In 2015, I started offering a workshop and clinic for intermediate guitarists and bassists, where they could learn to play together.

I'd noticed that all of my intermediate students were TERRIFIED to go out and play with other people. I constantly encouraged them, because I knew that it would improve their musicianship in necessary ways. At some point, a musician can't become a better group player without having that experience; they have to learn to play while listening to what other players are doing, they have to learn the difference between "playing in the pocket" (or sitting in the groove) with other players -- or not -- and they have to learn to create parts for themselves that work well with the players and vocalists involved.

​A lot of these skills are learned on the bandstand, but I realized that a lot of it could be also be taught. I remember how desperately I needed to develop those skills FAST when I first began playing music professionally, and I know how necessary it is for players to have that information.

​I start the workshop by figuring out the skill level of each of the musicians in the room. Then we create a chord progression and I assign parts (or ask players to come up with parts that work well together). And then we work on groove. We work on call-and-response motifs. We work on rhythmic and melodic ideas and ways of making them work together. After the groove is sitting nicely, I'll go around the room and ask people to solo. Throughout, we talk about the little things musicians can do that make for a dynamic performance.