Elite Music Camps Ltd Reviews 

I was the only trumpet player at the Horn Camp I attended and it was my first trip abroad on my own. I was quite anxious ahead of the trip but I felt safe the whole time I was away and everyone was really supportive during the week. Pre-arrival comms were great, and Johnny is always really quick to reply to questions no matter how specific! (do I need mutes? no... is there a hairdryer? yes). He also shared plenty of notes and music to support my progress at home.
Our whatsapp group was useful and helped with locating everyone at the airport. We also used it throughout the week to communicate and share photos/videos. And it's great to still be in touch with everyone now.

I felt really comfortable/relaxed throughout the week, even though we obviously worked hard playing music for several hours each day! :) The villa is lovely and the food was delicious (thanks Laura and Pepa). The surrounding location is stunning - I enjoyed our walk to explore the hanging bridges of Los Cahorros and the meal we had out in Granada (I need to visit again!).

It was such an amazing opportunity to have so much 1:1 support and tuition from Johnny. Over the course of 5/6 days I felt my playing improved so much and my confidence has definitely grown. I'm looking forward to continuing to improve using everything I learnt at Horn Camp. It was fun to do some improv and group sessions with the sax players as well. It's been ages since I played in a group - I didn't realise how much I'd missed it. I had 1:1 tuition with Snake one afternoon as well as I'm learning sax - that was really cool too.

As a group of quite different people who didn't know each other on arrival, we all got on well all week. It was nice to chat to everyone and hear about different life experiences and everyone's passion for music. Hopefully one day I'll see them again!

I feel very lucky to have been able to have this experience. It's not often that you can spend a full week just playing and concentrating on music, while learning from such talented and accomplished professionals. Before I went I was feeling stuck in a rut with my playing and like I wasn't able to improve, but I don't feel like that now!

If you can afford to go to an Elite Music Camp, just go for it - you won't regret it. Definitely an amazing experience not to be missed.

I'm inspired! My practice sessions were getting a touch humdrum. After a week's Horncamp I am now motivated and enthused to improve my playing. Johnny and Snake are both brilliant hosts and teachers, but also great company. We had a lovely group, all from different musical backgrounds - I am a reader, but it was really interesting to meet folk who could play by ear rather than depending on the dots. And with such a supportive team around me, I did manage a few little impros! My non-playing husband had a lovely time too, enjoying the company, the pool and nearby Granada.

Possibly the best week of my life! I have just returned from a week with Johnny and Snake on the Horn Camp and it was more like staying with your best friends and jamming all week. It was relaxing, funny and inspiring in equal measure. They are wonderful hosts and impart a wealth of musical knowledge. No matter what level or ability you are, they ensure you feel included and encouraged. I saw a huge difference and improvement in everyone on my course from the start to end, including me! Thoroughly recommend it!

Absolutely super experience for me & my nonplaying wife. Johnny & Snake were very friendly and welcoming, couldn't help but feel relaxed. Lovely villa in a beautiful area. Loads of useful advice and musical techniques demonstrated and practiced. Plenty of time for hands on playing in the group and individually. Would certainly go again.

Just back from a week at the EMC horn camp. A privilege to be taught by such great talents as Snake and Johnny and to be able to spend time with them talking about music, life and anything else. The tuition was brilliant giving students the tools to improve and advise on how to use them. The villa is in stunning location, food was excellent, free flowing beer and wine To cap it all Snake and Johnny would do anything asked of them to make your stay perfect. Plenty to do for non- playing partners as well. A truly memorable experience made even better by the company of other enthusiastic and like minded students

I was a non- playing partner on this wonderful week in a spectacular location. Johnny and Snake were superb hosts - nothing was too much for them. It was a great learning experience for me too!!

You come here looking for a musical experience with two fine tutors who have been there and done it with the best but also they present it with fun enthusiasm and encouragement
The objective is not just to play tunes but to enhance you as a musician and what that entails A really great week of learning opportunities
You then set that in a beautiful villa in the Sierra Nevada with excellent food and good like minded company
We were totally looked after in every respect
What’s not to like ?
Thank you

Fantastic, the villa, pool, food and hospitality was all perfect and for me, the tuition was inspiring, empowering and motivating. Johnny is a great example and generous host, Snake the best tutor I've had! He unlocked so much for me and showed me how to reach what had seemed unreachable to me previously.
I owe you guys a huge debt of gratitude!
The week on camp has changed me and I highly recommend it.

