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Ancient Future Times

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November 2020 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Vote to Help Ancient Future Play Here Somehow

Vote to Help Ancient Future Play Here Somehow
•Alternate Reality Concerts from the Ancient Future?

Reading, Rhythm, and Raga
•Take a Break from Election Coverage with Matthew Montfort's Masterclasses

Private Online Music Lessons
•Winter Bloom on Zoom

Vote to Help Ancient Future Play Here Somehow

Hands Around World

Alternate Reality Concerts from the Ancient Future?

In response to the Fall Equinox 2020 Issue of the Ancient Future Times, subscribers wrote to suggest that Ancient Future offer virtual concerts. This is a wonderful idea, and no small task with over two dozen musicians who live in different cities and perform together in various configurations. It will take some time to arrange, but by next spring or summer it should be possible somewhere outdoors. In the meantime, some of the musicians are getting set up to be able to stream solo concerts at home, so stay tuned!

Live indoor concerts will be among the last activities to return in full glory because they won't be viable until COVID-19 has been thoroughly dealt with through widespread mask wearing, contact tracing, treatments that are known to work, and a safe, effective, and widely distributed vaccine. Efforts to reopen the economy early are causing outbreaks, further delaying the next concert season. Musicians in Northern California were already suffering from very high housing costs, decreasing support for the arts, and absurdly low payments from the music streaming platforms.

If enough people vote for politicians who support programs for vulnerable workers, there's a chance that working class musicians will be included in efforts to mitigate the economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreaks. But it's very unlikely to be anywhere near enough, so even with the best possible electoral outcome, Ancient Future will still need your help to survive until concerts return, hopefully by 2022.

Ways to Help Make Music Great Again (and Again)

1. Vinyl from the Ancient Future

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future is the band's debut recording, recorded between December 1978 and May of 1979, when all of the members were studying at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California, under the late sarod master, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

In the Ancient Future archives are two dozen original vinyl LP copies of Visions of a Peaceful Planet (not a re-pressing). Used previously played LPs have been sold by collectors on eBay for $44 each. But these are unopened virgin copies, and quite a bargain at $40 each until they are gone!

Don't have a record player? Get the enhanced CD version of the recording that also includes the band's first video shot in 1978 at the College of Marin.

Visions of a Peaceful Planet LP Cover Art

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future. Original Vinyl Pressing. Very Limited Stock. LP- $40.00: Buy LP Now. Enhanced Audio/Video E-CD-R- $19.98: Buy E-CD Now.

2. Make a Tax Deductible Contribution!

Make a Tax Deductible Donation. Ancient Future was accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and now donations made through them on behalf of Ancient Future are 100% tax deductible to the full extent of the law!

3. Remote Recording A.F.A.R.

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fun fan funded recording project, has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks that will expand the project by over 50% is in production.

Due to the pandemic, the project has switched to remote recording, which will require an investment in software and equipment for each collaborating musician. Since remote recording can't be done in real time due to latency, hundreds of extra production hours have already gone into making MIDI mock ups and tempo tracks for the musicians to perform to. For the first time in A.F.A.R. history, the upcoming New Year's issue of the A.F.A.R. Email Newsletter will include links to audio files of some of those works in progress to give supporters a window into the creative process!

Please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

Temporary CD Cover

Supporter Levels and Premiums

4. Follow and Share Ancient Future on Social Media

If you use social media, you can help Ancient Future by sharing posts. Here a few sites where Ancient Future has a presence:

5. Homeopathic Streaming

While streaming services don't yet support artists financially in a sustainable way, world fusion music needs to gain a higher profile on all the services, so please add Ancient Future to your playlists, share them on social media, and stream them with the sound at a homeopathic background level.

For deep listening of the music in its full glory, take the next step and purchase high quality copies at Ancient-Future.Com. Ancient Future's 2020 Vision sale on recordings and educational materials has been extended to encourage support.

6. Ask Friends to Subcribe to the Ancient Future Times

Forward this subscribe link or use the tools at the bottom of each newsletter to forward it to anyone you think might be interested.

