"Play Together" Practice Materials
Direct access to specifically designed courses that makes playing together simple and accessible.
2027 Retreat · REGIstration Open
Prepare online. Perform in circle.
Prepare at home with a personalised practice plan. Then come together in person to weave your individual practice and dedication into a shared musical expression.
This is where the rubber meets the road.
All levels welcomePersonalised practice program included2027 Early registration openMusic · Community · Magic
the retreat
Real musical transformation
Once a year, we come together to explore the possibilities of making music together in person. With expert guidance and a commitment to practice, structure and refinement, we discover new dimensions of our own musicality, expression and creativity.
The retreat welcomes guitarists of all levels, including beginners. What matters most is your willingness to commit to three months of preparation before we come together.
Shai will give you a preparation plan tailored to your level, helping you arrive ready to play. The bands are carefully formed so that everyone can find their place, contribute to the music, and discover what becomes possible when we play together.
- 4 daystogether in person
- All levelsbeginners welcome
- 3 monthsof guided preparation
Past retreats
The room you'll be walking into
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What's included
Everything you need, start to finish.
Months of guided preparation, followed by live workshops and a final concert circle where every band brings its music to the circle.
1:1 Call & Personal Practice Plan
Shai will assess your current level and build a personal practice plan to prepare you for the retreat.
Retreat Preparation Calls
Connect and get to know your bandmates online, as a preparation for the retreat.
Live Band Coaching
Watch and learn as Shai coaches one band at a time.
Independent Band Practice
Rehearse with your band in a separate room, with guidance from Shai & the team.
The Final Concert Circle
Share your collaborative musical creation in a supportive circle.
Where the rubber meets the road...
Prepare Solo
Commit to your practice. Know what you’re working toward. Meet yourself in whatever comes up.
Grow Together
Prepared individuals coming together, harmonised under Shai’s guidance. Growth you can hear and feel.
Musical Magic
Open yourself to sharing your music, and be ready for what’s on the other side.
Is this for you?
You might be the right fit for our circle if…
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You feel drawn to medicine songs and making music in circle.
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You want to experience the aliveness of making music together in person, beyond simply learning about it.
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You’re curious to learn how to create music with others, regardless of your current musical experience or skill level.
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You want to stretch yourself sharing your music in a safe circle that holds you.
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You enjoy having a tangible goal to work towards alongside a group of like-minded people.
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You’re willing to set aside four full days to step away from everyday life and fully immerse yourself in the experience.
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You understand that meaningful learning takes time, patience, and practice and you’re ready to commit to this process.
Testimonials
Retreat participants share
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The timeline
From your practice room to the final concert
You'll prepare step by step from wherever you are now, and arrive ready.
Solo Preparations
Build your technical foundation
- 1:1 assessment call with Shai
- Your Personal Practice Plan
- Practice materials will be provided
Intentions & Goals
Get ready for your band
- Connect with the group, share your intentions
- Band divisions announced
- Songs & specific practice materials will be shared
Learn & Practice Together
Rehearse together with Shai coaching
- Shai coaches each band in front of the group
- Build a dynamic, unified arrangement
- Practice spaces with support between sessions
Perform in Circle
See, hear and feel the musical transformation
- Perform your band's arrangement in the final Concert Circle
- Build real confidence in a supportive circle
- Enjoy the outcome of everyone's musical journey
The location
2027 Retreat - Sachaji Center, Imbabura, Ecuador
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Learn more about the accommodation
Get to know the location★★★★★- Spacious shared rooms
- Double beds available for couples
- Light-filled indoor workshop space with incredible mountain view
- Fire-circle, hot-tub, cold-plunge
- 3 delicious locally sourced meals / day
Consider joining us?
Book a call
Because of the personal and intimate nature of this retreat, we'd love to connect with you personally before you book.
A conversation gives us the opportunity to connect, hear what draws you to the retreat, and explore whether it feels like a good match.
Music · Community · Magic
Your band is waiting for you.
Reserve your spot for the 2027 Live Workshop Retreat and start preparing today.
Questions
Good to know before you reserve.
Do I need to be an advanced player to join?
No, the retreat is open to beginners as well. The bands are formed by Shai in a way that allows players of any level to play their part and contribute to the whole.
It is most important that you feel:
1. the eagerness in you to devote yourself to this musical journey without the distractions and fragmented attention of everyday life, and
2. the willingness to properly prepare for this experience.
The 1:1 Assessment Call and your Personal Practice Plan will meet you exactly where you are, and the months of online preparation will get you ready if you put in the practice time and effort.
What exactly is included when I register?
In short: everything you need for this journey, start to finish:
- Access to all Play Together preparation materials from registration until the workshop
- 1:1 assessment call with Shai, resulting in a Personal Practice Plan
- Live group preparation calls with Shai and Malinda
- Live band coaching workshops and ongoing guidance during the retreat
- The final Concert Circle
- Delicious breakfast buffets, and family-style fresh, locally sourced (garden-to-table when possible) lunches and dinners (special diets can be catered to).
- Georgeous and super comfortable accommodation
Please note: travel to Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) is not included.
When and where is the 2027 retreat?
The 4-day in-person retreat will take place from 30 April to 3 May 2027 in San Pablo del Lago, Imbabura, Ecuador. The preparation phase will start from the moment you book, with a minimum of 3 months (registration closes end of January).
You will need to arrange your travel to Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Ecuador. We will arrange for the transfer to our sacred retreat sanctuary in the mountains of Imbabura.
Further details will be provided in your booking confirmation.
Why do I have to apply?
Because of the personal and intimate nature of this retreat, we believe it’s important to connect before you book. The experience we create depends not only on the setting and the guidance we offer, but also on the people who come together.
The application process gives us a chance to get to know you, hear what draws you to the retreat, and understand what you’re hoping to get out of the experience. It also gives you space to ask questions and get a feel for what we offer. Together, we can explore whether the retreat feels like the right fit for you and for the group.
What exactly am I committing to?
This retreat is more than a relaxing getaway, though it will be full of joy, expansion, and indulgence. These things go hand in hand: just as discipline creates greater musical freedom, commitment opens the door to deeper creative expression.
The retreat asks for your presence, participation, and willingness to prepare and learn. We’ll do everything within our sphere of influence to guide and support you, but the journey is yours to make. It asks you to meet yourself in moments of resistance and frustration, and to bring perseverance and commitment to the process.
You’re also committing to a group. Each person’s presence and participation shapes the experience we create together. We therefore ask you to honour that commitment and approach it with care and responsibility. The depth of what we create together depends on each of us showing up.
Will there be room for jamming?
During the day, the retreat has a fixed structure designed to optimize the groups' learning process.
We believe that bringing in the qualities of groundedness, commitment, craftmanship and attentiveness are what elevates any creative expression from nice to mind-blowing. We'd love for you to experience what opens up when these qualities are honored and practiced. This is also why we pair attendance to this retreat with thorough online preparation.
In the evenings of our time together, there will be plenty of room and space to jam around the fire pit (if your fingers will still allow you 😁).