I'd been waiting for horn camp since 2019 and it was well worth the wait. The villa is perfect, in a lovely spot and excellently organised by Johnny and the food was excellent. Everything from the airport to the villa and back and everything in between ran like clockwork.
Snake's lessons were pitched just right. He was always encouraging and supportive and just a down to earth nice guy. I was never made to feel embarrassed or lacking in ability no matter if I didn't quite 'get it' or how many mistakes I made. I had a major problem with sound production and pitch and Snake noticed what was wrong straight away, taught me how to correct it and the difference was both immediate and noticeable. I've been to other 'teachers' who hadn't spotted the problem and, for me,the whole week was worth it for that reason only never mind the great music we all made together
Wholly a superb enjoyable experience that I didn't want to end and with some great new musical friends.
If you're thinking of attending any of the Music Camps, don't hesitate, just do it. It's a great lifetime experience you will never forget. Go for it

This was literally one of the best weeks of my life. I learned so much from Johnny and Snake. Everything was taken at the right pace for improvement and I achieved things I always thought were too hard and unachievable.
In addition to the music was the most beautiful place to stay. Fabulous views and stunning food. I just wanted to eat everything that was offered and discovered some new dishes that I now love! I was given as many opportunities to play, swim, sunbathe, explore as I liked. Everyone was so accommodating and friendly and just wanted to experience the enjoyment that is achieving things and seeing some of the most amazing sites of the local area.
This was one of those weeks that will stay firmly in my memory as one of the best weeks of my life. It might seem scary doing something like this on your own, but for me, it was one of the best choices I’ve ever made.

My wife and I had a fantastic week with Johnny and snake learning from the best. I came away with so much additional knowledge to improve my playing. A massive thanks to Snake for his knowledge, skill and patience. We had a brilliant group who all joined in with support and sharing of things to try to improve.
Johnny was the perfect host making sure that we wanted for nothing and was well looked after. The food was exemplary with plenty for everyone.
My wife ( a non player) accompanied me and was kept included were possible and was very well looked after whilst we were playing.
When not playing we enjoyed a walk through the gorge and up the mountains. A steady, slightly challenging walk with knowledge of the area being shared by Johnny. We went for a visit to Granada for a meal and some sight seeing. Beautiful place to see.
I recommend anyone who wants to improve their playing in a non judgemental, supportive and beautiful environment to book. It’s well worth it.
My wife thoroughly enjoyed her week and would love to return.

I've been following EMC on Facebook for quite some time and loved the idea of doing a residential music camp.

Eventually I plucked up the courage and signed up. I confirmed with Johnny that partners could come along so my wife and I booked the double ensuite room overlooking the pool and mountains.

Before arriving in Malaga Johnny had set up a WhatsApp group for the other attendees. Detailed instructions were given on where to meet at the airport. We all met at the cafe before being collected by our driver.

We were met by both Johnny and Paul Turner on our arrival and shown our rooms and around the house. We were invited to help ourselves to anything in the drinks fridge and make ourselves at home. A very warm welcome.

The days start with a group session. I was very nervous and the least experienced. My nerves soon receded when I realised how supportive both Paul and my other classmates were. It was great to watch and learn from other players.

One-to-one sessions were held in the afternoon. Paul is a great, patient teacher and truly nice guy.

In between sessions there was great food and dips in the pool.

Evenings were filled with AMAZING food and great company. Both Paul and Johnny regaled us with insights and stories of the music industry.

My wife - a non-musician - was included in everything and enjoyed it immensely. During the day she either enjoyed the pool and sun or went hiking into the mountains.

One afternoon Johnny took us all on a hike up into the the gorge. It's a beautiful place.

A truly great experience. It's so much more than a music camp. If you have the opportunity to go, you should.

I loved my stay at EMC's bass guitar camp from May 9 thru 14 2022. As somewhat less of a people person, I loved the small group setting, only 5 attendants.

Johnny as a host was a joy and we had many good, fun and interesting talks in the morning before instruction started. The fridge was always well stocked and he actually made me feel at home. The room was nice with a pool and mountain view. I think he even chose a different walking route to a restaurant in Granada we visited to make it less strenuous for me which I appreciated.

The food was great, every night a multitude of different dishes.

Paul is a great instructor. He made us focus on the fundamentals while also teaching us a couple of Jamiroquai bass lines. And by focusing on the fundamentals, all different skill levels can have class together and have fun. You could also record anything you wanted to, which is really helpful once you start practicing.

Before camp, Paul asks what you want to work on. For me, it was technique and fatigue issues plus figuring out the bass to a couple of songs I play with my band. In the one on one, Paul made sure we addressed everything.

The setting of the camp is gorgeous in Monachil. I stayed in Granada for the week after, I recommend staying longer as it is a must visit area of Spain.

All in all, it was money well spent, I know I'll be a better bass player having attended this camp.

I couldnt rate the week I had at Paul Turners Bass Camp highly enough. From start to finish everything was brilliant. Paul's bass playing is obviously amazing but he is also a super teacher and great guy to hang about with. Not only did I learn loads I had many,many great laughs along the way.

