New Session

Fall Session Starts Sunday, September 8

School is back in session and so are we! Six-week classes run Sept. 8 – Oct. 13.  Tuition is $180.00. Please contact us at (818) 903-7763 or by email at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com for more details or to register for classes.

Guitar 101 Sundays, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. The perfect class for absolute beginners.  Girls will learn simple chords, strumming and melody playing songs they know and songs they create together.  No prior experience necessary.

Guitar 102 Sundays, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.  This class picks up where Guitar 101 left off, with more complex strumming, simple leads and introduction to reading music.  Some prior experience with chords and strumming required.

GGS Girls Guitar Ensemble (Photo: Frank Guttler)

GGS Girls Guitar Ensemble  (Photo: Frank Guttler)

Our classroom and private studio are located in Sherman Oaks, CA at 14534 Ventura Blvd.   Limited private, Skype and semi-private lessons on guitar and ukulele also available year-round.

Did you know that practicing a musical instrument increases brain function and enhances learning? According to the Children’s Music Workshop, “Recent studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language, and can actually wire the brain’s circuits in specific ways. Linking familiar songs to new information can also help imprint information on young minds.” Click link to read more from the PBS article: The Benefits of Music Education .

Happy playing, we’ll see you at the studio!

Upcoming Events:

Fall Session, September 8 – October 13 (see schedule above)

Free Intro Guitar Class

Sunday, October 20, 12:30 p.m.  All ages welcome.

Sherman Oaks Street Fair – Strum Along and Performance

Sunday, October 20, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon of outdoor student performance and strum-along.   We’ll be outside of Baxter Northup Music playing our favorite female-created music and answering your questions about the GGS program. Come meet our students and make some music (or just learn more about what we do and how you can become involved).

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Start Your Amps! Guitar 101 for Girls Ages 8 – Teen Kicks Off This Sunday (7/14).

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GGS private students warm up before the big recital. (Photo: Girls Guitar School, May 2013)

Beginner classes abound this Sunday with Guitar 101 for Girls Ages 8-teen.  Girls will learn chords, strumming and simple melody using songs they know and songs they create together.  Limited room available for the 8-10 age group.

Session runs 7/14 – 8/25, no classes on 7/21.  Tuition is $180.00 and is due in full by the first class.  Reservations via email at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com or by phone at 818-903-7763 recommended.

Guitar 101 for ages 8-10 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Guitar 101 for teen girls 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.

Coming up – our Parents & Practice Night, Weds., July 24 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.  Geared specifically to the questions and concerns of parents, this free class goes through how to tune a guitar, read a chord chart, inspire practice and other related topics requested by those attending.  Please r.s.v.p. at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com as seating is limited.

Did you know we also offer private lessons on guitar and ukulele all summer long Monday – Wednesdays and on Saturdays.  Please call us to find out availability.

See you at the studio!

P.S. We would like to extend our deepest thanks to Jen Levinson of Jen’s List for her help and support of our program.  If you found us through Jen’s List, please let us know.  Jen’s List is a fantastic resource for family activities and businesses in and around the Los Angeles area.  For more information, please click here Jen’s List .  Thank you, Jen!


Summer is Here. Let’s Get Playing! July 14 – August 25

In-store open house (Photo: Baxter Northup Music, Used with Permission) April 2013

In-store open house (Photo: Baxter Northup Music, Used with Permission) April 2013

Our summer session schedule is up.  New session starts July 14 with Guitar 101 for Girls and Teens. Please see Classes & Private Instruction for times.  Registration via email at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com or phone 818-903-7763 is recommended.  Tuition for six-week session is $180.00 and is due in full on first day of class.

We also offer private and semi-private lessons all summer long.  Discovered our website and don’t live in Los Angeles?  Have no fear – Skype is here!  We offer private lessons via Skype as well.  Please contact us for pricing and availability.

Coming this week – our recommendations for great summer reads, female bands/artists on tour and ideas to make this summer a rocking one. Stay tuned or follow us at @girlsgtrschool or http://www.facebook.com/GirlsGuitarSchool .

See you at the studio!

October


Free Intro Guitar Class, Monday, May 13, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

What do you call the things that tune the guitar?  Come to our free intro guitar class and find out.  This class is open to girls and women of all ages, all you need to bring is the guitar.  Students will learn a few easy chords and a song in under an hour!  The perfect time to find out about our summer schedule, sign up for lessons or to simply meet other aspiring female players (and their families).  Our next session starts June 2. The event is free, all we ask is that you register via email at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com.  Guitars and related accessories will be available for purchase before and after the event.  See you there! Map and directions click here.


Resolve to play more guitar.

2013 Registration for Guitar 101 for Teens extended to January 13!

Theresa, Jenny, Stella, and Emily of Warpaint

Absolute beginners:

Guitar 101 for Teens, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

We have a limited amount of seats available for this class. Please contact us at 818-903-7763 to register or hold a seat.

