GGS students featured with Halsey for Billboard’s Women in Music Awards airing on Lifetime TV Dec. 12.
GGS welcomed pop singer-songwriter Halsey to our studio last week. The private mentoring session was captured on film for Billboard’s upcoming Women Music Awards which will air on Lifetime TV Monday, Dec. 12 where Halsey will be given the “Rising Star” award. The show won’t air until next week, but you can see a sneak preview of it here:
Halsey met with GGS students to answer questions about the music industry and song writing among other things. A few GGS students even got a chance to play for the special guest. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to welcome Halsey to our studio and thank her for taking the time to stop by and share her experience and insight with us.
Behind the scenes:
I would like to extend my personal thanks to Halsey, Jessica Rovniak and Billboard for bringing this inspirational opportunity to GGS students. Welcome to our small but mighty tribe of girl guitar goodness, Halsey. Keep doing what you’re doing and know the girls at GGS got your back. We hope to see you again soon. – October
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To find your own inspiration on the guitar, email us at girlsguitarschool@gmail.com to schedule a lesson in person or online.
Be sure to check out the GGS YouTube channel, too! : http://www.youtube.com/user/girlsgtr
Follow us on Twitter @girlsgtrschool or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GirlsGuitarSchool
Summer is Here. Let’s Get Playing! July 14 – August 25
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
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.
Spring Open House on Sunday, March 4
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.
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
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!
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 fo
r 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:
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!
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!
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.
girlsguitarschool.com 
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