Summer Camp With Teaching Guitar Workshops
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Thomas Amoriello Fleminton Raritan School District NAfME Council For Guitar Education Chair tamoriel@frsd.k12.nj.us
ttention NJMEA members! Are you interested in adding a new component to your teaching schedule? Are you interested in learning a new instrument? Are you interested in getting better at the guitar? Are you interested in making some new friends and colleagues this summer? Would you like a free guitar? Are you interested in having a support system that wants you to succeed? And most importantly, are you interested in making a deeper connection with your students? This summer (2019) Teaching Guitar Workshops can fill many of those needs. Former NAfME Council for Guitar Education Chair and Teaching Guitar Workshops go-to guy Glen McCarthy shares his insight. Thanks Glen! When were the first TGW created and what need were you trying to fill? The Teaching Guitar Workshops started in 1995. It is a great example of industry, non-profit advocacy groups, and education working together to effect change and address the needs of practicing teachers. NAfME (the National Association for Music Education formally MENC), GAMA (the Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association), the NAMM foundation (National Association of Music Merchants) and Duquesne University were the initial groups that started TGW. NAfME helped get the word out to their members. GAMA helped by supplying materials. The NAMM foundation helped with funding. Duquesne awarded graduate credit to the attendees. TGW in its original inception was designed to help band, orchestra, and choral directors who were interested in implementing a guitar class in their music department curriculum. The weeklong workshop introduced sound pedagogy and techniques to make the guitar class a successful part of their school curriculum. TGW continues to evolve, to keep up with the latest
trends in music education. We are now including Ukulele in our curriculum. I am sure there are many success stories and feedback from educators that TGW helped. Is there on in particular that is memorable and inspiring? Since 1995 over 400 teachers have taken a TGW; according to a recent audit report, that translates to over 2 million students taking a guitar class who would not be involved in music education if not for TGW. How are the sites chosen? Most all sites are hosted by former participants and held in their schools. Locations have also included music stores as well as companies such as D’Addario and Martin Guitar. Who needs to be contacted if interesting in hosting a workshop? Contact the website info@discoverguitar.com
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JANUARY 2019
