginners to advanced. Around 25% of the attendees are beginners, 50% are intermediate and the remainder are more advanced players. In terms of styles the retreat will cover fingerstyle, acoustic, jazz and blues.

Q. What is the home-study preparation course?

A. The Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat preparation course is a home-study course that you will get access to once you enroll. The idea of this course is to give you a foundation of knowledge and techniques so you can get the most from the four-day retreat. You will get immediate access to a members-only website with over 50+ HD video lessons that are only available to Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat students. In addition to that you will receive access to other bonus online courses to help you get the most from the retreat. We will also record the majority of the workshop and jam sessions and these will be made available to you after the retreat for your continued learning.

Q. Can I buy the home-study preparation course on its own?

A. No, the course and retreat is intended to work together to provide you with a blended learning experience. The home-study course will teach you some of the basic techniques and concepts while the retreat will allow you to go deeper by learning directly with Martin and the guest teachers as well as collaborating and jamming with other fellow students. If you would like to study online with Martin then please check out his online school.

Q. When will I receive a detailed daily schedule and retreat handbook?

A. We will email you the handbook with daily schedule six weeks in advance of the Retreat start date. In that handbook we’ll have details of the individual workshops that Martin and the guest instructors will teach plus other support material!

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

A. Yes it is. Please get in touch to discuss your particular needs.

Q. What should I bring with me?

A. We recommend bringing your guitar, notebook, pens and small snacks to hold you over.

Q. Can I bring my partner with me?

A. Absolutely, we have a non-participating partner package so they can join you. You will be able to purchase this once you register.

Q. What are your registration and payment policies?

A. All rates are per-person, unless otherwise stated. All prices subject to change. Prior sales excluded. We reserve the right to change any price, package or offering at any time without prior notice. All rates are subject to 8.9% surcharge, which includes all local, state, and occupancy taxes. All payments and deposits are final and non-refundable.

Q. What if I have a question that's not listed here?

A. If you have additional questions, please contact the retreat support team at music@fullmoonresort.com

Q. How do I get there?

A. You can travel to the retreat location by plane, car, bus or train.

By car:

From Albany and points North:
Take the New York State Thruway (I-87) South towards New York City
Take Exit 19, Kingston (see below)

From New York City and Points South:
Take the New York State Thruway (I-87) North/West to Exit 19, Kingston
After toll, merge slightly right onto Route 28 West (towards Pine Hill)
Travel approximately 30 miles on Route 28 West to Big Indian/Oliverea
Turn left onto County Route 47 (just after a brown sign on Route 28 which says Oliverea 3 miles)
Proceed 5 miles on County Route 47 (Oliverea Road)
You will see signs for Full Moon on the right-hand side.

By air:
The closest airpots to Big Indian are one hour and thirty minutes away: Albany International Airport and Stewart/Newburgh International Airport. JFK and LaGuardia Airports in New York City are approximately two and a half hours from Big Indian.

For details of travelling to the retreat by bus or train please visit the Full Moon Resort website at http://musicmasterscamps.com/directions 

The Premier Music Retreat Experiences
The Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat will be the 43rd music retreat that P3 Music has produced. Our team is focused on giving you very best experience in which to learn guitar.

Other P3 Music music retreats take place in California, London, Italy, Scotland, France and Asia. We are honored to work with Martin Taylor and Music Masters Camps on this fourth Martin Taylor Guitar Retreat at Full Moon Resort. We hope you decided to join us for four days and nights of guitar goodness.
© 2022 MARTIN TAYLOR MUSIC LTD
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