7. Repeat as Needed

Make music great again (and again and again)!

Reading, Rhythm, and Raga

Take a Break from Election Coverage with Matthew Montfort's Masterclasses

Chances are good that you may need a respite from talking heads pontificating on the likely outcomes of counting ballots in the U.S. election. So sign up for one of these masterclasses and let music be your guide after the polls close. Matthew Montfort taught music at the Blue Bear School of Music for over two decades. This fall, he returns to teach three virtual masterclasses:

1. Learn to Read Music by Studying Classical Guitar Technique

Adult Student of Matthew Montfort Performs RecitalTeenage Student of Matthew Montfort Performs RecitalSix Year Old Student of Matthew Montfort Performs RecitalAdult Student of Matthew Montfort Performs RecitalSenior Student of Matthew Montfort Performs Recital

Rise Above Reliance on TAB!

November 3 to December 8, 2020, Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, Have Fun Learning to Read Music through Classical Guitar Technique, Blue Bear School of Music Online. Guitarists are often good at reading TAB, but poor at reading sheet music. This class by Matthew Montfort will get you started learning to read standard music notation, while at the same time introducing foundational classical guitar technique that you can also apply to other styles of playing. You'll learn simple etudes and classical pieces, great for boosting your fingerstyle skills while actually having fun learning to read music! Tuition: $160 for six weeks.

2. Got Rhythm?

Online Rhythm Lesson

World Beat Workshop Returns to Blue Bear Online

Get Rhythm!

 Book Cover

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort.

This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists. The new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones.

3. Indian Raga for Western Musicians

Scalloped Fretboard Guitarist Matthew Montfort

Improve Your Improvisation Skills Through Melodic Training

November 5 to December 17, 2020, Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:30 PM, Indian Raga for Western Musicians, Blue Bear School of Music Online. This masterclass by world fusion pioneer Matthew Montfort will help you improve your soloing in any music genre from rock to jazz to free improv through melodic training. Learn the emotional power of each interval and how to construct meaningful melodies through the tradition of Indian raga. Open to all instruments and voice. Tuition: $200 for six weeks.

Private Online Music Lessons

Skype Guitar LessonSkype Rhythm LessonLearn Ancient Traditions on Skype

Winter Bloom on Zoom

Private Online Lessons with Ancient Future Bandleader Matthew Montfort. Study any of the musical traditions featured on the Ancient Future web site, all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, mandolin, charango, and sitar), record production, composition, world rhythms, music theory, and repertoire for all instruments.

There are many advantages to online lessons. The lessons can easily be recorded, and it is easier to evaluate a student's technique with a camera than from behind a music stand. The main drawback to online lessons is that recording software is needed to perform duets due to internet latency issues. But duets are possible online via file exchange, digital audio workstations, and a free browser-based multitrack recording platform. Matthew Montfort will return to teaching in-person lessons when it is truly safe. At that time, he will be offering hybrid online/in-person lessons for students in Marin and Sonoma counties, with package deals for three online lessons and one monthly in person lesson to develop ensemble skills.

Ancient Future Times

September Fall Equinox 2020 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Zoom Into Fall and Help Ancient Future Stay Here Now

Blue Bear Masters
•Masterclasses at the Bear Online: Read Music Through Classical Guitar, World Beat Workshop, Indian Raga

Concertless Cash Crunch Continued: Help Ancient Future Stay Here Now
•Tax Deductible Contribution, Support A.F.A.R., Purchase Music, Vinyl from the Ancient Future

Private Online Music Lessons
•Zoom into Fall

Blue Bear Masters

Matthew Montfort's Masterclasses Return to the Bear Online

Matthew Montfort taught music at the Blue Bear School of Music for over two decades. This fall, he returns to teach three virtual masterclasses:

1. Have Fun Learning to Read Music Through Classical Guitar Technique

Adult Student of Matthew Montfort Performs RecitalTeenage Student of Matthew Montfort Performs RecitalSix Year Old Student of Matthew Montfort Performs RecitalAdult Student of Matthew Montfort Performs RecitalSenior Student of Matthew Montfort Performs Recital

November 3 to December 8, 2020 (Postponed from September 29), Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9:30 PM, Have Fun Learning to Read Music through Classical Guitar Technique, Blue Bear School of Music Online. This class by Matthew Montfort will get you started learning to read standard music notation, while at the same time introducing foundational classical guitar technique that you can also apply to other styles of playing.  You'll learn simple etudes and classical pieces, great for boosting your fingerstyle skills while actually having fun learning to read music! Tuition: $160 for six weeks.