NEW! (By student request) Guitar 102 for Women starts Sunday, January 27 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This is the perfect class for women with some experience with open chords and basic strumming. Class runs for six weeks.

Tuition for all courses $180.00 Due in full by first class of the session. Please contact us to hold your seat.  Students must provide their own instruments.

What are your playing goals for this year?  Follow us on Twitter at @girlsgtrschool and join the conversation.  One big one for us is to reach and support more girls and women ready to play guitar in Los Angeles. Sign up for our email list to receive updates on our programming, practice tips and inspiration.

Did you see Karen Packer’s recent article on GGS for Patch.com?  Take a peek: Local Musician Changes the Face of Music One Girl at a Time.

Have more questions?  Please contact us by phone at 818-903-7763 or by email at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com.

Please note:  All Rights Reserved (c) 2013 October Crifasi/Girls Guitar School except where noted.


Fall Session Starts this Sunday, November 4

GGS students rocking at the Sherman Oaks Street Fair (Photo: October Crifasi/Girls Guitar School)

Guitar 101 starts this Sunday. Session runs Nov. 4 – Dec. 2 (no class 11/25).

Limited spots available for both levels, please call 818-903-7763 to register before Sunday, Nov. 4. Classes located at 14534 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA.

Tuition is $120.00 and is due in full by Sunday, November 4.

Schedule:

Guitar 101 for Teens at 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Guitar 101 for Ages 10 – 11 at 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

We’ll see you in class!


Fall Events, Classes, and Open House

Highlights:

Free Intro to Guitar Class – Sunday, October 28 11:00 – 11:45 a.m., Open House 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.

It’s time again for our free intro class for girls and women of all ages.  This is open to the public and will include a brief overview of the instrument and chords.   This is the perfect opportunity to get a taste of our  group classes without the commitment of a full session.  Instructor will be free for questions afterward or to register students for the November session.  Please join us – all you need is a guitar!  This day will also feature performances by faculty and students of both Baxter Northup Music School and GGS.  Always a great time!  No prior registration needed.

FALL GROUP CLASSES  (Special Four-Week Format)  November 4 – December 2 (no class 11/25) Tuition $120.00

Guitar 2b for Girls Ages 8-9.  12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Picks up where Guitar 2 left off. This special mini-session will focus on ensemble arrangement of 2 songs using skill sets and technique learned in Guitar 101 – Guitar 2.  Prior experience and approval of instructor required to join.

Guitar 101 for Teens.  2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Students will learn basic open chords, rhythm and single note melody using songs by female artists and their own compositions.  Acoustic and electric guitars welcome.  Absolute beginners welcome! (Small/practice amps required of electric guitar students.)

Guitar 101 for Girls Ages 10-11.  3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Students will learn basic open chords, rhythm and single note melody using songs by female artists and their own compositions.  Acoustic and electric guitars welcome.  Absolute beginners welcome! (Small/practice amps required of electric guitar students.)

Private lessons in-person and via Skype available all year.  Please contact us for availability.


Special Four-Week Session: November 4 – December 2*

GGS is dedicated to the education and empowerment of girls through music and especially on the guitar. We offer girls of all ages a multi-dimensional guitar program that teaches technical skills, self-expression, creativity and professionalism so that students develop confidence as musicians and young women.

*Special Four-Week Session: November 4 – December 2  (no class November 25)*  Schedule to be announced – please sign up for our emails to get the latest news.

For more detailed information and tuition please click here:  Classes & Private Instruction

We are located at 14534 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks, CA.  We also offer private and semi-private lessons on guitar and ukelele year-round.

Have more questions or would like to schedule a lesson?  Please call us at 818-903-7763 or email at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com.

You can also find us on YouTube for interviews, artist playlists and instruction:  GGS Channel

We look forward to hearing from you.


Summer Session Starts July 8!

Guitar 101 for Women on Sundays 2:00 – 3:00 (see Classes page for description)

What’s Cookin’:

Guitar 102 for Girls 8 & 9  (prior experience required) Sundays 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.

Guitar 101 for Women Sundays 2:00 -3:00 p.m.

Girls with Guitars Level 1 (open to new students with advanced beginner/intermediate skills) Day and time TBA soon

Please see Classes page for more detailed information and tuition.  Reserve your spot by calling 818-903-7763 or email at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com.

Please help us spread the word about our program – share this with your friends and family.  We are also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GirlsGuitarSchool and Twitter @girlsgtrschool .

More exciting news coming soon!  See you in class.


GGS proudly presents our first  workshop:

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!


Just Around the Corner!

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The Reckless Pretties aka Girls with Guitars 2 getting a little down time before they rock the house.

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!)


Free introductory class this Sunday!

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.


Have guitar, will travel.

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!