Wild Flag Live (photo by Kyle Gustafson/FTWP)

Spring is on its way and what better way to celebrate its arrival?

Our first open house/free introductory guitar class of 2012 will take place on Sunday, March 4 at 11:30 a.m.  This free 45-minute class is a friendly guitar how-do-you-do for girls (ages 7+)  and women of all ages.

Class is taught in our group class space nestled in the heart of our favorite Valley music store, Baxter Northup Music, 14534 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA.

Come on by and say hello to your inner guitar player!  There will also be live performance at 1:00 p.m. featuring GGS adult students as well as a mini-set by rock cellist (and GGS collaborator), Helen Money with her students.

This event is in conjunction with the Baxter Northup Music open house and will feature other live performances of both students and teachers alike.  Always a fun day and a great way to support local music.  We hope you will join us.

In other news…

We are in the midst of putting together a new group curriculum to provide ensemble experience for those students already studying the guitar.   If this is something of interest to you or your favorite female player, please drop us a line and let us know.  We will be putting groups together based on experience and age of students. We hope to have the details nailed down and ready for roll out in March.  This will include group programming for classes beyond guitar 101.   We will be in touch via email with 101 students this week with days and times of 102 programming.

As always, please contact us with your questions, ideas, and suggestions for our YouTube channel,  Links page or like-minded organizations to partner with.  Thank you for your continued support of women in music, especially instrumentalists.  We are changing the face of music one girl at a time.  See you in class.

We wish you all a wonderful new year filled with an abundance of creativity, joy and MUSIC (of course).  Thank you all so very much for your continued support. We could not have made it this far without you.

What a year 2011 turned out to be with ensembles writing and performing their own compositions, the debut our own YouTube Channel and our first instructional workshop.   What will 2012 bring?  Here is what we have planned so far:

Sunday, January 15 marks the beginning of our winter session.  All classes run for eight consecutive weeks unless noted otherwise.

Guitar 101 for pre-teens
Guitar 102 (current students only, or by permission of instructor)

Girls with Guitars ensemble, levels 1 and 2

and Ladies Guitar School!

February will feature another afternoon workshop with bassist, Terry De Castro.

Full schedule with times and tuition will be posted January 1.   Have an idea for an afternoon workshop or an artist you’d like to hear more about?  Please drop us a line at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com.

From the small but mighty team here at GGS,  may you have a rockin’ new year and we’ll see you in class!

The Power of 4 Strings: Bass Basics for Guitarists & Beginners

Sunday, November 13; 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

$35.00  | Seats available 6

Our classroom space in Baxter Northup Music, 14534 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA

Get directions

Terry de Castro,  bass player extraordinaire for British Indie bands The Wedding Present and Goya Dress,  leads this 90-minute  introduction to the world and power of the bass.  Explore simple bass lines and rhythm.  Learn about female players rockin’ the bass universe.  Bring your bass or acoustic guitar and be ready to have a heckuva lot of fun!

Students are required to provide their own instruments, small practice amps are encouraged.

Contact us today to reserve your spot.  Space is limited and will fill quickly.

The Reckless Pretties with Terry de Castro and October, Los Angeles, July 2011 (Photo by: Brett Stranaire)

For more in the exciting news column…GGS students were featured on Everett True’s blog,  Collapse Board!  Our deepest thanks to Joyce Raskin for including our work in her article.  Check out the Reckless Pretties doing their thing at the Stories Cafe event in July right here.

As always, feel free to drop us a line with questions or referrals.  Information on our next session of group classes soon on the way.  Next up this month is a four-week Ukelele class!  Sundays- 2:00 – 2:45 p.m., starting 11/27.    Be sure to sign up for our email updates so you don’t miss it.

See you at the workshop!

Stories Books & Cafe, July 2011 (Photo by Frank Guttler)

The Fall session is almost here!

Only a few seats left for classes beginning this Sunday, September 18.

Guitar 101:

This class offers students a solid introduction to open and power chords, simple scales and all things rock! Material drawn primarily from female artists and songwriters.

Pre-Teen (girls ages 8-10)  Sundays, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Pre-Teen/Teen (girls ages 11- 14) Sundays,  2:30 – 3:30  p.m.

Ladies Guitar School version (older teens and women):  Sundays, time to be determined, please contact us directly, we are dedicated to making this part of our program happen and we need your help!

Please see our Class & Registration page for tuition and registration information.

