On Saturday, July 12, 2025, world-renowned acoustic guitarist El McMeen will be offering 8 students an opportunity for an up-close and personal workshop in our home in Boiling Springs, PA. The doors will open at noon, the workshop will start at 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM, at which time we may take the opportunity to share a little “guitar talk” until 4:00 PM. We might even decide to see what locally sourced pizza might be found.

Seating is limited to the first 8 interested guitarists who sign up at this site. To support the workshop's expenses, we have established a recommended donation of $90.00 per person.

We may have a few bottles of water on hand, but we will have a pot of hot coffee made (this is a food group in our home) and hot tea. Feel free to bring your own drinks, but please, no alcohol.

All donated proceeds will be directed to El, who has generously agreed to donate a portion to Mansion Concerts Inc. (a Pennsylvania-based 501c(3) nonprofit organization). To learn more about our Mansion Concerts, go to www.mansionconcert.com.

El's focus in the workshop is bringing character to one's guitar-playing. He wants the guitar to sing! He has planned some enjoyable hands-on playing together, exploring some of the fundamentals and approaches that have made his own playing memorable. He also intends to share certain techniques he has learned that have been musically life-changing for him.

El has received unsolicited reviews of his lessons and workshops that have been uniformly enthusiastic. Some guitarists have traveled halfway across the country to sit with El for a lesson. One wrote: "If you want to take your playing to the next level, then El McMeen is the guy you need to connect with. Not only is he a breathtaking player and interpreter of Celtic and religious (among other) music, he is a wonderful and inspiring teacher." Other students have called El "a gifted teacher," and "a patient, observant teacher ... with insights at another level. He presents subtle concepts and changes that have a tremendous impact on how you play." Another student has written that " El is very open to what your goals are and what you're interested in learning, offers a stress-free environment for learning and is very encouraging."

About El McMeen

Ellsworth ("El") McMeen is an internationally acclaimed acoustic guitarist and teacher. He has been listed among the "100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists," living or dead. Two of his guitar compositions ("Le Mans" and "Song for Sheila") have been listed among the "100 Greatest Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals." Three of his guitar recordings ("Breakout," "The Lea Rig," and "Solo Guitar Serenade") have been listed among the "100 Greatest Acoustic Guitar Albums. El has been recording and arranging Celtic music for over 40 years and has written many books of guitar pieces, including 16 major folios written or co-written for Mel Bay Publications.

While he plays in many styles, El's music focuses on beautiful melodies, and his up-tempo pieces reflect a joyful, toe-tapping pulse. He emphasizes touch, tone, and phrasing. He specializes in rhythmic flexibility and often employs harp-like arpeggios in many different genres of music, Celtic, spiritual, and pop. His artistry has been praised in numerous publications, including the NY Daily News, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and Guitar Player Magazine. Critics have hailed El's music as "stirring ... unbridled acoustic beauty" and "drop-dead gorgeous" (Guitar Player Magazine) and as a "treasure" (Dirty Linen Magazine).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S_bs2ZGZM0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybPm1SuFRYk

A mini-lesson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=B3kW42hmDis