2. Got Rhythm?

Online Rhythm Lesson

World Beat Workshop Returns to Blue Bear Online September 30 to November 4

Get Rhythm!

 Book Cover

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort.

This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists. The new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones.

3. Indian Raga for Western Musicians

Scalloped Fretboard Guitarist Matthew Montfort

Improve Your Improvisation Skills Through Melodic Training

November 5 to December 17, 2020 (Postponed from October 1), Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:30 PM, Indian Raga for Western Musicians, Blue Bear School of Music Online. World fusion pioneer Matthew Montfort will help you improve your soloing in any music genre from rock to jazz to free improv through melodic training. You'll learn the emotional power of each interval and how to construct meaningful melodies through the tradition of Indian raga. Open to all instruments. Tuition: $200 for six weeks.

Concertless Cash Crunch Continued

Matthew Montfort, Vishal Nagar, and Jason Everett at the Moscow Renaissance Fair

Thanks for Helping Ancient Future Stay Here Now!

We'd like to thank the Ancient Future fans who have stepped up to help Ancient Future stay here now! Because of fan donations, we've been able to make some progress on the next Ancient Future record through remote recording, but there's a lot more to do to support this music and the musicians who make it until normal band activities are possible again.

Live concerts will be among the last activities to return because they won't be safe until COVID-19 has been thoroughly dealt with through widespread mask wearing, widespread testing, contact tracing, treatments that are known to work, and a safe, effective, and widely distributed vaccine. Efforts to reopen the economy early are causing outbreaks, further delaying the next concert season. Musicians in Northern California were already suffering from very high housing costs, decreasing support for the arts, and absurdly low payments from the music streaming platforms. With all of this, we very much need your support to survive until concerts return, hopefully by 2022.

If you've been able to return to work or have the means, below are four ways you can help.

1. Make a Tax Deductible Contribution

InterMusic SF Logo

2. Push A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line

Best of A.F.A.R. So Far CD Cover

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fun fan funded recording project, has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks that will expand the project by over 50% is in production.

With all of the concert cancellations, now is a good time to record remotely. Indeed, the bansuri, guitar, tanpura, and MIDI mock up tracks have been completed on a 28 minute suite, plus the guitar and MIDI mock up tracks on a 10 minute piece.

But remote recording can't be done in real time, so hundreds of extra hours of production are required to make MIDI mock ups and tempo tracks for the musicians to perform to. Because many of the master musicians in Ancient Future's collective don't have home recording equipment, we need to raise money for a few professional stereo audio recording interfaces and studio microphones.

Please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

Supporter Levels and Premiums

3. Purchase Music to Support the Arts

Ancient Future's 2020 Vision sale on recordings and educational materials has been extended to encourage support. Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and this sale offers bargain prices.

Five for Fifty: Five Releases Just $10 Each

Yearning for the Wind CoverPlanet Passion CD CoverSangria CD CoverSeven Serenades CD CoverSympathetic Serenade CD Cover

4. Vinyl from the Ancient Future

Visions of a Peaceful Planet LP Cover Art

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future is the band's debut recording, recorded between December 1978 and May of 1979, when all of the members were studying at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, California, under the late sarod master, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

"The first thing that makes this LP a delight is the magnificence of the instrumental blending. 'Zzaj,' by Montfort, for instance, sounds like music to celebrate the sunrise. 'Morning Song,' on the other hand, is based on Indian instruments, the Bansuri flute of Klein over a harmonic bed of sitar, tabla, sarod, zither, and tanpura; great stuff sounds like a dove whistling in a forest of stringed instruments." – Philip Elwood, legendary music critic, San Francisco Examiner

In the Ancient Future archives are two dozen original vinyl LP copies of Visions of a Peaceful Planet (not a re-pressing). Used previously played LPs have been sold by collectors on eBay for $44 each. But these are unopened virgin copies, and quite a bargain at $40 each until they are gone!

