60+ Events Made This Our Biggest Year Yet!
I’ve had so many moments of joy and satisfaction this past year as a guitar-slinging, song-teaching rock-and-roll entrepreneur—but one of the very best came just a couple of weeks ago at one of our Songwriter Showcases.
Mass Appeal in Union Square Park: Over 100 guitarists jamming together on the summer solstice.
Thirteen rock band showcases: Kids, teens, adults, summer rock camp bands—so many communities taking the stage.
Singer-songwriter nights, kids’ showcases, and location events: From Manhattan to Brooklyn to Queens, our many “micro-communities” showed up to share their music. (Special shout-out to our cutest community: Suzuki Guitar!
Open mics and open mic showcases: Friendly, warm, safe places for first-timers and for growing musicians to hone their craft.
Samoa’s open mic group usually meets on Zoom–but they held an in-person showcase this fall at our new Midtown space.
Not to mention a NYC Guitar School Night Out to see teacher bands, jamming along the NYC Marathon route, student performances at community fairs, and more 🙂
Our New Space = More And Better Events
In July, we expanded into the full floor of our longtime Midtown location, with a long-term 10-year lease and room to dream bigger. Besides more and larger classrooms, our new space gives us a home for Urban Canyon Guitars, our in-house luthier, space for Master Classes with inspiring guests, and a dedicated home for community gatherings.
Grammy award winner Mark Whitfield was our first Master Class guest.
My newest favorite event is…
The One Day Song Lab. I love this program!
Twenty strangers walk into a guitar school.
Three hours later, they walk out having learned, rehearsed, and performed a song together.
We run three groups—beginner guitarists, experienced guitarists, and vocalists—and after the first hour, we start mixing everyone up. I love the incredible energy: fun, welcoming, creative—it’s a low risk way to actually play with other people!
Song Labs became possible because of our new space—and because of the enthusiastic players who show up ready to try something new.
Here’s our “Back On The Chain Gang” Song Lab.
We’re just getting started.
Looking ahead, my dream is for even more of you to use our space for your guitar-school-related creative moments. I’m thinking…
EP release parties.
Listening parties.
Acoustic performances.
And here’s a great example: in a couple of weeks, our fantastic vocal teacher Emily is hosting a live gathering for her long-running Wizard of Oz podcast, Down The Yellow Brick Pod.
(If you’re a current student with an idea for an event, let me know!)
Thank You!
I’m blown away that I’ve gotten to make my life in music. I feel so lucky to be part of a team of such skilled and devoted teachers and staff who make these events happen. I’m grateful for our community partners—clubs like Connolly’s 45 and Freddy’s, studios like Funkadelic and Pitch Pine, our internship partnership with BMCC’s guitar program, master class guests and more.
And I’m deeply grateful to you, our students and families, who show up again and again to grow, to learn, to take risks, and to turn yourselves into the musicians you want to be.
It’s a privilege to be part of your musical life.
There’s A Place For You Here
If you’re already a student, thank you! And I am rooting for your next musical breakthrough.
And if you’re not yet part of our community… we’d love to welcome you in.
If you play even a little bit, why not come to the next Song Lab?
Or join a band.
Send your teen to our screen-free summer camp.
Or simply show up to the next showcase and cheer someone on.
Wherever you are in your musical journey, there’s a place for you here.
Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and—as always…
On to greatness!
Dan
That’s me. I always feel a bit more comfortable behind a guitar, even if it is a little one 🙂
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