We also have big news!  Our guitar and bass instructional videos will soon start production and be uploaded to the official GGS YouTube channel by the end of September.  Please email us with questions, songs or any other guitar/bass-related tips you’d like to see.

Did we say bass?  Yup.  That’s right.  Coming soon – bass workshops and oh, my! Bass 101.  Details to follow.   Curious?  Please email us.

As always please feel free to contact us with your questions.  We’ll see you in class (and on YouTube!)

It is that time again! GGS is happy to announce we will be offering a free introductory Guitar 101 class for girls and women of all ages at Baxter Northup Music on Sunday, September 11 at noon.   If you’ve been wondering if the group or guitar thing is for you or your favorite female player, this is the perfect opportunity to test the waters without any sort of commitment to full session.  All students need to bring with them is a guitar, we’ll take care of the rest.

Our Fall session is scheduled to begin Sunday, September 18.

All classes are taught at Baxter Northup Music, 14534 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA (just West of the Van Nuys Blvd. and Ventura Blvd. intersection).

Tuition for any of our eight-week courses is $250.00 and is due in full by September 18 (September 11 is free!).

Thinking private lessons might be more your thing?  We encourage you to contact us soon as our weekly schedule is almost fully booked.

Please sign up on our email list to get the latest GGS updates. Exciting news coming soon about a new class and instructor…look out!

Happy fall everyone – we’ll see you in class.

August is here which means a new session is soon on its way.

Group and ensemble classes will start up again on Sunday, September 18. Click  here for full class listing.

Can’t wait until then? We also offer private lessons.  Sneak in a few lessons before the school year kicks into full gear.  Click here for more information and rates.

GGS programming is taught at Baxter Northup Music, located at 14534 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA. Map here.

Big thanks to Joyce Raskin, Scarce, Terry de Castro, Cool Moms, Exene Cervenka and Stories Books and Cafe for an incredible gathering of female rocking music and power last weekend.   The GGS girls guitar ensemble made their first public debut at the event playing an original composition and stealing the show with their poise, confidence and talent.  We could not be more proud.  Pictures from the event to soon follow.

Inspiration for the month:  Every day sit down and write a song using the chords G C D or D G A.  Start with 12 blank measures.  Put the chords in any order (without thinking too much about it) and then play your results.   Try out a different strum pattern for each song you write and see what happens.

Be sure to check out the GGS YouTube Channel , for inspiration, instruction and even interviews with a variety of female players.  We are always on the lookout for things to add, so please drop us a line with your suggestions.

Make some music this August and have fun. We’ll see you class!

Girls Guitar School on Youtube click it here

Big hugs to everyone involved with last week’s open house.  We had a blast!  Next session of group classes starts this Sunday, July 3 and we can’t wait!   Session runs from July 3 through the second week in September with no class Sunday, July 24.  Can’t make it this Sunday? No worries, sign up anyway and we’ll sub one 30-minute private lesson with October in its place! Tuition for the session is $250.00 (includes in class materials).

Schedule for Guitar 101:

Pre-Teen (girls ages 8-10)  12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Pre-Teen/Teen (girls ages 11- 14)  1:30 – 2:30  p.m.

Ladies Guitar School version (older teens and women):  2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Students are responsible for providing their own instruments.  Need suggestions on what git to buy yourself or your favorite female player?  Please contact us and we’ll talk you through. Electric guitars are welcome, please be sure to bring a small practice amp with you to class.

GGS programming is taught at Baxter Northup Music, located at 14534 Ventura Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA. Map here.

Want to learn a different instrument? Contact us and we’ll refer you to the best darn female instructors we know in this town.

Mark it on your calendars!  July 24 at Stories LA in Echo Park at 4 p.m.  GGS is proud to align forces with Joyce Raskin and the band Scarce for signing and performances to support Joyce’s book, My Misadventures as a Teenage Rockstar.  All the info can be found by clicking here.

As always we thank you for your continued support and encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have.

Don’t forget to sign up for our email updates.  We are also on Facebook and Twitter.  Make it a rocking summer and we’ll see you in class!

Emma Ruth Rundle from the red sparowes

This Sunday we will be sponsoring our first free introductory group guitar class for girls and women of all ages!  Class starts 12 p.m. and goes until 1.  All you need to do is show up with a guitar.  We’ll walk you through the rest.

