Guitar 101 is back!
Guitar 101 is the perfect class for absolute beginners. Students will learn simple chords and rhythm as well as melody.
Special six-week session for girls ages 8-10 on Sundays, May 6 – June 17 (no class Memorial Day Weekend) 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Tuition is $180 and due by the first class. Students must provide their own instruments. Please email or call us for more information or to hold your place. Class size is limited to five students.
We will be adding additional age groups as minimum enrollment is met (three students).
This is just the beginning of our group programming for the season. Please sign up on our email list for upcoming classes, workshops and performances.
Special thanks to the students and families that came to our open house in March. Kudos to private students Annie and Tracy for taking to the stage and sharing their talents with us! What a great day of music and performance.
More classes and a special performance by GGS faculty on the way.
Happy spring everyone – we’ll see you in class!
Happy New Year!
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!
Just Around the Corner!
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!)
Back to the Books.
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!
July is here and so is a new session!
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!
Free introductory Guitar 101 class for all age groups!
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!
Summer is the time to rock.
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!
New Classes Coming in April!
Guitar 101 for girls ages 11 – 14, 7 – 10 and, drum roll please, Ladies Guitar School all on their way next month, as is the next session of Girls with Guitars Level 2.
Also, on April 3 we are sponsoring our first Gathering of the Guitars, a one-hour, one-shot gathering of female players to work in pairs or in a group. Open to current female private and group students of ANY guitar teacher at Baxter Northup. This is the perfect environment for younger students to try out a group experience without the commitment of a full eight-week session. It is open and encouraged for all ages. Class is $15.00 per student. Those interested should contact us beforehand to ensure proper pairing of level, age, etc. We plan to make this a monthly event.
Start date for the next session will be April 17. Full schedule to be announced soon, so please be sure to sign up for email updates or follow us on Twitter. Private and Skype lessons also available.
For your inspiration this week, the latest piece from their Hey Ladies, Being a Woman Musician Today series: http://www.npr.org/2011/03/22/128564299/hey-ladies-being-a-woman-musician-today
Is there a day you wished we had something scheduled? Wondering what guitar would be best for you or your daughter? Is there a certain topic you’d like to see covered on this website? Want to know how you can help us make this program a thriving and important part of the musical community in Los Angeles? Email us today, we want and appreciate your input.
Happy playing!
Guitar 101 for girls ages 11- 14 starts Sunday, March 27
We still have a few seats open for the teen class session. We start this Sunday, March 27 (no class on 4/10). Please email us for more information.
Girls with Guitars Level 2 had their graduation this past Sunday and were simply fantastic! Their set included one of their own compositions. Pictures to follow.
Live in the Studio City/North Hollywood area? We’ve been asked to give a mini-class and brief performance at the Many Paths Ladies Night Out event happening this Friday, March 25. For location and more information please go the Many Paths website: http://www.manypathsworldservice.org/events.html#EventCalendar
This event is free.
We are getting closer to having an actual start date for the Ladies Guitar School program, hooray! Tentative start date for the program is April 17, we will post more details once we have ’em.
Thanks for your support and Happy Spring!! We’ll see you in class.
Exploration for the week: Working with Sixth Chords
Great article and video by Jane Miller about learning and working with Sixth Chords. Click on the crazy blue link below!
March 20 not only sees the start of Guitar 101 for girls ages 7 – 10, but also the graduation performance of Girls With Guitars Ensemble Level 2. Performance is at 2:00 p.m. They’ll be playing songs by Paramore, Taylor Swift and their own composition. Come on by!
We have received more interest for the adult version of Guitar 101. We only need a few more students to make it a reality…please help us make it happen by spreading the word. Thanks!
Going to SXSW this weekend? Say hello and check out Girl Guitar Austin and Girls Rock Camp Austin events.
Send us a note and tell us about any great new female artists you may have discovered during the festival.
Thanks and see you in class!
Guitar 101 for girls ages 7-10 sprung ahead.
The time change of March 13 caused some interesting switcheroos for our schedule yesterday. As a result, we are extending registration for Guitar 101 for girls ages 7-10 to next Sunday, March 20. Class begins at 12:30 p.m. Contact us today to reserve your spot.
Registration for the teen version of Guitar 101 still open, class starts March 27.