Don't have a record player? Get the enhanced CD version of the recording that also includes the band's first video shot in 1978 at the College of Marin.

Visions of a Peaceful Planet by Ancient Future. Original Vinyl Pressing. Very Limited Stock. LP- $40.00: Buy LP Now. Enhanced Audio/Video E-CD-R- $19.98: Buy E-CD Now.

Private Online Music Lessons

Skype Guitar LessonSkype Rhythm LessonLearn Ancient Traditions on Skype

Zoom into Fall

Private Online Lessons with Ancient Future Bandleader Matthew Montfort. Study any of the musical traditions featured on the Ancient Future web site, all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, mandolin, charango, and sitar), record production, composition, world rhythms, music theory, and repertoire for all instruments.

There are many advantages to online lessons. The lessons can easily be recorded, and it is easier to evaluate a student's technique with a camera than from behind a music stand. The main drawback to online lessons is that recording software is needed to perform duets due to internet latency issues. But duets are possible online via file exchange, digital audio workstations, and a free browser-based multitrack recording platform. Matthew Montfort will return to teaching in-person lessons when it is truly safe. At that time, he will be offering hybrid online/in-person lessons for students in Marin and Sonoma counties, with package deals for three online lessons and one monthly in person lesson to develop ensemble skills.

Ancient Future Times

June 2020 Issue

Ancient Future Times: This Moment

This Moment
•The Veil Has Been Lifted

Got Rhythm?
•World Beat Workshop Returns to Blue Bear Online July 8 to August 12

Concertless Cash Crunch
•Help Ancient Future Stay Here Now

Online Music Lessons
•Zoom Through Summer

This Moment

Hands and Globe

The Veil Has Been Lifted

The veil has been lifted and systemic racism should now be painfully obvious to everyone. There is much social and personal work to be done to make a more just world. Racism and tribalism have always existed, but we need to change now.

This doesn't mean that there isn't great value in local cultures keeping their history and traditions alive and creating new ones. Wonderful things happen when people work together as a community. The mission of world fusion music is to show how ideas from these different cultures can work together, helping us create greater understanding and tolerance between cultures and races. It's not an easy path as we confront our own biases while learning from each other, but it's a necessary one.

Got Rhythm?

Skype Rhythm Lesson

World Beat Workshop Returns to Blue Bear Online July 8 to August 12

Matthew Montfort taught classes at the Blue Bear School of Music for over two decades. This summer, he will return to teach a virtual world beat workshop from July 8 to August 12. His Got Rhythm World Beat Workshop is presented in an easy to follow, entertaining yet educational format for all music lovers. African polyrhythms, Balinese kotèkan and Indian classical music are presented because these traditions cover the major types of rhythmic organization used in most of the world's music. This training can help anyone with a desire to improve their rhythmic skills. Melodic aspects will also be explored through vocal chanting and instrumental call-and-response in a supportive setting.

Get Rhythm!

 Book Cover

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort.

This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists. The new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones.

Concertless Cash Crunch

Matthew Montfort, Vishal Nagar, and Jason Everett at the Moscow Renaissance Fair

Help Ancient Future Stay Here Now

Live concerts will be among the last activities to return because they won't be safe until there's a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19. Efforts to reopen the economy are causing outbreaks, further delaying the next concert season. Musicians in Northern California were already suffering from very high housing costs, decreasing support for the arts, and absurdly low payments from the music streaming platforms. With all of this, we very much need your support to continue the music and survive until concerts return, hopefully by 2022.

If you've been able to return to work or have the means, below are three ways you can help.