Altogether there were 5 students at the camp from all over the world. We all got on like a house on fire which made the learning experience very easy and enjoyable. Classes consist of both group and one to one lessons which give you a great opportunity to learn not just from Paul but also the other students in the group.

Johnny organises the day to day running of the camp and is always around if you need help with anything. He is a great character, full of funny stories and advice on music and life (he is a legendary trumpeter player in his own right!) His talk on practice tips and techniques is also not to be missed.

I could go on and on, the food, the accommodation, the trip to Granada and the hike in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Everything was absolutely top class. I will definitely be back!

Brian

What an absolutely fantastic experience! I signed up for the bass camp with Paul Turner. I didn’t have any preconceived ideas of what the week might hold, only a nagging worry that I’d be the least experienced bass player during my stay. In spite of my worries being confirmed (as I was the bass player with the least experience in the group) EVERYONE became part of the support package, and I NEVER felt left out due to my limited knowledge. There was variety of abilities in the group and everyone had something to offer in the way of knowledge and support. I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch of folk to be holed up in a house with. We are all still in touch, I think that says it all.

The location is beautiful, as is the house. It was such a great atmosphere and being in a position to just talk about music and play music for the duration of the stay was bliss. The food, as promised in the brochure was awesome, all home cooked by the lovely Laura and there was always plenty to go around. It really was sublime.

Re Johnny the host.
What a great guy. With an absolute fountain of knowledge of the music industry and it was always great to sit around and listen to his point of view on something or get stuck into any topic there was to chat about. Johnny is an absolutely fantastic host and would always go out of his way to help out and if there was anything anyone needed he would do his utmost best to make sure you had what you wanted. Nothing was too much trouble. Having Johnny there was a complete bonus and one evening he presented a great talk on the theory behind learning and practice whist offering how this applied to his own successful career.

…and Paul
What a great chap, incredibly down to earth and approachable. I think (if you’re aware of his career and CV) it might be easy to think that such a highly acclaimed musician might be a bit inaccessible. Paul was the complete opposite. If you had any questions or uncertainty around what he was saying, he would always be more than happy to go over something as many times as necessary until you understood, nothing was too much trouble. He deconstructed a few aspects of bass playing in a very accessible way which made it helpful for maybe someone like me with limited knowledge. The group and one on one tutorials were fantastic and I really felt privileged to have Paul’s guidance and in spite of my maybe remedial ability, Paul was still able to extrapolate the parts of my playing he thought were positive and helped me work on those areas. I think it takes a particular quality in a person that can make everyone feel at ease so quickly, Paul did that effortlessly.

If you’re in two minds of whether to sign up, I can assure you, from a musical point of view, it will be the best money you’ve spent, not only for the music, but also for the experience, camaraderie, laughs, Friendship.

Being a Paul turner fan I wasn't expecting this experience to be so exceptional, the environment is so beautiful and the host (Johnny) not only is welcoming and experienced but he's also extra available, funny and and knows how to get things done. The meals are prepared with care and they will fit any of your personal requests.
When I first booked this camp I was hoping to get to meet Paul, and to improve just a little bit my bass skills, but instead I met a wonderful human being an amazing teacher and made a step in believing that I can really become a good bass player, having the best tuition there is. I only hoped that this camp could last a little bit longer, what I didn't really like what's the time when I had to leave...
I will totally come back whenever I have the chance in the future. After this experience I feel like reborn, the people I've met and the friends that I've made have given a new meaning to music. Many thanks

Paul Turner Bass camp Spring 2022.

I landed at the airport in Granada, Spain, and the first thing I see is the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. I was nervous about going to the camp as I expected it would be a strict eight-hour-a-day instruction with loads and loads of information. In addition, I was very skeptical about how I would keep up with other musicians at the camp.
Johnny Thirkell picked me up from the airport, and all my worries were laid to rest within five minutes of me getting in his car.

Johnny, a world-class trumpet player, is a gentleman and a joy to be with. He has great stories from tours. We had long chats about other stuff besides music, and he's happy to share his wisdom. He practices every day. Yes, every day, and he has not missed a day in over 10 years. But, he says, “I don't ever want to be not ready.”

Paul Turner, the man, the legend. He's a fantastic bass player but an even better human being. He will honestly answer any question that you may ask him.
There is no question about bass playing that he cannot answer in a straightforward and relatable manner. He's a great teacher. He keeps it simple and is extremely patient. I don't know if learning with him was more fun or hanging out with him.

Other students were from Germany, Holland, Ireland, and France.
I met Brian from Ireland, a professional physiotherapist, and an excellent bass player. Did I say that Joe Dart looks just like him? Nova came from France and is the biggest fan of Paul Turner. I also met Tim from the Netherlands, who was mostly quiet. I guess he's a very good listener. He has a good feel for music, a good ear, and good time. There was so much to learn from him.
Cora drove from Germany and recently took up bass because she loves the low notes, which help her relax.

