Sign up for our Summer Recitals begins Monday, April 1st at 9:00 am. There is limited space available and we encourage you all to familiarize yourself with the student portal before next week to guarantee your spot. Here is a link to the student portal sign in page and we have recently included instructions on how to best use the portal. To sign up for our recitals, just click on the date in the calendar and click “Register.” If this is your first recital, please confirm with your teacher before signing up. Below are the recital dates and times. 

6/1 – Kids Summer Recital at City Winery – 12:00-3:00 pm – $10 cover (free for kids 12 and under) 

6/2 – Teens and Adults Summer Recital at Venkman’s – 7:00-10:00 pm – $10 cover (free for performers) 

We will send out another reminder this Sunday. Even if you are not performing, we encourage all of our Guitar Shed family to attend the recitals! Please let us know if you need us to resend your login information or if you have any questions.

Don’t forget to grab your FREE poster at Guitar Shed after your lesson!

Thank you all for participating in our Kids Winter Recital at City Winery! Click here to view the photo gallery where you can download and purchase photos. Big thanks to Addison Hill for capturing some excellent moments. We’re very proud of all our kiddos and all of the hard work they put in!   

FREE MUSIC LESSONS!!!

Please fill out an online LGMP Scholarship Application at: https://tinyurl.com/LantaGrasMusicProgram

The Lanta Gras Music Program (LGMP):LGMP provides private music lesson scholarships for one year. Lessons begin with one 30-minute lesson per week (summer and holiday weeks not included). The lessons are held at Guitar Shed, 1610 Hosea L Williams Dr NE, 30317. Students and their parent / guardians are responsible for transportation to/from these free lessons. Once awarded a scholarship, students will contact Guitar Shed to coordinate their weekly lesson schedule and to choose from one of the following instruments: Drums, Guitar, Violin, Bass, Piano, Ukulele, Banjo, Mandolin and Voice.

Eligibility and Priority: Student eligibility is extended to children who attend public school in the Jackson Cluster and/or reside in the NPU-O neighborhoods of Kirkwood, East Lake and Edgewood — as well as parents/guardians who are employed within this NPU-O zone in the following professions: schools (pre-K through 12), first responders (Police, Fire and Rescue) and military service. Our candidate age group is 4th-12th grade students, but younger candidates may be considered. Applying for this scholarship is a commitment to attend weekly lessons and an agreement to march with us in our annual “Lanta Gras” parade, which is held in Kirkwood on the last Saturday in January. Happy Lanta Gras!

Lanta Gras is a Mardi Gras Parade with purpose. Our mission is to build community and provide opportunities for children through the common bond of music. Please email questions to [email protected]

Parker is teaching a Guitar Workshop on Saturday, March 31st from 10:00-11:30 am. The workshop is titled “Exploring the Fretboard” and is great for intermediate to advanced teens and adults.

This session will focus on how to use five open chord shapes to map out the entire fretboard using the CAGED system. This chord based approach to soloing is helpful for the beginning to advanced improviser. If you are tired of playing the same licks or if you are looking to improvise for the first time, this is a great opportunity to learn among fellow Guitar Shedders.

Differences between harmonic concepts, practice techniques and ear training will be discussed. Below are the details…

  • Saturday, March 31st at Guitar Shed
  • 10:00-11:30 am
  • $30 for current students
  • $40 for new students
  • Limited to 20 students

To sign up either send an email to [email protected], or register in the student portal.

We are excited to announce the return of Guitar Ensemble in the spring of 2018! Students ages 8-12 are encouraged to enroll.

During the classes students will focus on ensemble playing, rhythm, dynamics, good tone, and creativity. This is a great way to augment private lessons and give your children the opportunity to make music with their peers. The classes will culminate in a final performance at the summer recital on June 10th at City Winery!

All sheet music will be provided. There will be no make-up classes, but we are happy to adjust invoices prior to payment if you will be absent. In order to perform in the summer recital, students must attend at least 10 of the 12 classes. The Guitar Ensemble is directed by Alex Gordon and limited to 8 students.

