Sky academy
Encyclopedia
Sky Academy is the title given to guitar innovator Uli Jon Roth's tuition seminars and concerts.
Sky Academy was first established in May 2006, at the Ralph Freud Theater at the University Campus of Los Angeles.
Uli teaches a holistic approach to music making, which comprises lectures, master classes, concentration exercises and special concerts. The teaching emphasis is on awakening and strengthening the students' musical potential and on showing ways of how to connect more deeply with music. This is achieved largely through heightening the general musical awareness level and also by broadening the overall musical and artistic horizon of the students. Uli is seen as an inspired teacher who mainly teaches by opening up new vistas of inspiration. His teaching approach encourages the creative, artistic aspects of music making, and even embraces metaphysical subjects such as inspiration, but at the same time it doesn't neglect the importance of craftsmanship.
Guest teachers or speakers are another important part of Sky Academy.
Usually they tend to share the stage with Roth while he interviews them.
So far these have included: Anrew Shulman (Principal Cellist Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Chamber Orchestra & Conductor) - subjects: Cello, stringed instruments, conducting orchestras
Robbie Krieger (The Doors) Subject: song-writing & Q&A
Bruce Dukhov (concert master of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra)- subject: Violin playing , Bach Partita
Ben Woods (Flametal) - Flamenco guitar and dance
Further guest speakers have been Michael-Angelo Batio, Joe Stump, Vernon Reid, Gilby Clarke, Leon Hendrix
.
Sky Academy 2006 included three extensive concerts which took place during the course of the 5-day seminar. They were designed to invoke the spirit of musical freedom and featured many special guest, apart from Uli's band.
Stage guests included Warren De Martini, Don Dokken
, Tony Franklin
, Rob Pagliari, Chris Poland
, Kofi Baker, Chris Impellitteri
, Jeff Scott Soto
, Francis Buchholz
and Robbie Krieger.
In August 2007 Uli held a further 2 Sky Academy concerts and seminar at the Hollywood MI with Paul Gilbert
, Michael Angelo Batio, Ule Ritgen, George Bellas, Roy Z, Robbie Krieger, Mark Boals and Johnny Hiland.
The first international Sky Academy was in July 2008, as part of the G-TARanaki Guitar Festival
in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. A different format to the US Sky Academy saw Uli giving three workshops at regional high schools in Waitara, Inglewood and Opunake with guests Gilby Clarke
and Vernon Reid
. Uli then headlined the TSB Stadium
with his Sky Of Avalon band featuring a guesting Alex Skolnick
.
A third Sky Academy US seminar was held again in Los Angeles in September 2008, followed by Sky Academy Arizona and Nordenham (Germany). Guests at the concerts included Doug Aldrich and Chris Caffery.
Sky Academy was first established in May 2006, at the Ralph Freud Theater at the University Campus of Los Angeles.
Uli teaches a holistic approach to music making, which comprises lectures, master classes, concentration exercises and special concerts. The teaching emphasis is on awakening and strengthening the students' musical potential and on showing ways of how to connect more deeply with music. This is achieved largely through heightening the general musical awareness level and also by broadening the overall musical and artistic horizon of the students. Uli is seen as an inspired teacher who mainly teaches by opening up new vistas of inspiration. His teaching approach encourages the creative, artistic aspects of music making, and even embraces metaphysical subjects such as inspiration, but at the same time it doesn't neglect the importance of craftsmanship.
Guest teachers or speakers are another important part of Sky Academy.
Usually they tend to share the stage with Roth while he interviews them.
So far these have included: Anrew Shulman (Principal Cellist Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Chamber Orchestra & Conductor) - subjects: Cello, stringed instruments, conducting orchestras
Robbie Krieger (The Doors) Subject: song-writing & Q&A
Bruce Dukhov (concert master of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra)- subject: Violin playing , Bach Partita
Ben Woods (Flametal) - Flamenco guitar and dance
Further guest speakers have been Michael-Angelo Batio, Joe Stump, Vernon Reid, Gilby Clarke, Leon Hendrix
Leon Hendrix
Leon Hendrix is the younger brother of late American rock guitarist/singer and icon Jimi Hendrix. He is an artist, songwriter and guitarist who began playing the guitar later in life and has released several albums...
