subject: Rick Washbrook Days At Sir William Mackenzie Inn [print this page] Rick Washbrook Days At Sir William Mackenzie Inn
When I think of Rick Washbrook and his ability to play guitar, I don't
know where to
start. There is so much to express.
Virtually every lesson with Rick Washbrook would open my eyes up to new
innovations, and techniques on the instrument. He has a level of
expertise in terms of knowledge and skill that cannot be put into words.
Washbrook would start a lesson and during the lesson it was like he was
taking me to a sac-ride place.
I started studying from Rick Washbrook in 2002 to 2003, at the Sir William
Mackenzie Inn Located in Kirkfield Ontario. He was living at the mansion
that was constructed by the man that built the Canadian Railroad. Rick
Washbrook played a regular show Sunday night,solo guitar at the
"Gate House Restaurant", next to the Inn.
Washbrook went back to Toronto in 2004. I continued studying with him by
cassette
lessons. I found it to be at times even more of a great lesson, because
Rick Washbrook
would tell little stories about the music business, and his life on the
road in between the lessons on the cassette. I would record a cassette
of my progress to mail back to Washbrook.
I continued religiously with the 2 cassette lessons a month, 4 years in
total.
I have been playing guitar now for about 18 years.
Rick Washbrook looks at the guitar as an orchestra, with 6 voices that
must be trained first before they are blended to produce beautiful
harmony.
When I first started taking lessons with Rick I didn't know what to
expect. I had already been through the Berkley books from a great
guitarist near my home Gerald Van Haltern. In fact it was Gerald that
suggested I study from Rick Washbrook when he first came to town. He had a
habit of moving around a lot. I had studied the Berkley books but just
didn't know how to apply what I learned from the books.
I wondered could someone at his level really teach in a way that I could
connect with
in spite of my limited experience? I found out not only could he teach but
he would graciously share so much information that I could spend months
developing the techniques and exercises.
To give you a hint of Rick's dedication to his dedication, I remember
studying with Rick Washbrook at The Sir William Mackenzie Inn, in
Kirkfield, Ontario. On a particularly cold winter day in February. We had
to sit next to the oven in the kitchen, just to keep ourselves
and our instruments warm. The Inn was not heated fully in the winter only
certain rooms.
For me that is an image that will stay in my mind forever. I could really
see the dedication
of the mans mind just sitting there in front of the stove, pouring out
his knowledge and love
of the instrument. From that day on I felt that dedication in me.
Rick is a very giving person who sees music as something to be shared and
not squandered.
Rick Washbrook has a deep respect for the Canadian late genius Lenny
Breau. Rick Washbrook would show me a lot of Lenny's technique's.
Anyone looking to improve their playing in any genre of guitar would be
amazed at what they have not yet discovered after a lesson with Rick
Washbrook.
His way of thinking about the guitar and teaching are unique. I have not
seen these methods in any text before.
Warren Graves (Student of Rick Washbrook)
Science teacher, and music guitar teacher at Lindsay High School.
By: Warren Graves (Student of Rick Washbrook) September, 2010Science teacher, and music guitar teacher at Lindsay High School.Rick Washbrook Days At Sir William Mackenzie InnRick Washbrook Days At Sir William Mackenzie InnBy: rick washbrook