March 11 – June 3 (No class May 27)

Sundays from 1:30-2:20 pm

Tuition is $25 per class. To register, either signup in our online portal or send us an email. Tuition will be pro-rated and added to your monthly invoice.

I am excited to be conducting a few workshops in the upcoming months! Here’s what’s on tap…

GMEA (Georgia Music Educators Association) Conference

  • Friday – Jan 26, 2018
    • 8:45 – 9:45 am
      • Exploring the Fretboard – Improvising using the CAGED system
  • Saturday – Jan 27, 2018
    • 11:15 – 12:15 pm
      • Guitarists Need Rhythm – Teaching Strumming and Finger Picking Patterns through Songwriting

Cayamo

  • February 4-11, 2018
    • Guitarist Need Rhythm – strumming and finger picking patterns (Beginner / Intermediate)
    • Make it Sing – finding your voice on the guitar (Beginner / Intermediate)
    • Exploring the Fretboard – chord shapes and scales up the neck (Intermediate / Advanced)

ASTA (American String Teachers’ Association) Conference

  • Saturday – March 10, 2018
    • 7:00-8:00 am
      • Art of the Jazz Duo: Where Chamber Music Meets Improvisation
      • Duets offer an unparalleled opportunity for two musicians to converse in an intimate, exposed setting. Many jazz musicians have used this to their advantage, creating works that sound closer to modern chamber music. Presenters Greg Byers and Parker Smith will explore the rich history of jazz duets, demonstrate strategies each half can employ, and outline how students of any ability level can listen and interact with a partner.

Guitar Shed

  • Saturday – March 31, 2018
    • 10:00-11:30 am
      • Exploring the Fretboard – Improvising using the CAGED system
      • This session will focus on how to use five open chord shapes to map out the entire fretboard. This chord based approach to soloing is helpful for the beginning to advanced improviser. Differences between harmonic concepts, practice techniques and ear training will be discussed.
        • $30 for current students $40 for new students

Our Kids Recital is this Sunday and the Teens and Adults Recital is the following Sunday! We are very excited to hear you all perform! Read on for all of the details on both recitals and feel free to reach out with any questions…

KIDS RECITAL – Sunday, December 10th

TEENS AND ADULTS RECITAL – Sunday, December 17th

Photo Release: We will have a photographer at both recitals, if you would prefer that you or your child not be photographed please let us know.
Attire: casual, only dress up if you want to 🙂
Poster: Pick up your free poster at the Shed if you haven’t already.

Let us know if you have any questions and…..stay tuned!

  • December 17

Join us for an afternoon of music at The Pullman featuring Guitar Shed students and teachers. Limited to 20 perfomers. This is a great opportunity to perform in a relaxed, informal environment.

Sign up by emailing [email protected]

RSVP to the Facebook event here

Kids and families are welcome!

We are very excited to announce that drum lessons are starting at the Shed! Zack Albetta will be teaching drums to students ages 8 and up. Lessons are available in 30 or 60 min time slots on Tuesdays starting June 6th.

This has been in the works for a while and now that our remodeling and soundproofing is complete, we are ready to start making some noise. Times are filling up, so register today to guarantee your spot.

Read more about Zack below…

Zack Albetta has been playing and teaching professionally for 15 years. He grew up in Santa Fe, NM, where he began playing drums at age 8. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in percussion performance, a Master of Music in percussion performance, and a Master of Arts in jazz and studio performance. From 2003 to 2010, Zack lived in Kansas City, MO and was a first call drummer in that city’s rich and historic jazz scene.

In 2010, he moved to Los Angeles, where he expanded his jazz resume, played dozens of musicals for the region’s top theatre companies, and became a staff musician at Disneyland. In 2016, he and his wife relocated to Atlanta, where he has hit the ground running with top acts such as Atlanta Funk Society, The Equinox Orchestra, and Delta Moon. As an educator, Zack has taught everything from beginning private lessons to college classes with students ranging from ages 8 to 80.