1. Make a Tax Deductible Contribution

InterMusic SF Logo

2. Push A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line

Best of A.F.A.R. So Far CD Cover

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fun fan funded recording project, has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks that will expand the project by over 50% is in production. With all of the concert cancellations, now is a good time to record remotely. But remote recording can't be done in real time, so hundreds of extra hours of production are required to make MIDI mock ups and tempo tracks for the musicians to perform to. Because many of the master musicians in Ancient Future's collective don't have home recording equipment, we need to raise money for a few professional stereo audio recording interfaces and studio microphones.

Please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

Supporter Levels and Premiums

3. Purchase Music to Support the Arts

Ancient Future's 2020 Vision sale on recordings and educational materials has been extended to encourage support. Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and this sale offers bargain prices.

Five for Fifty: Five Releases Just $10 Each

Yearning for the Wind CoverPlanet Passion CD CoverSangria CD CoverSeven Serenades CD CoverSympathetic Serenade CD Cover

Online Music Lessons

Skype Guitar LessonSkype Rhythm LessonLearn Ancient Traditions on Skype

Zoom Through Summer

Private Online Lessons with Ancient Future Bandleader Matthew Montfort. Study any of the musical traditions featured on the Ancient Future web site, all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, mandolin, charango, and sitar), record production, composition, world rhythms, music theory, and repertoire for all instruments.

There are many advantages to online lessons. The lessons can easily be recorded, and it is easier to evaluate a student's technique with a camera than from behind a music stand. The main drawback to online lessons is that recording software is needed to perform duets due to internet latency issues. But duets are possible online via file exchange, digital audio workstations, and a free browser-based multitrack recording platform. Matthew Montfort will return to teaching in-person lessons when it is truly safe. At that time, he will be offering hybrid online/in-person lessons for students in Marin and Sonoma counties, with package deals for three online lessons and one monthly in person lesson to develop ensemble skills.

Ancient Future Times

March 2020 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Coronavirus Cancellations and Path Forward

Music in March Coronavirus Cancellations
•Stay Tuned for New Dates in Summer or Fall

Coronavirus Cancellations Cause Cash Crunch
•Help Ancient Future Stay Here Now

Virus-Free Music Lessons
•Study on Skype While You Sip a Corona

Music in March Coronavirus Cancellations

Matthew Montfort and Mariah Parker on Youtube
Matthew Montfort and Mariah Parker perform 'Moonbath'

Stay Tuned for New Dates in Summer or Fall

Postponed: Saturday, March 14, 7:30 PM
Ancient Future Duet
Empowerment Healing Arts Sanctuary
616 C Petaluma Blvd N
Petaluma CA 94952
Refunds

Postponed: Saturday, March 28, 8 PM
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble
Occidental Center for the Arts
3850 Doris Murphy Ct. (Bohemian Hwy. at Graton Rd.)
Occidental CA 95465
Refunds

Coronavirus Cancellations Cause Cash Crunch

Hands and Globe

Help Ancient Future Stay Here Now

With good reason, concerts and classes are being cancelled left and right, and musicians are being hit very hard. Musicians in Northern California were already suffering from very high housing costs, decreasing support for the arts, and absurdly low payments from the music streaming platforms. With all of this, we very much need your support to continue the music.

The sad truth is that people in a variety of professions and life stages are in financial trouble now or will be soon, no doubt including many of the people who read this newsletter. But below are three ways you can help if you are currently in a position to do so.

1. Make a Tax Deductible Contribution

InterMusic SF Logo

2. Push A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line

Best of A.F.A.R. So Far CD Cover

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fun fan funded recording project, has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks that will expand the project by over 50% is already in production. With all of the concert cancellations, now is a good time to record. If we can get enough financial support, we can get this project finished in 2020.

Please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

Supporter Levels and Premiums

3. Purchase Music to Support the Arts

Ancient Future's 2020 Vision sale on recordings and educational materials has been extended to encourage support now that concerts and classes have been cancelled. Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and this sale offers bargain prices.

