2024 Targhee Music Camp Instructor Bios

Joe Craven – “Creativity” Class

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A word from Joe regarding his class:

Howdy Foakie Music Makers! I'm offering y'all a Four Course Creativity Buffet
(One teacher...4 Intensives of creative process.) It's like a Whitman's Sampler of chocolates!

Class Schedule:
Day 1) One Composition...Different Styles; how to reimagine a tune or song based on a menu of components that make different styles or... how to apply them to one of your own. Definitely a pursuit of possibility class.

Day 2) Songetry (jumpstart your songwriting), Joe introduced this last year as a workshop. It's back by request. Great if you haven't written one yet or need fresh ideas to lubricate your creative juices.

Day 3) Intuitive Improvisation - when you improv, you improve! A fast paced "ropes course" of how to gain freedom and confidence through spontaneous movement on your fingerboard or voice. Liberate yourself from common sense!

Day 4) Feelin' The Blues for Voice and/or Bowed instruments. Bending the timbre of long and short tones, feelin' the grease and groan of your instrument and taking your time sayin’ a bunch without playin’ a bunch of notes. Playin’ the blues suggests the ‘technique’ of clarity over correctness, release and expression of your emotions. Surrender to the feeling and you’ll do it! FUN!

Class Description
This class is open to all instruments and suits advanced beginners to thriving intermediates to advanced players open to what they haven’t experienced. The class has been called “pursuits of possibilities” and it truly is. We do know that all musicians beginning to advanced that have taken this class reported that their music and lives soared by working with Joe. He can take your music to the next level! Oh, and Fun/Music/Joe go together in a life enhancing recipe that will give you a new perspective on music.

This year Joe is offering a creativity buffet that will help you re-imagine a tune or song, lubricate your creative juices (or help you discover them), make improvisation a tool for freedom and improvement, and help you learn to make your instrument or voice say a bunch without playing a bunch. Joe will get you thinking and feeling music-making in a new way in this fast paced, jam driven class.