Fender University will open its doors in August for the first 35 “guitar and bass scholars” to successfully register. The only requirements are $6,500.00 and being at least 21 years old. That’s right, you don’t even have to know how to play the guitar before participating! The inaugural session runs for four days from August 21-24, 2008 in Corona, California.
Richard McDonald, the honorary dean of Fender University announces, “We’re delighted to be able to open our doors to a few eager students who will be offered the rare ability to graduate to the highest levels of the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.”
According to the Fender University Web site, enrollment includes:
• Attendance for four days and nights at Fender® University (Thurs. Aug. 21 to Sun. Aug. 24, 2008).
• Hotel accommodations: Full service hotel—the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, Riverside, California
• All meals during your stay
• Your very own exclusive Fender American Standard Series guitar or bass
• All ground transportation while at Fender University. Airfare not included
• Behind-the-scenes tour of the state-of-the-art Fender manufacturing facility and famed Fender Custom Shop
• Personal tour of the Fender Center Museum
• Over eight workshop hours, jamming and one-on-one instruction from Fender staff, clinicians and artists
• Priceless meet-and-greet moments with some of Fender’s closest friends and legends
• All the school supplies you need—lots of cool stuff! (This one’s kind of vague. . .)
• VIP pass to all festivities and the Fender University commencement party
• The musician’s experience of a lifetime!
McDonald, not only the honorary dean of Fender University but also the Fender senior vice president of global marketing, actually started with an entry-level position in Fender’s small parts call center basement. He was tired of the touring band life, so he wrote a letter to Fender inquiring about employment opportunities for “tired guitar players.” More of his 2004 interview with musicianshotline.com can be found here.
In addition to having this inspiring story for his hard-earned positions, McDonald further sets the inspirational tone for Fender University in his Letter from the Dean by declaring, “Life without music is simply existence. True living is borne of experience and deep knowledge that is driven by your passion.”
Del.icio.us
digg
reddit
