“First, I learned something very important about myself during the week. Yaakov assumed I could do more than I thought I could, and he was right - I learned more, and faster, than I thought was remotely possible for me. I heard daily improvement in my own playing as well as that of every other student. Yaakov has respect for all skill levels and the work it takes to address the difficulties, and he offers ways to be musical at even the most basic of skill levels. He has a lot to offer in terms of technique, but it's all in service of the music, not in service of virtuosity for its own sake. It's a highly focused, intense environment, but Yaakov is incredibly generous and patient, as were his assistant Alon (very helpful - thank you!) and the other students. At the end of the week Yaakov gives each student an individual set of goals and a work plan for the year, including practice routine. When I decided to do this, I thought it would be a one-off for me, but now I'm determined to get there again. 16 stars out of 5. Oh, and ... Carlo did an incredible job with logistics before and during the week, helping all of us non-Italian rubes with anything we needed. And the venue, staff, food, etc ... wow! All in all, a wonderful experience.”

“It's just over a week since the retreat ended and I feel like I'm still living it. I literally can't get over it - and of course I want to hold on to the progress I made and deepen it all the time. Yaakov's uncanny teaching ability and rapport with students made this retreat such a success. I felt a real revolution in my playing technique and in the results I was getting right on the spot. Just a few direct, clear and precise comments of Yaakov's seemed to give a breath of fresh air to my playing. His ability to target the exact needs of each student and to coax our playing in the right direction, on our own, in a large group or in small combos, seems to have jumped to an even higher level than it was last year. I'm now engrossed in the new study plan Yaakov helped me develop. Words can't express my amazement at every single student's progress. I noticed a big change even on the first day. The time went by so fast, yet was filled with worthwhile experiences. It was mostly playing and learning, but I got in some swimming in the picturesque pools, too. We all enjoyed each other's company, the good food, great organization and our friendly and welcoming hosts in the enchanting setting of Relais Villa Lina! I look forward to a great year of playing and progress, keeping in touch with my new and old friends and coming back next year! Yaakov introduced another, higher, sphere to the experience - the many aspects of is own playing and how he used it to mold the atmosphere and our approach as individuals and as a group. Yaakov's whole being was constantly focused on giving, on sharing the beauty he can create and opening our eyes, ears and hearts to let us enjoy it and create beauty too. He gave us the honor of playing an entrancing improvised unaccompanied solo for us on the very first night, he jammed with us and he played to give us the chance to accompany him and improve our accompaniment as a group and as individuals, in class and outside of class. He accompanied our solo playing, pushing it in the right direction. On the last night he presented a full-length solo performance to us, letting us participate in what was a new experience for him as well and enjoy his extraordinary musicianship in a friendly and intimate atmosphere with good acoustics and great vibes. All of his performances and all his introductions and explanations were in the spirit of friendship and sharing. His modesty is humbling in itself. He said he wasn't a genius like Django and therefore needed to study the theory of the music and spend a lot of time learning, yet he is his own kind of genius, with a great knack for teaching, a way of getting close to people and getting the best out of them and performing music in a way that not only touches the hearts of his listeners, but enters and warms their hearts. The final concert was an amazing experience for everyone, including non-playing partners and staff-members! The whole week was a joy. If you were there, I'm pretty sure I'll see you there again next year. If not, don't miss next year! ”

“This week was so wonderful in many different aspects. The location is amazing, the buildings and the park. And the pools. The people involved - Yaakov, Carlo, the staff, the students - like a family. So fantastic. And the teacher - Yaakov is amazing, he is able to break everything down into small parts that everyone can digest and work on. He can perfectly see what to work on for each student. How everybody improved was astounding. Anabsolut recommendation.”

“I spent 5 days with 12 other students at an incredible Italian villa in Tuscana, every day being tutored by Yaakov in both rhythm and improvisation. The whole course was an incredibly enriching experience, made fun and engaging, with plenty of time to spend practising, joining evening jam sessions, and just relaxing in the beautiful surroundings. I learned a huge amount, and came away with so much informatio, and a structured practise routine that it should be enough to keep me busy for at least a year. A fantastic experience that I highly recommend to anyone wanting to improve their playing.”

“Hi, As someone who has been through two of Yaakov's workshops i can tell you that you will not regret a single moment. Yaakov is exactly what you want in a teacher/mentor: knowledgeable (Very Knowledgeable!) , patient , quick in evaluating a student and very quick to come up with a plan for improvement to tackle your weak points and help you improve and teach you how to do it yourself later on which is a exactly what you need in a workshop. Above all Yaakov is a very nice and kind person which counts for a lot in my book. So , i highly recommend it and im sure you will not regret a single moment coming out feeling you spent your time and money in the right place. Good Luck! Avner Arnstein...”

“I've been learning from Yaakov Hoter online, one-on-one and in group workshops, including the two-day Samois 2016 experience and I am constantly amazed at hisinnate ability to feel what aspiring musicians need to transform themselves into real creative musicians with a rock solid foundation of understanding and skills. He teaches living, breathing people, not dry material. His unparalleled teaching sense is even more pronounced in live encounters with students where he has the uncanny ability to devine what each particularly needs at the moment and to provide tools to get over any obstacles and reach the goals at hand. Breathtaking! ”