Martin Guitar Workshop

May 21, 2010

Design your own 3-dimensional model guitar, under the guidance of masters of the craft, at the Martin Guitar Design Workshop, from Monday, August 9, through Friday, August 13, at Northampton Community College's main campus, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania.

The week-long workshop is unique for its innovative encouragement of non-traditional designs and creativity.  Past workshops have drawn participants aged 16 to the 70s, from across the United States and Canada.  No previous experience is necessary.  

C.F. Martin Guitar is the oldest surviving guitar-maker in the world, under continuous family ownership for six generations.  It is also the largest crafter of acoustic guitars in the United States and is considered the finest in the world, setting standards for the industry.  Sheryl Crow, Paul Simon, Arlo Guthrie, and other artists have lent their names to special editions. 

In addition to class activities and instruction, the workshop will feature a tour of C.F. Martin's facilities and new guitar museum in Nazareth, Pa.  Class instructors are guitar maker Dale Unger and C.F. Martin Company's Director of Instrument Design Tim Teel. 

Each 3-dimensional "theme" design model will be evaluated and judged by a panel of C.F. Martin & Company staff.  Prizes will be awarded: the grand prize, a one-of-a-kind Martin 16 Series guitar; participant's prize and the instructor's choice prize are X Series guitars.  All workshop participants will receive complimentary Backpacker guitars.

The cost, which includes instruction, lab time, materials, continental breakfasts, lunches, and an awards luncheon, is $1,149.  Those who register before June 1 will receive a $100 discount. Enrollment is limited to 15.   

On-campus residence hall housing is available at $35 per night/single occupancy and $28 per night/double occupancy.  A list of area hotels and bed-and-breakfasts will be provided upon request. 

Workshop attendees may be interested to know that Musikfest, sponsored by ArtsQuest, partially coincides with the workshop; the festival is from August 6 - 15 and takes place in downtown Bethlehem, 7 miles from the NCC campus. 

For more information or to enroll in the Martin Guitar Design Workshop, call 1-877-543-0998, or register online.