"How to Music"
Charlie Hunter & Carter McLean
August 25-29, 2025
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Join veteran producers-players-instructors Charlie Hunter and Carter McLean for a three-day retreat where they’ll reveal what it takes to work in the music industry today. Designed to answer every question you’ve always wanted to ask about the music biz, you'll spend days learning new techniques, recording, and performing, with plenty of time for playing – we’ll meet in the studio, chat across the dinner table, and around the fire pit to jam under the stars. Bring your hiking boots as we elevate your practice surrounded by the glory of the Northern Berkshire hills, all tucked away within the quiet luxury of The Porches Inn at MASS MoCA.
Sample Schedule
*Subject to change
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3pm-5pm arrival + check-in
6pm - Welcome dinner
Late night fire pit
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Breakfast
Drummer intensive with Carter. Basic techniques and timing with Charlie.
Lunch
Charlie & Carter play duo and talk about time feels , groove, what not to play. Demonstrate a few tunes.
Break / practice
Breaking down being a working musician and what that entails. Q&A/jam
Dinner
Late night fire pit
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Breakfast
Playing TOGETHER. Putting students together to make little ensembles
Lunch
Private one on one lessons with students
Break/ practice
Dinner/hang
Late night fire pit
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Breakfast
Recording/studio concepts
Lunch
LISTENING CHOPS. Talk about what we studied and how to really listen. Passive vs. active listening.
Break/ practice
Recording/tracking
Farewell dinner and hang
late night fire pit
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8am - Breakfast
11am - Check out
About the Instructors
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Charlie Hunter is an innovative American guitarist and composer, renowned for his unique technique of simultaneously playing bass lines, chords, and melodies on custom-made seven- and eight-string guitars. Born on May 23, 1967, in Rhode Island, he moved to Berkeley, California, during his youth. There, he studied under guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani and began busking in Paris at 18, which he credits as formative to his musical development. Hunter gained prominence in the early 1990s with the Charlie Hunter Trio and has since released over 20 albums, collaborating with artists like Norah Jones, Mos Def, and John Mayer. His genre-blending style fuses jazz, funk, and rock, making him a distinctive figure in contemporary music.
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Carter was born in San Francisco and shortly thereafter moved to Connecticut. This is where McLean listened to and fell in love with music and especially the drums. At age 10, he started his journey as a musician. Broadway wasn’t even on his radar when he started working at Manny’s Music in Manhattan just prior to 9/11. The self-taught musician had just wrapped up his studies at University of Colorado, Boulder and was hoping to land a gig with someone like Sting, Peter Gabriel or Paul Simon. But then, while working his shift and playing at the store, he got noticed by a vet of Stevie Wonder’s band Dennis Davis and got invited to play with legendary musician Roy Ayers in Harlem. While touring with Melvin Sparks in 2002 McLean was approached to be a sub at The Lion King in NYC. This eventually lead to McLean taking over the chair at the hit show in 2011.
Our Place: Porches Inn at MASS MoCA
North Adams, Massachusetts
The FreshGrass Institute makes its home within the award-winning Porches Inn at MASS MoCA, in North Adams, the smallest city in Massachusetts – located across the street from MASS MoCA, the largest contemporary arts museum in the country, in the shadow of the Bay State’s tallest mountain.
“Porches' style and attention to detail may just ruin you for other boutique hotels.” – Conde Nast
Developed from a crowd of beautifully detailed Victorian row houses that have been lovingly restored and connected, Porches pays homage to the industrial past of its beloved home city while capturing the spirit of creativity that is bringing North Adams renewed vibrance. Through Porches’ intentional blend of vintage and modern, the Inn welcomes curious travelers who are delighted by its brilliant details and contemporary comforts.
Join In & Jam Out!
FAQs
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Sure does! Workshop packages are detailed and include information about room types and amenities. (A Commuter Package does NOT include room at The Porches Inn.)
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All sessions will be open to participants, however there will be ample opportunity to bring individual questions to the table, and to receive personal attention from within the group setting.
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DRUMS There will be drum kits on-site for sessions that can be used by all. One kit is located in a soundproof room, workshoppers are encouraged to sign up to use that kit. No drum kits can be set up in hotel rooms.
AMPS There will be amps on-site for session use. Bring your own small amplifiers (NOT for use in hotel rooms).
RECORDING If you would like to record with your personal equipment, please clear that with instructors. We do not plan to record the entirety of workshop sessions.
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Yes, add the Companion Pass and they will have access to 3 meal per day, auxiliary activities, and Porches Inn amenities (heated pool, sauna, hot tub, fire pit, etc.)
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Of course, but those arrangements and accommodations must be made with The Porches Inn.
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Please email insitute@freshgrass.org
Our on-site North Adams team will get back to you and help answer any questions you may have! We are excited to share North Adams with you!