Ever hear of the Iron MAIDENS? Want to inspire your daughter with some serious shredding by a female player? Then we highly recommend you get your butts to this show at the House of Blues on Sunset tomorrow night. It is an ALL AGES show and tickets are available for FREE at their website: http://www.theironmaidens.com
The Iron Maidens
International Women’s Day
Kaki King
March 8 is International Women’s Day which means it is a particularly great week for finding women and girls making music in your community. Check with your local libraries, museums and colleges for interesting and inspiring events for you or your favorite female music maker. A listing of national events can be found here:
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/search.asp?page=6&country=223&town=
Other ideas for inspiration:
Pull together some of your favorite music by a female artist and share it with your favorite female guitar player or make a special mix cd filled with inspirational female players to give as a gift or to have on hand when the motivation to practice is at an all time low.
Have some friends over for a selection of female rocker inspired movies and/or concerts.
Go out and see/support a local female artist at a local venue.
Go to the library and check out music from a player you may have never heard of before.
Make a wish list of songs that you would love to be able to play in a year — choose two and get about learning ’em. Take it even one step further and find a local open mic to try out those live performance skills.
Get a few of your female musician friends over for a night of jamming.
Get a sparkly new set of strings and put them on the guitar. Don’t know how? Give yourself (or daughter) the gift of being a self-sufficient player and learn how. Great instructional vid here: http://www.elixirstrings.com/products/howtostring_acoustic.html
Check out listings for the next Girls Rock Camp or Ladies Rock Camp in your area and get signed up for a week of rocking in the summer. List can be found here: http://www.girlsrockcamp.org/supporters/grca
Get yourself a set of colorful picks or whatever sort of picks you like.
and remember to support your favorite female player by encouraging her to practice, learn and create on the instrument. Let her know the world is in need of her unique musical voice. Now more than ever.
Viva la ladies making music!
(We still have a few spots still open for March 13 and March 27 sessions, empower your favorite girl today!)
March Session at Baxter Northup Music Now Enrolling!
We will be starting up an additional session of Guitar 101 for both pre-teen and teen levels at Baxter Northup Music in March. Enrollment is now open. Pre-teen (ages 7 – 10) starts March 13, Teen (11-13) starts March 27. Only 1 – 2 seats left for both levels. Girls with Guitars level 2 will be also be wrapping up with a brief in-store performance on Sunday, March 20 at 2:00 p.m. Come on by and show your support.
There has also been interest in starting up a weekly beginner class for women at Baxter, both as part of the lunchtime series and as a weekend class. If you or a woman you know has been kicking around the idea of learning to play, please let us know. We want to see this part of the GGS program happen and we need your participation to make it so. Please contact October via girlsguitarschool@gmail.com for more information, we only need a few more students for each option to give it the green light. It is never too late and you are never too old to learn to play (and rock!).
Inspiration for this week: Singer/songwriter/guitarist, Tift Merritt.
February classes at Degas Dance Studio open for enrollment!
Hello everyone!
We hope you’ve had a rocking 2011 so far. GGS is excited to be a part of the Degas Dance Studio community in this new year. We’ve had a slight change of schedule and start date for the Guitar 101 pre-teen and teen classes. The new session will start on Thursday, February 10 with a few spaces available for both pre-teen and teen levels. Please also note new times: 4:30 – 5:30 and 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Many folks have asked about private lesson availability. We offer one-on-one private lessons with October at Baxter Northup Music in Sherman Oaks. Currently there are a few times available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with a waiting list for Saturday. Give us a call for more information or to schedule a time. Please be sure to include preferences of day/time, the age of the student and the best time to return your call.
Are you getting the latest on Girls Guitar School? Sign up for email updates and be in the know~!
You can also find us on Facebook just search for Girls Guitar School. We look forward to hearing from you, see you in class!
Inspiration for the week: KT Tunstall on Jools Holland.
Coming in Spring 2011 – classes on the Westside!
Musical inspiration for the week!
Great article and mix about Ari Up and the women of post-punk. Check it out! In the Mix. http://www.npr.org/2011/01/11/132741321/hear-a-mix-ari-up-the-slits-and-the-women-of-post-punk?sc=fb&cc=fmp
The Slits' Ari Up. Angel Ceballos/Blue Ghost Publicity
Happy New Year!
The new year is here and so is a brand spankin’ new session of classes. There are still spots available at both Encino and Sherman Oaks locations for pre-teen & teen levels of Guitar 101. Baxter Northup/Sherman Oaks session begins this Sunday, January 9. Please see class descriptions for times. Encino classes will begin February 3 at the Degas Dance Studio. Girls with Guitars level 2 for current students also kicks off on January 9 at Baxter Northup Music.
Make this the year you finally pick up that guitar and learn how to play. Sign up today by calling us at 818-903-7763 or email at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com.
Private and Skype lessons also available.
Gabriela from Rodrigo y Gabriela
New session starts January 2011 – come join us.
