STRING LETTER MUSIC SCHOOL

Lessons and Classes
We offer weekly private, semi-private, and group instruction for guitarists at every level, from novices and early beginners to intermediate and advanced players.

Tens of thousands of students around the country have used our Acoustic Guitar Method to learn the authentic techniques of American roots music, including folk, blues, bluegrass, country, and Celtic styles.  Our expert instructors can help you learn any or all of these styles, plus rock, classical, jazz, and steel-string fingerstyle.

We also offer classes in musicianship, harmony, ear training, and other valuable skills, as well as coaching for bands and small ensembles.  One of these weekly hour-long classes is included in the lesson fee.

Depending on your schedule and your budget, you can choose from 30-, 45-, and 60-minute weekly lessons, with a minimum commitment of one 6- or 8-week session.  There are four 8-week sessions throughout the Fall, Winter, and Spring, plus two 6-week Summer sessions, so you can start at almost any time.

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Performing, Recording, and Musicianship

Coached Groups
Included with each weekly lesson is the chance to make music with others in our unique guitar ensemble workshops.  We place our students in groups that suit their skills and musical interests, and coach them on choosing music and playing together. And at the end of each of session, students can choose to perform for friends, family members, and guests.

Elective Musicianship Classes
Students who prefer to play solo are invited to enroll in an additional elective class on musicianship, harmony, ear training, and other valuable skills.

Recording
At the close of three sessions throughout the year (Fall 2, Spring 1, and Summer), students have the opportunity to make either a video or audio recording of the music they have studied.  The recording documents the student’s progress and becomes a valuable tool for planning the student’s future development.

Workshops and Master Classes

Workshops
Students who want instruction in a particular style or technique over a limited period of time may join our three- and four-session workshops, taught both by staff and guest instructors.  Workshops run weekly, either on a weekday evening or Saturdays. Please check our calendar for details and registration information.

Master Classes
In addition to regularly scheduled lessons and classes, we offer occasional two-hour workshops with many outstanding professional acoustic musicians who either live in the Bay Area or come our way while touring.  Participants receive hands-on instruction and should expect to go home with at least one new song and/or technique under their fingers.  Please check our calendar for details and registration information.

Publications and Media
String Letter Music School is the community home of String Letter Publishing, the company founded in San Anselmo in 1986 to provide guitarists and string players with information, inspiration, and instruction.  Our award-winning publications include:

Acoustic Guitar, the monthly magazine that serves the practical needs of all acoustic guitar players, young and old, beginning and experienced, with lessons, workshops, sheet music, and how-to articles … product reviews and overviews of the complete range of acoustic guitars and acoustic guitar–related gear … player profiles, interviews, and reviews.

The Acoustic Guitar Method, the only beginning guitar method based on traditional American music that teaches authentic techniques and songs. From the folk, blues, and old-time music of yesterday have come the rock, country, and jazz of today, and this Method helps guitar students to understand, play, and enjoy these essential traditions and styles on the instrument that truly represents American music.

Backstage Books, the authoritative series of reference works that serves guitarists of every musical interest and level of ability with information on guitar selection and care, performing, recording, and personal development as a musician.

Private Lesson Books, the series of instructional manuals from the experts at Acoustic Guitar, teaching the basics and essentials of every major style and technique.

AcousticGuitar.com, the online home of Acoustic Guitar, with authoritative searchable directories and guides, an outstanding collection of informative articles, helpful video and audio guitar lessons and gear reviews, and a supportive, active online community of guitarists from around the globe.

ABOUT US

Teaching Approach
Our goal is to help our students become lifelong musicians by reinforcing their innate love of music, acquainting them with vital musical traditions, and teaching them the basic technical skills of their chosen instrument along with music reading.  We train our students to be excellent listeners, too, so they can confidently play with others and also teach themselves to play what they hear.

Making music is a social activity as well as a means of personal expression. Starting at the beginner level, and continuing throughout our curriculum, we emphasize the value and importance of playing with, and performing for, others.

We strongly recommend private instruction for beginners ages 8 to 11 who are still acquiring personal habits of discipline and patience; older beginners are likely to succeed in either private lessons or groups.  Students choose from four lesson plans:

Private: 1 student
Semi-private: 2 students
Group: 3 or 4 students
Class: 5 or 6 students

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Facilities
String Letter Music School is located at 55 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo, California, at the corner of Belle Avenue in downtown San Anselmo just one block from the post office. We’re a short walk from both Wade Thomas School and St. Anselm’s School, less than a mile from Ross School and Sir Francis Drake High School. Golden Gate Transit buses stop just seconds from our doors.

Much more than just a place to take lessons, String Letter Music School offers residents of the Ross Valley and central Marin a state-of-the-art community arts center.  Our facilities include:

Three teaching studios, fully equipped with music workstations for writing, arranging, and recording lesson materials and practice tracks.

One classroom for large group instruction, workshops, and master classes.

One private studio, equipped with piano and drum kit, for band and ensemble coaching and rehearsal.

Library and student lounge, with hundreds of guitar instruction books and DVDs and a collection of guitar sheet music.

Audio/video recording studio equipped with professional-level recording and video production and editing tools.

Enclosed outdoor courtyard and balcony for easy student drop-off and pick-up, waiting area, and school social events.

You are welcome to visit and tour our building by appointment.

Session Schedule and Fees

Calendar
Our academic year consists of four sessions of 8 weekly lessons in the Fall, Winter, and Spring, plus two 6-week Summer sessions, coordinated with the local public school calendar.  For 2009/2010, here are session dates:

Fees
The fees shown below include 8 weekly lessons plus 8 weekly elective hours.  For their elective hours, students may either join a coached group or take a class in musicianship.

Students who wish to enroll in both a coached group and a musicianship class may do so for an additional fee of $100 per session.

Fees for each session are due and payable before the start of the session.  Students may not attend lessons or classes if fees have not been paid.

Absences
During any 8-week session, private lesson students may reschedule up to 2 lessons, provided they have given at least 24 hours’ notice of an anticipated absence.

Withdrawals and Refunds
Up to 7 days prior to the start of an 8-week session, students may cancel their registration and receive a full refund of any fees paid.  Once the session has begun, cancellations and withdrawals are not permitted.

Go to Application Form.

Request further information.