Guitar classes are offered at several times during the day.  Our classes are one hour in length and are limited in size.  In this way, we can group students according to age and ability and help them to develop musically at their own level.  Beginner guitar students should be at least 8 years of age.

Guitar is such a fabulous instrument to play.  Our classes are designed to give you the tools to do so.  You will learn the fret board, memorize a variety of different scales, and train your fingers to quickly move from one chord to another.  Along the way, you’ll learn some musical pieces to play as a group, and work on individual pieces, too.   Your success is determined by your diligence and determination. There are three levels of guitar classes.

Young Beginner Guitar
Instructor – Paige Garwood 1:00 -2:00 age  8-10

You ask questions like… what does this knob do? These strings have names? And you make statements like… Look! I can drive my parents bonkers if I turn THIS knob like this and hit all the strings really hard!  We will be learning the basics – In fact, we’ll work on our method book in class, and use it to practice with.  We’ll begin learning theory and how it can help us to create and understand music.  We’ll learn music to perform and music to play to ourselves.  We’re going to have a blast!  This class is particularly geared towards our younger students, to get them grounded and going hard!  They’re going to love it!

Requirements:

Your own guitar (electric guitar preferred), pick, notebook with graph paper, pencil and music stand.  The books we will be using are:

  • FJH Young Beginner Guitar Method Lesson Book 1
  • FJH Young Beginner Guitar Method Theory activity Book 1
  • FJH Young Beginner Guitar Method Performance Book 1
  • FJH Young Beginner Guitar Method Exploring Chords Book 1
These books can be purchased at Ken Stanton or Music and Arts. They total about $21 for the 4 or you can pay extra and get the Lesson book with a cd.  Please bring them the first day of class.

Beginner Guitar

Instructor – Paige Garwood 12:00-1:00 ages 10+

So you’ve been playing around with the guitar for a while and finally decided to get serious with it?  I can help. We will be learning the basics – the names of the strings, the first five chords they need to know, basic strumming techniques as well as introducing them to reading music and Tablature on the instrument. We will also be learning several worship tunes in the process… I mean, after all – we want to play real songs, right?

Requirements:
Your own guitar (electric guitar preferred), pick, Three-Ring binder notebook with graph paper, pencil and music stand. Worksheets will be provided by the instructor. Three Ring binder…. Three Ring Binder…Three Ring Binder…. hmmmm I wonder what the instructor wants the student to remember?

Intermediate Guitar

Instructor – Paige Garwood  11:00 – 12:00 p.m.

In this Guitar class, we will introduce the student to the CAGED System of navigating the guitar’s fretboard. We will introduce the student to each of the five forms, and show them the Pentatonic scale as it relates to each form. Each student will be required to play an improvised solo using the C form by the end of the first semester. By the end of the second semester, they will demonstrate their ability to play the Pentatonic scale in all five forms, and play a solo that incorporates the Pentatonic scale in each of the five forms.

Requirements:
Your own guitar (electric guitar preferred), pick, Three-Ring binder notebook with graph paper, pencil and music stand. Worksheets will be provided by the instructor. Three Ring binder…. Three Ring Binder…Three Ring Binder…. hmmmm I wonder what the instructor wants the student to remember?

Advanced Guitar
Instructor – Paige Garwood  2:00 – 3:00

This class is only for those who are really advanced.  Not just those who have taken guitar for a couple of years or played with it.  You really want to learn?  This is where the rubber meets the road.  We must have at least 8 students for this class to take place.

This class will introduce the 3rd year student to how chords are built, using the five basic chord shapes. What are these shapes? Show up and find out! This course is a natural follow-on to the CAGED system for soloing. The goal being the end of the year performance where each guitar student will perform as part of an ensemble or as a soloist, demonstrating his/her knowledge of chords and soloing. There will be periodic testing throughout the year when the student will be required to demonstrate his or her mastery of a given form or arpeggio.

Requirements:
Your own guitar (electric guitar preferred), pick, Three Ring Binder-notebook with graph paper, pencil and music stand. Worksheets will be provided by the instructor.