Bass instruction
Bass instruction is structured around the students. It happens informally, and five students sit in a semicircle around Paul. We analyzed baselines, created new basslines, and studied various Jamiroquai songs and songs by other artists.
Afternoon sessions are one on one lessons with Paul, which are excellent.
Johnny gives an excellent talk on practicing, which is worthwhile. Remember, this is coming from a man who has not missed a single day of practice in more than 10 years and has toured or recorded with every prominent artist.

VOX Amplug microamps are provided for silent practice.

The weather was mainly in the 70s during the day. Never felt too hot or cold. The hottest it got was about 80 deg F. Otherwise, the weather was in the mid-70s during the day for the most part.

The food is delicious. Dinner is served on the patio by the pool as a four-course meal. I was hard-pressed to find even one thing that I may not have liked. Breakfast and lunch are more straightforward, but still a lot of food.
There is a separate refrigerator for just beer and wine, and it magically does not run out of either.

The rooms are a good size and very clean. Two towels are provided. Some rooms have a shared bathroom which was never a problem.

The bathrooms are clean. The water pressure is good.
My room had only one power outlet, so bring an extension cord if you need to charge more than one item. Also, you will need to have adapters if you're traveling from the United States.

We also went on a beautiful hiking trip which is optional. A nice, pleasant hike up the hill but not very tiring. Nature is breathtaking.

Thursday evening, we walked through the city center of Granada to this fantastic restaurant overlooking the famous Alhambra. The views are breathtaking while enjoying amazing food. What could make it better? There's an ice cream parlor next door where they also sell Mojitos. Yes, Mojitos!!!

Overall, I think this was one of the most amazing experiences, and I'm hoping I can do this again soon.

This has been my first experience of a music camp and it was worth every bit and more !

In the beginning I did not know what to expect, I answered Rob's questionnaire that was sent to us a month before the camp and immediately realised that there are so many things I want to learn and to improve on that it felt an impossible task to feel fulfilled and inspired by only 5 days of camp...

2 days after coming back, my head is buzzing, so many little techniques to improve my practice, my focus and also my musicality. So many things that every musician needs to hear from high calibre professionals that was delivered in the most humble and light hearted way.

If you love music, if you love your instrument, if you want to improve irrespective of the level you are at and the years you have been playing, if you want a week of focus, learning and reflection, if you want to discuss with like-minded people, empathise, give and receive advice, if you want to hear amazing Rock and Roll stories and get some great food in the process, I fully recommend the EMC camps.

Johnny and Rob are amazing, humble, knowledgable, experienced, funny, generous.

I went there to learn about how to be a better guitarist and I I got so much more back, every day passing made even more and more sense, its not about the notes, its about the will, the desire, the feel, the people and about your relationship with Music and ourselves.

If you are reading these lines not feeling sure if this is for you, take a punt, it is worth every second of your time and you will receive back the value in multiples irrespective if you are a novice or experienced player, a amateur or pro musician.

Thank you Rob and Johnny for the experience and thank you to my peers for a lovely week !

Dear Rob - Dear Johnny!
WOW - is the right expression to this Guitar Camp in Spain!
Even for me as a Guitar teacher - I learned so much from You Rob - just great!
I went home Sunday Midnight and I have been teaching again since Monday and used different things: scales, chords, counting etc with my students and could give the motivation further on to my students!
I am also looking forward to our gig at "Funky Friday" with our band: LöFönk this friday to play in the style that I've learned from You - Rob - in this last week - Thank You so much!!

Further on I would like to thank You - Johnny - for the hospitality in Your house in Spain! You let us "grown up students" ;-) feel like being home! All the stories about concerts, touring on every dinner and also in between in the kitchen or at the Pool were so interessting!!

I am sure coming back!

Yours, Per

I am a second offender and I can honestly confirm that the second time was as good and as fresh like the first time.
Johnny, Rob and the two Lauras (cooks) are taking care of yourself in order to make this week one to remember for a lifetime. The camp is not only about guitar playing. It is so much more. Every time I went home with new friends (yes I still keep contact with the first group), lots of memories, stories, one or two kilos more due to the fantastic food and big grin on my face from all the laughters during the camp.
It is a week where you can leave everything behind and you emerge fully into just a great time.
As a bonus the scenery in the hills of Sierra Nevada with the house and the pool will put you in a mood of total relaxation.
The camaraderie among the participants is just great. Everyone is supporting each other no matter what level you are on with your playing. You will not only learn from Rob but also from the other participants.
I have never seen anybody leaving the room after either the one to one lessons or the group sessions without a smile and expression of satisfaction.
So the question is would I go a 3rd time?
ABSOLUTELY!
Therefore see you again at the Rob Harris Guitar Camp in Monachil.