2025 Event Press Releases: 4/23/25 • 6/18/254
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/10/2025
Contact: Ancient-Future.Com Records
1-415-459-1892
info@ancient-future.com
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 6:30 to 8:45 PM
Three Free Music Workshops
Guitar, Music Theory, and Improv
Hi-Res Photo of Matthew Montfort (300 dpi, 5" x 3")
Something for Instrumentalists and Vocalists of All Levels
A series of free introductory in-person music workshops at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance taught by guitarist and Ancient Future bandleader Matthew Montfort continues with three 45 minute workshops on April 23, 2025. Ongoing classes will then be offered on Wednesday evenings tailored to the individual goals of workshop participants.
Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, CA 95425
Facebook Event. Sign up: lessons@matthewmontfort.com.
Poster (69k .pdf)
Beginning Guitar
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 6:30 to 7:15 PM
Get started on the right track with good practice habits, hand position tips, first chords, and notes on the first string.
Music Theory (Intermediate to Advanced)
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 7:15 to 8 PM
Get ready for improvisation by learning about keys, chords, and intervals. For guitarists, all instrumentalists, and vocalists.
Improv (Intermediate to Advanced)
Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 8 to 8:45 PM
Learn how to improvise. Open to all. Accessible for guitarists.
Matthew Montfort Bio
Matthew Montfort is known as a world guitar innovator and an inspiring music instructor who helps students of all levels and ages learn whatever style they desire. He is on the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list at DigitalDreamDoor.com along with such luminaries as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Adrian Legg, Merle Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, Doc Watson, Pierre Bensusan, Toni Rice, Alex Grassi, Stefan Grossman, Artie Traum, Joni Mitchell, and Peppino D'Agostino. He is the leader of the world music group Ancient Future and performs on many instruments, including scalloped fretboard guitar, Glissentar 11 string fretless guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, flamenco guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, sitar, charango, mandolin, and gamelan.
Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used at many music schools including the Berklee College of Music. Matthew Montfort was on the faculty of the Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco for three decades where he taught rock, folk, jazz, blues, classical guitar, music theory, and world music. He teaches all styles of guitar, ukulele, bass, charango, sitar, and mandolin as well as music theory for all instruments and rhythm classes based on his book.
141 Word Radio Announcement
Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort is holding three 45-minute free in-person music workshops on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance in Sonoma County. At 6:30 PM, an introductory beginning workshop helps aspiring guitarists get started on the right track with good practice habits. At 7:15 PM, an intermediate to advanced music theory workshop accessible for guitarists is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists. At 8 PM, an improvisation workshop is open to all instrumentalists and vocalists. Ongoing music classes will then be offered on Wednesday evenings tailored to the individual goals of participants. An inspiring music instructor who helps students of all levels and ages learn whatever style they desire, Montfort is on the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list at DigitalDreamDoor.com along with luminaries like Michael Hedges and Merle Travis. To sign up for the workshops, email lessons@matthewmontfort.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3/5/2025
Contact: Ancient-Future.Com Records
1-415-459-1892
info@ancient-future.com
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 7 & 7:45 PM
Free Rhythm Workshops
Learn to Count and Bali Beats
Poster (70k .pdf)
Free In-Person Workshops
A series of free introductory in-person music workshops at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance taught by guitarist and Ancient Future bandleader Matthew Montfort continues with two 45 minute workshops on June 18, 2025. Additional rhythm classes will be offered tailored to the individual goals of free workshop participants.
Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, CA 95425
Sign up: lessons@matthewmontfort.com.
World Rhythms Workshop
Counting Rhythm to the Beats of Bali
Free In-Person Rhythm Workshops
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 7 to 8:45 PM
Cloverdale Arts Alliance, 204 N. Cloverdale Boulevard, Cloverdale, CA 95425
Sign up: lessons@matthewmontfort.com.
These workshops are a wonderful way to improve timing skills. Matthew Montfort's book, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India, is the basis for this world music workshop and has been used by many teachers and musicians around the world, including Reinhard Flatischler, founder of the TaKeTiNa rhythm training process, and Steve Smith, famed rock and jazz drummer.
Not just for percussionists, this training can help any musician, singer, dancer, or music lover improve their rhythmic skills. Very simple to play percussion instruments will be provided, and participants are free to bring an instrument.
Counting Rhythms
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 7:00 to 7:45 PM
Learn how to count rhythms, from whole notes to 16th notes.
Bali Beats
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 7:45 to 8:30 PM
The hypnotic music of Bali features interlocking rhythms with syncopated 16th notes. Studying this music prepares musicians to play confidently in ensemble situations, always knowing where the beat is.
Matthew Montfort Bio
Matthew Montfort is known as a world guitar innovator and an inspiring music instructor who helps students of all levels and ages learn whatever style they desire. He is on the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list at DigitalDreamDoor.com along with such luminaries as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Adrian Legg, Merle Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, Doc Watson, Pierre Bensusan, Toni Rice, Alex Grassi, Stefan Grossman, Artie Traum, Joni Mitchell, and Peppino D'Agostino. He is the leader of the world music group Ancient Future and performs on many instruments, including scalloped fretboard guitar, Glissentar 11 string fretless guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, flamenco guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, sitar, charango, mandolin, and gamelan.
Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used at many music schools including the Berklee College of Music. Matthew Montfort was on the faculty of the Blue Bear School of Music in San Francisco for three decades where he taught rock, folk, jazz, blues, classical guitar, music theory, and world music. He teaches all styles of guitar, ukulele, bass, charango, sitar, and mandolin as well as music theory for all instruments and rhythm classes based on his book.
Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities
Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort. Book/Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Soundfiles: $52.95 (SALE! Normally $69.95): Buy Link.
"You've heard Afro-Pop, sitar, gamelan and world music for years. But do you know what they are and how they work? Better yet, would you like to play those twisted cross-rhythms and melodies? In Ancient Traditions--Future Possibilities, Matthew Montfort, a founding member of the world music band Ancient Future, has put together the book for people who want to dig into world music with both hands. The first section of the book covers traditional music of West Africa, Bali and India with theories and exercises. Wherever possible, Montfort has provided beat counts alongside the standard musical notation so even if you can't read music, you can still learn the rhythms. The last section of the book mixes patterns from different cultures, demonstrating the powerful music these simple exercises can generate." – Richard Kadrey, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
138 Word Radio Announcement
Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort is holding two 45-minute free in-person guitar workshops on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at the Cloverdale Arts Alliance in Sonoma County. At 7 PM, learn how to count rhythms, from whole notes to 16th notes. At 7:45 PM, counting skills will be applied to the hypnotic music of Bali featuring interlocking rhythms with syncopated 16th notes. Studying this music prepares musicians to play confidently in ensemble situations, always knowing where the beat is. Additional rhythm classes will be offered tailored to the individual goals of free workshop participants. An inspiring music instructor who helps students of all levels and ages learn whatever style they desire, Montfort is on the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list at DigitalDreamDoor.com along with luminaries like Michael Hedges and Merle Travis. To sign up for the workshops, email lessons@matthewmontfort.com.
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