KT Tunstall
The holidays are here and we have great news to share! As of January 2011, GGS will be offering classes at a second location! We are pleased to announce Guitar 101 classes for the pre-teen and teen levels can now be found at the Degas Dance Studio in Encino. Please see Class Descriptions for schedule and tuition information.
Sign up now for classes at either location.
Guitar 101 – Guitar 101 offers students a solid introduction to open and power chords, simple scales and all things rock! Material drawn primarily from female artists and songwriters.
New lunchtime series – Guitar 101 just for women! Learn to play the guitar during your lunch hour.
What are you waiting for? Gift certificates, private lessons and Skype lessons also available. Please contact us for more details.
Classes taught at Baxter Northup Music in Sherman Oaks on Sundays and the Degas Dance Studio in Encino on Thursday evenings.
Thank you all for continuing to spread the word and support this program. The first Girls with Guitars ensemble had their final in-store performance on December 6 at Baxter Northup and they were incredible. Pictures coming soon.
For those of you still looking for the perfect gift for your little (or not so little) rocker, we are digging the new KT Tunstall record, Tiger Suit and Taylor Swift’s Speak Now.
Or check out Mattel’s line of Ladies from the 80s Collection:
Joan Jett Doll from Mattel's Ladies of the 80s Collection
The line also includes Cyndi Lauper and Debbie Harry. We wish you all the best this holiday season. See you in class!
Guitar 101 for pre-teen and teen girls starts this Sunday (November 7)!
Don’t wait, registration deadline is Friday, November 5. Sign up today! Call us at 818-903-7763 or email at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com. All classes held at Baxter Northup Music, 14534 Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks.
Tegan and Sara
Guitar 101:
Eight-week 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. November 7 – January 9 (no class 11/28, 12/28)
Classes split into pre-teen (8-12), teen (13 – 17); Pre-Teen: Sundays, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Teen: Sundays, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Tuition: $250.00, includes class materials (instruments not provided).
Guitar 101 is a part of the GGS core class program: 60-minute classes that provide students with a solid foundation of playing the instrument while also working with other guitars in a group environment.
Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart
Say Hello.
GGS will be at the Sherman Oaks Street Festival tomorrow, Sunday, October 17. Find us in front of Baxter Northup Music from 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. 14534 Ventura Blvd. Drop by and say hello or sign up for Guitar 101 (start date 11/7) or Moms rock! (start date October 27). Look for us at the pink table!
Please see Class Descriptions for the most updated class offerings.
The Road is My Middle Name
Inspire yourself or the female guitarist in your life. Women on the road and on their way into town over the next two weeks:
Sara Harmer
September 29
Sara Harmer
Spaceland 8:30 p.m.
Tickets here:
http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=2697505
Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth
September 30
Hollywood Bowl
Sonic Youth with Pavement & No Age
Discount tickets just released enter the word “Bowl”
Tickets here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0B00448CBD1F2DC3?dma_id=324
Aimee Mann
October 3
Aimee Mann
Largo at the Coronet
call box office for tickets: 310-833-0350
Liz Phair
October 8
Liz Phair
The El Rey Theater
Tickets here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/El-Rey-Theatre-tickets-Los-Angeles/venue/360460
Know of other female artists coming through Los Angeles? Let us know! Our goal is to have a current comprehensive list of events throughout the Los Angeles area.
Still pondering whether or not to take a class? Seats are going fast but a few spaces remain for Guitar 101 and Moms Rock. Classes start mid-October. For more information or to sign up, call or drop us a line!
Pre Teen and Teen Level classes begin mid-October & Moms Rock!
Guitar 101 for both pre teen and teen levels will begin mid-October with limited space still available.
Chrissie Hynde: Guitarist, Vocalist & Mom!
Also launching next month is a new series just for moms, called Moms Rock! This class will focus on learning the basics with music that can be shared with the little ones (we’ll still sneak a few rockers in there though). Start date is October 13. Class will run six weeks 12 – 12:45 p.m. Please see Class Descriptions for more information or drop us a line. As always, thank you for supporting women in music.
Hello and Welcome!
Hey there and welcome to the official website for the Girls’ Guitar School Los Angeles. We are just about to kick off our first eight-week session of beginner group guitar for girls and women of all ages. Please see the Class Description page for a list of current offerings and tuition.
Be sure to check back here often as we will be posting a wide variety of guitar- and music-related videos, articles, practice suggestions, female bands/players on the road or to watch for plus a whole bunch more to keep you or favorite female guitarist inspired and making music.
Don’t forget to sign up for email updates, follow us on Twitter or become a fan on facebook.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hold on Los Angeles here we come, guitars and all. Are you ready?
Girls Rock!
PJ Harvey
girlsguitarschool.com 
You must be logged in to post a comment.