Next official session starts Sunday, July 3 and runs for eight weeks (no class 7/24).  Can’t make the first class? No problem! We know it’s a holiday weekend. You can sub one 30-minute private lesson in its place at some point over the session.  All classes are taught at Baxter Northup Music, located at 14534 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks.  Tuition for the eight-week session is $250.00 (class on Sunday is FREE!).This is in conjunction with the music school at Baxter’s open house.

How are you keeping yourself inspired for the summer?  These are a few of the ways to keep the inspiration fires burning:

Read!

Here are a few of the books in our stack for July.

My Misadventures as a Teenage Rockstar by Joyce Raskin

Rock ’n’ roll isn’t just about sex and drugs. It’s about self-expression, lasting friendships, and self-empowerment. That’s what Alex learns after she starts playing bass for a rock band in this almost true story. Joyce Raskin, author and musician, culls from her memories to create this funny, touching, and honest look at what it’s like to be a teenager, a girl, and a rock star all at the same time.

Also included are a note from the author, instructions on how to play basic guitar chords, advice on songwriting, and more!

Joyce (and Scarce) will be joining forces with GGS for book signing and performances at Stories LA in Echo Park on July 24 at 4 pm w/Cool Moms and other special guests.   More details to follow!  More info on Joyce can be found right here info about the West Coast tour here.

The Girls’ Guide to Rocking by Jessica Hopper.

We here at GGS consider this book an essential read for any guitar player.  Packed with all sorts of information, this book will be a go-to volume throughout your musical journey – what to look for when buying your first instrument, how to record yourself and your friends, how to book your first tour, be in a band.  Also includes a great timeline spanning the history of women in rock, more recommended reading, listening and watching!

Go to camp!

There are several national music camps happening across the country in July. Here are a few of our favorites (click pink link for website).

Rock n Roll Camp for Girls or Girls Rock! These camps are usually a week long and are all about empowering girls through music education.   Camps usually culminate with a show at a local venue.   Please see website for listing of camps and cities.

Other camps in Los Angeles:

Rock n Roll Camp for Girls LA

Day Jams

The Grammy Museum – Summer Sessions

Listen!

Friday, June 24, the red sparowes will be playing at the Center for the Arts in Eagle Rock.  Tix are $12.00.  It is an all ages show.  Get your tix here! Tickets

Make a mix of some of your favorite female players and ask a friend to do the same and then exchange them!

We have our own brand spankin’ new YouTube Channel! www.youtube.com/user/girlsgtr

It’s loaded with interviews, instruction and music by a variety of female guitar players and bands.  Subscribe today and let us know what other videos we should include.  Coming soon to the girlsgtr channel -  GGS instructional videos. Woohoo!

Open Mic it, lady!

Pick a song or two and try out playing live at  a local open mic or just for your friends at casual summer gathering.

Whatever you do – make it a musical summer.   As always, please email or give us a jingle if you have any questions.

We’ll see you class!

Los Angeles' Warpaint

We will be offering a free introductory Guitar 101 class for girls and women of all ages at Baxter Northup Music on June 26 at noon. The introductory class is a part of the Baxter Northup Music School’s open house. Come on by and get your guitar groove on!

Summer session is scheduled to begin Sunday, July 3. Students signing up on the day of the open house will also receive a 20% discount on picks, tuners and other accessories needed for class.

All classes are taught at Baxter Northup Music, 14534 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA (just West of the Van Nuys Blvd. and Ventura Blvd. intersection).

Tuition for the eight-week course is $250.00 and is due in full by July 3 (June 26 is free!).

Please sign up on our email list to get the latest GGS updates. We’ll see you in class!

It’s almost here and we are ready for it.  Next session of group classes for both Girls and Ladies Guitar School will begin in June.   We are still in the midst of fine tuning schedules but will posting the start dates soon.

Help us make this girls music revolution a thriving and vibrant thang – do you have any old rock posters, pictures, record jackets, etc of female musician, bands or songwriters that you would be willing to donate to the cause? If so, please email us at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com to sort out pick up/drop off/mail details.

Did you hear the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame has just launched a new exhibit honoring the women of rock n roll? Yes indeed!  More information here:  http://rockhall.com/exhibits/women-who-rock/

There are a slew of female artists on the road right now.  KT Tunstall, Thao and Mirah are but a few of the women you will find hitting the summer tour circuit. Check your local listings and go, go, go!