.
Sky Academy 2006 included three extensive concerts which took place during the course of the 5-day seminar. They were designed to invoke the spirit of musical freedom and featured many special guest, apart from Uli's band.
Stage guests included Warren De Martini, Don Dokken
Don Dokken
Donald Maynard Dokken is best known for being the lead singer and founder of the band Dokken. He is known for his vibrato-laden, melodic vocal style which has made him an influential figure in American heavy metal. After enjoying mainstream success with Dokken, he parted ways with the band in 1988...
, Tony Franklin
Tony Franklin (musician)
Anthony James "Tony" Franklin is an English rock musician, best known for his work on the fretless bass guitar with Roy Harper, The Firm, Jimmy Page, John Sykes' Blue Murder, Whitesnake and briefly, with Quiet Riot.-Fretless bass:...
, Rob Pagliari, Chris Poland
Chris Poland
Chris Poland is an American guitarist, best known for being a former member of heavy metal band Megadeth.-Early career:...
, Kofi Baker, Chris Impellitteri
Chris Impellitteri
Chris Impellitteri is the lead guitarist and founder of the heavy metal band Impellitteri. In 2008 Guitarworld Magazine officially named Chris Impellitteri as one of the Fastest Guitarists of all time...
, Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for being the lead singer for the group Talisman from 1990 till the end of Talisman in 2007, the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and for stepping up to the job of lead vocalist for Journey on...
, Francis Buchholz
Francis Buchholz
Francis Buchholz is a German bassist best known as a member of the rock/hard rock band, the Scorpions....
and Robbie Krieger.
In August 2007 Uli held a further 2 Sky Academy concerts and seminar at the Hollywood MI with Paul Gilbert
Paul Gilbert
Paul Brandon Gilbert is an American guitarist. He is well known for his technical guitar work with Racer X and Mr...
, Michael Angelo Batio, Ule Ritgen, George Bellas, Roy Z, Robbie Krieger, Mark Boals and Johnny Hiland.
The first international Sky Academy was in July 2008, as part of the G-TARanaki Guitar Festival
G-TARanaki Guitar Festival
GTaranaki also known as G-TARanaki was New Zealand's first international guitar festival held in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand annually from July 2008. The week long festival brings some of worlds best guitarists to Taranaki to perform, educate and inspire Kiwi guitarists and music fans...
in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. A different format to the US Sky Academy saw Uli giving three workshops at regional high schools in Waitara, Inglewood and Opunake with guests Gilby Clarke
Gilby Clarke
Gilbert "Gilby" Clarke is an American guitarist and record producer best known for a 3-year tenure as the rhythm guitarist of Guns N' Roses, replacing Izzy Stradlin in 1991 during the Use Your Illusion Tour...
and Vernon Reid
Vernon Reid
Vernon Reid is an English-born American guitarist, songwriter, composer, and bandleader. Best known as the founder and primary songwriter of the heavy metal band Living Colour, Reid was named #66 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Critic Steve Huey writes, "[Reid's]...
. Uli then headlined the TSB Stadium
TSB Stadium
TSB Stadium is an indoor stadium located adjacent to Pukekura Park in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand, with main vehicle access off Coronation Avenue.-Events:Events held at TSB Stadium include:* basketball* music shows, such as G-TARanaki...
with his Sky Of Avalon band featuring a guesting Alex Skolnick
Alex Skolnick
Alexander Nathan Skolnick is an American jazz and metal guitarist. He was a member of the San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band Testament from 1983 until his departure in 1993...
.
A third Sky Academy US seminar was held again in Los Angeles in September 2008, followed by Sky Academy Arizona and Nordenham (Germany). Guests at the concerts included Doug Aldrich and Chris Caffery.