Here is what teachers are saying about the Guitar Workshops:
The workshop was fantastic! It was such a valuable and enjoyable experience- I know it will improve my guitar instruction this year. I've already made a new scope and sequence, and it flows much better, and makes a lot more sense to me, than what I was using before. Thanks so much for your help in coordinating the workshops!
Jackie Remillard Gorski
I cannot begin to adequately put into words how much I learned last week in our Teaching Guitar workshop. Both of you shared so many wonderful techniques and ideas for helping my kiddos and ME learn to play and love the guitar. I also had more fun earning those 3 credit hours than any I can remember for quite some time.
Thanks for coming to the Springs and making this workshop possible.
Enjoy the rest of your travels and summer,
Nancy, Colorado Springs
I want to thank you for the scholarship that enabled my participation in the 2008 Indianapolis Teaching Guitar Workshop. The fallout from such a generous undertaking will have major positive repercussions in my musical life and those I touch. Again, thanks and keep up the good work.
David Kay, Jazz Faculty Interlochen Arts Academy
Dear NAMM Foundation and GAMA: While I have taught choirs for many years, last year was my first year to teach general music. I decided, without knowing much about it, that guitar might be the best medium to reach these students. I jumped in with both feet and fingers crossed. The classes were very successful, but I am amazed that they were, because I now know how much I didn’t know! Because of your generosity, 200+ kids will enjoy the benefits of what I have learned this summer alone. Thank you for making such a difference in the lives of these kids. I can’t wait to get back to school!
Catherine Zwink, Indianapolis IN
For the past two years I have turned down requests to teach guitar to my elementary students because I felt so inadequate. Thanks to you I now have the confidence to start a beginner guitar class at my elementary school. Thank you!
Emma Ruth White, Atlanta
I will be able to implement a much more effective guitar program at my elementary school. Teaching guitar has always been a passion of mine. Your sponsorship of this workshop has reinvigorated my passion for guitar!
Brian Meisenburg, Atlanta
Because of your generosity my students’ lives will be musically richer.
Connie Fuller, Atlanta
What a great learning experience I had at the Teaching Guitar Workshop. The instructors were well qualified and knowledgeable. I’m going home and rewrite my curriculum! Thanks for offering such a wonderful course.
Marilyn Dowd, Atlanta
Thank you for helping me reach the other 90% of our students who love music, but do not wish to be in a performance group. I’m looking forward to the development of this course in our school.
Sabra Hatley, Atlanta
We had a marvelous first year with the guitar program at Metz Middle School. There were two teachers, myself and Wendy Pierce, also a GAMA grad from a few years back. We had four sections with a total of about 40 students. Next year, we're looking at double those numbers and probably at least 7 sections of guitar to fit everyone in. Our principal has joked with us that we have created a monster, so many kids want to take the class! Our school division (Manassas City Public Schools) has recognized the success of the program and agreed to initiate a new class at the high school level for the fall to accommodate the rising students that we started this year in the 8th grade. That class will be taught by another GAMA grad from several years back, Anastacia Rubach (who is taking the Guitar II class this summer). Long story short, the program seems to be taking off like a rocket and we are thrilled beyond words to have this new and exciting offering as part of our music department. We have learned so much and continue to work hard at learning ourselves so that we can offer our students the very best we can. We could never have done it at all without the GAMA program. Thank you all so much!
Darlene Dawson, Washington DC
During my week in Las Vegas last summer [2005], taking "Teaching Guitar I", a choice for one of our class assignments was to write a grant. In the evenings after class, I wrote a grant to submit to the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation for more guitars and equipment. One of the instructors at Guitar I, Bill Purse, thoughtfully helped me with suggestions and answered some questions I had regarding writing such a grant.
In the fall when school started, my two after school guitar groups also started up again. I teach music at Fernley Elementary School and teach guitar and keyboard to 950 students a week , the whole school year, grades K-5. I submitted this grant on behalf of the "Acoustic Wolves" my performing guitar group. I received a letter from MHOF explaining that grants were on hold at that time so they could focus on helping the Katrina victims school music programs get back on their feet. I thought that was great! I e-mailed them and asked if the Acoustic Wolves could help out by dedicating their Christmas concert to their cause. We did, and they raised $88.00 which we sent to MHOF.
Two weeks ago, I received a letter from Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation that we had received the grant for everything we asked for! We were so excited! The Acoustic Wolves will be getting 10 3/4 size classical guitars, 2 electric guitars and 4 practice amps, and a bass guitar, (I learned how to play bass at the Teaching Guitar I class ). This will allow for some of the smaller students to have a proper fitting guitar as most of ours our big guitars. My youngest lead guitarist, who plays on the electric guitar is in first grade!
The Acoustic Wolves also performed a Christmas Concert for a "severe and profound special education" school in Reno in Dec. where they traveled by bus in the snow to do so. It was a lovely day and a great experience for the Acoustic Wolves and for the children we performed for.
Thanks to all of you who keep music alive in our schools and communities!
