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ABOUT GUITAR FOR KIDS |
Your child wants to play guitar?
Children want a guitar for a variety of reasons:
Whatever their reasons, they want to learn to play guitar. Guitar lessons vary from private to large-group lessons and instructor’s expertise varies from a friend who knows a few chords to the professional degreed teacher.
How do I choose?
Let Guitar for Kids show you why we provide the best guitar lessons and teachers. Guitar for Kids is a unique guitar program designed with both the younger and older child in mind.
Guitar for Kids gives kids what they want
A modern approach to guitar using music the kids like and can begin playing from the first lesson. Students find it an exciting and rewarding program that keeps their interest and you won’t find the guitar gathering dust in the corner. It’s their program; we make changes in program design according to the needs of the students and the group.
Guitar for Kids gives parents what they want
A guitar education program that teaches your child:
They can learn to be an accomplished musician whether playing for fun or playing at a performance level.
Guitar for Kids classes offer:
Guitar for Kids teachers:
Guitar for Kids
We have a unique design whether it’s for the older or younger child, each lesson is written specifically with age and abilities in mind. Lessons are filled with specific goals, concepts and ideas to provide every child the opportunity to achieve success in their lessons; and most importantly, we have fun while doing it.
Why do we have a small-group format?
After teaching both private and group lessons, I believe children learn better in a small-group environment.
Guitar for Kids
For Kids Ages 8 and Up
Younger children visit the Guitar for Kids ages 6-7
Kids 8 and up want to play guitar to rock. With Guitar for Kids, enjoy the best of both worlds; a guitar program that meets the needs of the student and the parents.
In Guitar for Kids 8 and up classes
Guitar for Kids classes 8 and up
Guitar for Kids
For children Ages 6 - 7
Older child visit the Guitar for Kids age 8 and up
Younger children usually ask for a guitar because it looks fun. With Guitar for Kids, enjoy the best of both worlds; a guitar program that meets the needs of the student and the parents.
Many music studios start children’s lessons at eight:
At Guitar for Kids, our 6 – 7 program is designed with the younger child in mind.
What age should my child start guitar?
Between 5 – 6 children become developmentally ready for guitar lessons, I’ve seen that all 6 year olds have the ability to learn to play guitar. I have taught 5 year olds that were ready and are playing great; however, I have had 5 year olds that can’t sit still. Since you know your child best, if they are 5 – 6 and want to play guitar and you feel they a capable of participating in lessons, please give us a call.
In Guitar for Kids 6 - 7 classes
Guitar for Kids classes 6 – 7
Guitar for Kids 6 – 7 parents
Guitar for Kids
Adult Classes
Adults are often just big kids and even big kids want to play guitar. Occasionally I have the opportunity to start a new adult class, if you’re an adult and would like to participate in guitar lessons, give us a call. You might have the opportunity to become the rock star you always dreamed about.
Adult classes
Guitar for Kids
Student Pages
Here’s where you get lots of important information
Calendars and information to keep you updated.
You can print most lessons, saves you time and money!
Contests are going on all the time, including practice contests and Battle of the Bands to motivate kids to play more. This is where they have the opportunity to win cool prizes!
Learn how to tune your guitar
Build rhythmic skills
Jam with the band
Play with a drummer or metronome
Practice with the band
Inform you on rarely discussed topics such as:
Lesson material for the child who wants to move more rapidly
Tell me what you need and Guitar for Kids can make it happen. We’re always willing to do anything that benefits the program and the kids. This is your guitar program; just ask.
How much practice?
Obviously, the more they play the better; but I suggest starting out small. If a child will play 15-30 minutes a day, 5-6 days a week, they will continually advance.
15 minutes a day is a good goal
15 – 20 minutes a day in the beginning, gradually increasing to 30 minutes a day
In the beginning, playing guitar is more challenging due to dexterity issues of the left and right hands, but as students become more familiar with guitar they will see success happen faster.
Scheduling guitar play times
We all work better when we have a schedule.
This works best for some kids, get up 15 minutes earlier and play your guitar; after breakfast you’re free rest of the day
Come home, have a snack, play your guitar.
15 – 30 minutes before bed. The day is done, you can relax and play.
7 minutes in the morning, 8 minutes in the evening. I think it’s better to do it all at once, but this works for some students
Stuck on TV? This may work for you.
The Music Room
Tools to Success
A guitar that’s in the case will never get played. Guitar stands are available at Edmond Music for about $9 – $13
If using music during practice, a music stand is helpful; it saves wear and tear on the neck and makes playing easier
You can purchase a folding foot stool at Edmond Music, build one like we use at the studio or two phone books and a roll of duct tape will work. For smaller kids, the footstool should be about 7”; for taller kids, the footstool should be about 5”.
The guitar play area should not be isolated from the family. Typically, children don’t like to be left alone; they want to know what’s going on and like to have others listen to them practice. You might be cooking dinner or working on the computer but you’re close by and listening.
The more you’re involved, the better your child will do
In the beginning, the more a parent works with a child, regardless of age, the better they will do. A parent can mimic the activities we do in class. As a student becomes used to the concept of sitting down and playing their guitar the parent can give a student more independence, eventually a student will be able to sit down and play on their own.
Before they finish playing, go in the music room and listen to them for a final run through of the tunes so you can hear their improvement.
The more a parent is involved in the process, the better a student will do with guitar. Staying involved with your child in guitar lets them know you think it’s important.
What about private lessons?
I do offer private lessons from time-to-time; however, under most circumstances I have found the benefits of group lessons outweigh the one-on-one time of a private lesson.
Consider private lessons if a student is:
Appropriate sized guitars should be purchased; 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 nylon string guitars can be purchased at Edmond Music for approximately $160.00 and include a padded carrying case. Full-size guitars are approximately $220.00 and also include a padded carrying case. Most children will use the smaller guitars until 6 th grade. Take your child with you so Edmond Music can match them with the appropriate sized guitar.
Electric guitars are fine to start with if that’s what your child already has, but I have found it’s a great goal to earn an electric guitar as time goes on.
Doug Smitherman graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor Degree in Music and Minor in Music Education, specializing in Music for Children. He has taught guitar since graduating from North Texas and is fluent in Fingerstyle, Rock and Blues guitar. He is also an arranger and composer and has had compositions performed in the North Texas area.
Classes are located at the Fine Arts Institute at 27 E. Edwards, Edmond, OK 73034.
The Institute is located across the street from the downtown Edmond Post Office parking lot.
27 E. Edwards
P. O. Box 311
Edmond , OK 73034
405.340.4481
The Fine Arts Institute is Edmond’s non-profit community arts organization offering educational enrichment for adults and children in the visual and performing arts. In addition to year-round classes for adults and children, the Institute sponsors the Edmond Youth Chorus, Fine Arts and Literature Academic Meet, Youth Impressions Juried Arts Show, two annual children’s theatre productions, summer camps, Kindermusik and Guitar for Cool Kids.
Now in its 23 rd year, the Fine Arts Institute has significant partnerships which help enrich the arts in the Edmond community. They include: Edmond Public Schools, City of Edmond, Juvenile Court, University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond Women’s Club and Pepper’s Ranch.