Backpacker Buzz

Walking the same streets as the counter-culture generation reminds me that once upon a time, people had the power to protest without Facebook.  Sex, drugs and rock n' roll went hand-in-skipping-hand with sit-ins; rock n' roll was prefixed by the word pyschedelic yet had political, social and cultural statements; and a grass-roots movement (using music as a powerful means of communication) started, which would influence generations to come. 

From October 16-18, 2009, San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel hosts the first San Francisco Music Intensive - a weekend of inspiration and intensive study with some of the Bay Area's most seasoned professional musicians.

Sessions range from workshops to jam sessions to hands-on demos, and are designed for both established and aspiring musicians.

Highlights include:

• A songwriting class by Grammy nominee Bonnie Hayes, whose songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Bette Midler, and Cher, among others.
• A class on how to run live sound for musicians, plus a talk on the San Francisco music scene during it's heyday in the '60s and '70s, by famed Grateful Dead sound engineer Dan Healy.
• "Legal Self-Defense for the Emotionally Available Songwriter" with Barry Melton, co-founder of Country Joe and the Fish, who teaches you how to maintain the joy and openness necessary to write songs, while keeping a functional perspective when your songs morph into "intellectual property."
• A class on how to develop your performance skills, with Stevie Coyle, former frontman for The Waybacks.
• "Licensing and Publishing for Musicians" with Shannon Coulter, former A&R Director at Magnatune Records and author of How to License Music: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide.
• "Singing and Songwriting for the Musically Illiterate," aimed at helping participants get the most out of their creative work and environment regardless of their ability to read music.
• A clinic on proper care and upkeep of guitars and gear, featuring the sage advice of Philbillie Milner, who's logged thousands of miles on tour as a guitar tech roadie for the likes of Tracy Chapman, Primus, Bonnie Raitt, and Graham Nash.

Where:    San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf Hostel
When:     October 16-18, 2009
Cost:       $425 including 2 nights accommodation and all meals. One-day passes also available.

More Info sfmusicintensive.com.