This is the group performing at the school in Reno at Christmas:
Deb Sutherland, M.S.
Fernley Elementary School, Fernley, NV
I have “played at” the guitar for many years as an elementary school music teacher. The guitar workshop has no only improved my skills and self-confidence, but has prepared me to offer guitar instruction to my students as part of the curriculum. Thank you for the generous scholarship that made it possible for me to attend.
Carolyn Groover, Atlanta
To GAMA from Atlanta participants 2008: I want to thank you for this powerful opportunity to gain valuable knowledge that I can apply directly to my students. Your willingness to sponsor this event speaks volumes for your support of music education and for it’s ability to further reach our population. Because of your efforts, educators are able to promote and enhance music and make it tangible to a greater student population. I will be forever indebted to GAMA for the opportunities you have allowed me to experience. I will be a better teacher for my students because of your efforts.
James H. Attebery, Atlanta
Hi Glen! I was in Las Vegas (level 1) last year and was excited to see your name on the forum list this month! I'm the burr in Suzanne's saddle in getting more workshops out west (especially a level 2 next year!). Anyway, it's been exciting to take on 2 sections of guitar at my junior high this year (reaching about 70 kids), most of whom are not in the performing groups. I was SO much more prepared after the workshop last summer! Thanks for all you did in facilitating that for us!
Erik Larson, Boise, ID
In the Summer of 1999, I attended a class in Hollywood, CA. I had two absolutely wonderful instructors, Nancy and Bob! When I got back that summer I started to teach my 3rd grade through 5th grade students. I was amazed what they could learn! I have applied the great stuff I learned in my elementary music ed classes for the last 8 years. I have taught kindergarten through 5th! What a great experience.
Margaret Yount, (formerly Andring) of Walla Walla, WA
Thanks to the Guitar Task force for another incredible experience. I thoroughly enjoyed Level 2 at Duquesne University this July. We had the pleasure of 2 great instructors, Romana and Rob, whose creativity and diverse backgrounds added up to a most unique learning environment. I took away with me many new approaches to teaching not to mention the enormous amount of method books, CD's, and guitar goodies! The people I met from all over the USA were amazing too. Please keep me posted for Level 3 !!!
Jon Trask, Long Island, NY
I am still reeling at how much I learned, and how my skills went from pitiful to passable. I had a great time.
Brianne Turgeon, Atlanta
What a great time I had in LV, Nevada. It was very refreshing to go to a workshop that actually applied to what I do. I learned so much...Thanks very much.
Glen Grant, Las Vegas
The Teaching Guitar Workshop is the most wonderful class that I have attended. Not only did we receive a beautiful guitar and teaching materials, but we had phenomenal teachers. The instructors did a great job! They provided us with a lot of information that we can use in our classrooms as well as techniques to help fund the program. I have already met with my principal to get some things in action and have found a music dealership who will help me set up our guitar program. Thanks you so much for this great program!!
Renee Hanson, Dodgeville, WI
I am a teacher a CM Eppes Middle School in Greenville, North Carolina. Last summer [2004] I attended the workshop in Atlanta with Nancy and Suzanne. In September I found out we had received a $2000 grant from Target to implement the program, and so with some fundraising and help from our PTA we started our first official class in January of 2005. We purchased a total of 17 Alvarez guitars (12 RD-8 and 5 RF-8), and about 2/3 - 3/4 of the students in the pilot class purchased instruments for their own use sometime during the semester; school guitars were available for loan to those students who could not afford to purchase one on their own. The pilot class was made up of seventh grade students, with a good mix of ethnic and economic classes in it.
Throughout the semester I heard many comments from the students such as, "This is the only fun class I have all day," "I look forward to this class every day," or "I love this class!" Never have I had as much fun teaching as I have this past semester with my guitar students. I also used the instruments we purchased to do a 3 week unit in guitar for all my general music students (four classes this year) as well as occasional non-singing days in my chorus.
We had three opportunities to perform during the semester for an audience. I started by having the students play in-class recitals to get them used to being in front of people. Then we "graduated" to playing in front of their teachers during a special period for them to show off. We also took one class period toward the end of the year and went to play for one of the special education classes at our school. We did a sing-along with the kids and sang songs such as "Lean on Me" and "You Are My Sunshine"; I'm not sure who enjoyed it more, us or them! Finally, we ended the year with a 30 minute recital for parents and friends. I transformed my mobil unit into a recital hall and we packed it full of people for the first ever recital. Students played several songs in the classical style in groups of two, three, four, and even a solo, plus one full ensemble piece, and then we did a sing-along with the parents on about five or six songs (this was the highlight of the evening!) Afterwords there were drinks and snacks for everyone. Of all the concerts I've ever done with students, and I've had some good ones, this one was more fun than any of them! I was also the first time we had people hanging around for a full 30 minutes after it was over to talk to me and the students about what they had accomplished.
I have put together a web page for my class to use, and I've also posted pictures from the concert on it.
Thomas R. Feller, Jr.
If you attended a guitar workshop with us and want to comment, please send your comments here.