Cloudchord Presents: Visionary Guitar Playing 2025
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Visionary Guitar merges the inner and outer self. How do we build physical chops yet deepen our vision? Where does my playing live in this big world? What choices can I make to sustain long term inspiration and growth?
This class will be a mix of Cloudchord presenting / performing on topics of guitar technique and philosophy, as well as an element of group playing.
Optional Add On: 
Cloudchord Presents: Producing & Performing Electronic Music
Thursday, September 11th - Saturday, September 14th, 2025 at CoSM
Bundle & Save when you select Visionary Guitar Playing as an add-on during check out from the Producing & Performing Electronic Music page!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
This workshop will merge guitar playing skills and existential questions:
- Finding your “Battle Cry”
- Zen Guitar and CAGED
- Digesting your influences
- Group improvisation games (loosen up, buttercup)
- Daily Rituals - embracing schedule rhythms for maximum momentum
- Chopping Wood - how to become a warrior
- The Pendulum - from simplicity to complexity
- Embracing limitations and exploiting your weakness
- Mistakes - extensions of fearlessness
- Gigs - taking it to the battlefield
Behind the Beats workshop, taught by Cloudchord at CoSM in 2024
MATERIALS:
- Instruments are not provided.
- Acoustic or electric guitars welcome. Electric guitarists should bring their own amp. Students are encouraged to play, but not required. The class will be low pressure, but maximum inspiration.
YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Cloudchord
Cloudchord aka Derek VanScoten is a Producer, Guitarist, and Ableton Certified Trainer. He is supported by D’Angelico, Fender, Supro, Quilter Labs, Joystrings, Native Instruments, and Ableton.
In 2024, Cloudchord had several viral social media videos in his Surf Covers series. His Tool cover was shot at CoSM’s Entheon.
Watch Cloudchord’s Daybreak Sessions Performance
As an artist, Cloudchord continues to move from strength to strength.
While known as a highly prolific downtempo artist, his range expands beyond any particular musical genre, tempo, or ideology. While amassing over 130 millions streams, this past year has seen him dropping boom bap bossa novas, funky disco, cinematic lofi, and trancey deep house. Genuine connection with the creative Source is the mission.
Live shows incorporate improv looping, group sing-alongs, uptempo funk numbers, and in the crowd guitar solos.
Past collaborations include Big Gigantic, Emancipator, Braxton Cook, Prob Cause, Dirtwire, East Forest, Oatmello, Sunsquabi, Random Rab, and Ian Ewing. Check out the Cloudchord Essentials Playlist on Spotify for his 10+ hours of released music.
While much of Cloudchord’s catalog is self released, he has also collaborated with Nettwerk Records, Chillhop Music, Inner Oceans, Aviary Bridge, Loci Records, Gravitas Recordings, and Lofi Chill Records.
Bonus Cloudchord fun facts.
1. He scored electronic music for the documentary “In Football We Trust,' which debuted at Sundance 2016, and won an Emmy in 2017.
2. He produced the 14 song Disco Biscuits album “Revolution in Motion.”
3. He runs an Ableton Education Youtube station called Open Channels.
4.. He won the Of Monsters and Men remix contest in 2016 with a viral tropical house flip of "Wolves Without Teeth.”
5. In 2023, he did over 200 hours of live looping on Twitch.
Open Channels Ableton Tutorials
CoSM WORKSHOP SETTING:
Class sessions will take place in the beautiful, newly renovated MAGI Art Lab.
Participants are welcome to book an overnight stay in the Grey House, CoSM's Visionary Victorian guest house, as an immersive addition to this creative experience. Accommodations in Grey House are offered in a variety of economies, in addition to the workshop fee.
Participants are welcome to extend their overnight stay at CoSM to the Monday after the workshop.
WORKSHOP AMMENITIES
Lunch is included with Tuition:
- A meal voucher for the Mushroom Cafe, redeemable during the lunch break from 1pm - 2pm.
- Allergies are noted at checkout.
Tuition also includes Day Admission to CoSM: Sunday, September 14th, 12pm - 6pm:
- Access to Facilities, grounds and self-touring Entheon
- Students are welcome to experience Entheon and Grey House Galleries, including both CoSM Shop & Entheon Shop.
- The Mushroom Cafe is an additional gallery, an immersively muraled space with mushroom themed contributions from 19 accomplished visionary artists
- The Wisdom Trail offers a contemplative walk through the CoSM woods, including a labyrinth, outdoor sculptural installations by visionary artists
SCHEDULE:
All times are listed in EDT
Cloudchord Presents: Visionary Guitar Playing
1-day Workshop
Sunday, September 14th
- 10am: Registration opens
- 10:30am - 12:30pm: Finding you Battle Cry, Understanding CAGED and Modes, Group Improv Games
- 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Lunch
- 1:30pm - 6pm: Rituals and Practice, Breakouts and Jam Sessions, Mistakes and Gigs.
- 6:30pm: CoSM Closes
PRIOR TO THE GUITAR WORKSHOP:
Cloudchord Presents: Producing & Performing Electronic Music
A 3 day course focusing on Ableton Live.
- Thursday, September 11th — Saturday, September 13th, 2025
Bundle & Save when you select Visionary Guitar Playing as an add-on during check out for Producing & Performing Electronic Music!
CoSM and Entheon are open weekly on Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 12pm - 6pm when CoSM Grounds close. Tuition includes a day pass during open hours to CoSM facilities and grounds on Sunday, September 14th, 2025.
TUITION:
Limited Early Bird tickets—secure your spot now!
Pricing:
- Early Bird: $110.00
- General Admission $130.00
- Tuition for the one-day course includes a meal voucher for lunch in the Mushroom Cafe, located in the Grey House at CoSM.
- Accommodations are additional
Cloudchord Presents Bundle:
- $500 for Visionary Guitar Playing + Producing & Performing Electronic Music ($530.00 value!)
- Purchase this bundle through the Producing & Performing Electronic Music Event Page
- Payment plans available for Bundle purchases. For more information, contact [email protected].
ACCOMMODATIONS:
The Grey House, CoSM’s Visionary Victorian guest house, offers accommodations for all participants. Works of art by Alex Grey, Allyson Grey and accomplished artists of the international Visionary Art community are featured throughout the guest rooms and common spaces of the guest house.
Onsite accommodations are available in a variety of economies. Here is the pricing for the single night stay, whether that is Saturday night, September 13th or Sunday night, September 14th, 2025, reflective of the 10% workshop discount:
- King with ensuite bathroom $247.50
- Queen with ensuite bathroom $225.00
- Private Queen/shared bath $180.00
- Single bed in a shared dorm $108.00 *femme only & coed options
Workshop accommodations must be booked directly with the workshop department, rather than through the booking engine, after confirmation of your workshop registration. Email [email protected] to secure your stay.
Questions about tuition or accommodation fees, payment plans, travel, retreat amenities, materials etc.?
Contact us at: [email protected] | +1 (845) 297-2323