Five for Fifty: Five Releases Just $10 Each

Yearning for the Wind CoverPlanet Passion CD CoverSangria CD CoverSeven Serenades CD CoverSympathetic Serenade CD Cover

Virus-Free Music Lessons

Skype Guitar LessonSkype Rhythm LessonLearn Ancient Traditions on Skype

Study on Skype While You Sip a Corona

Concerned about coronavirus? Now you can learn music in the privacy of your home worry-free while you sip a Corona (or preferably green tea) instead of dousing yourself in hand sanitizer to travel to a music class. And since Skype lessons are on sale, they are cheaper than in person lessons!

Private Skype Lessons with Ancient Future Bandleader Matthew Montfort. Study any of the musical traditions featured on the Ancient Future web site, all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, mandolin, charango, and sitar), record production, composition, world rhythms, music theory, and repertoire for all instruments.

In Person Lessons

Matthew Montfort also teaches private students at his studio in San Rafael, California. A discounted trial evaluation lesson is now available for the first time. Free same day cancellation if you are feeling sick. More info: Price Sheet (70k .pdf).

Ancient Future Times

January 2020 Issue

Ancient Future Times: 2020 Visions

Fun Raising 2020 Vision
•Help the World Fusion Movement Enter the New Decade

2020 Vision Sale
•Extended to End of Ancient Future's 40th Season

Music in March
•Concerts in Sonoma County

Fun Raising 2020 Vision

Hands and Globe

Help the World Fusion Movement Enter the New Decade

1. Make a Tax Deductible Contribution

InterMusic SF Logo

In this age of polarization, world fusion music is needed now more than ever. You can help our "fun raising" efforts to support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, or support new compositions and recordings:

2. Push A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line

Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar Recording A.F.A.R.

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fun fan funded recording project, has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks that will expand the project by over 50% is already in production. It's time for some "fun raising" to fund payments to master musicians so that they can carve out time to practice their parts and record them.

Hundreds and hundreds of hours have already gone into the composition, rehearsal, pre-production, and recording the guitar and bansuri flute tracks for Beyond Kalyan, a new piece by Matthew Montfort based on Rag Kalyan. At around 30 minutes long, it is a very expansive, emotional, and difficult to perform piece. After finishing all of the melodic parts to the main piece, two live recording sessions were then devoted to recording the guitar and bansuri alap (an improvised introduction to a raga performance), and two more to recording a second guitar part that uses chords and contrapuntal motion. The next step will be recording Vishal Nagar's tabla tracks.

Please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

Best of A.F.A.R. So Far CD Cover

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2030).

Supporter Levels and Premiums

2020 Vision Sale

Extended to End of Ancient Future's 40th Season

Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and this sale offers bargain prices until February 11, 2020, the 41st anniversary of Ancient Future's first concert!

Five for Fifty: Five Releases Just $10 Each

Yearning for the Wind CoverPlanet Passion CD CoverSangria CD CoverSeven Serenades CD CoverSympathetic Serenade CD Cover

Digital Liner Note Discounts

Yearning for the Wind Digital Liner NotesSeven Serenades Digital Liner Notes

Beats Book Bang for the Buck

 Book Cover

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort (Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2). This classic "world beat bible" takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. The new companion audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book are available for Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones, and CD players.

Music in March

Matthew Montfort and Mariah Parker on Youtube
YouTube Video

Concerts in Sonoma County

Saturday, March 14, 7:30 PM
Ancient Future Duet
Empowerment Healing Arts Sanctuary
616 C Petaluma Blvd N
Petaluma CA 94952

Saturday, March 28, 8 PM
Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble
Occidental Center for the Arts
3850 Doris Murphy Ct. (Bohemian Hwy. at Graton Rd.)
Occidental CA 95465
Tix: $22 in advance, $26 at door

The first show of March is a duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Mariah Parker (santur, keys), concentrates on Arabic, Indian, and Spanish musical themes, and has performed in Spain at festivals in Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Botarell, Torredembarra, and Salou.

The second show features Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble with a stellar lineup of musicians including Grammy award-winning woodwind virtuoso Paul McCandless, scalloped fretboard guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort, bassist extraordinaire Michael Manring, and global percussionist Ian Dogole. Her latest release, Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert, reached number 32 on the JazzWeek airplay chart.