Lessons

PLAY BETTER, learn quicker, solve problems, avoid the bad habits of learning on your own, and reach your musical goals. Learn to play guitar (acoustic, classical & electric), bass, banjo, mandolin, mountain dulcimer & ukulele. Somers Guitar is Southwest Iowa's leading, professional guitar school. We offer year-round in-studio lessons at our Atlantic & Carroll, IA locations & via Skype Online Webcam Guitar Lessons on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis.

Start Today!

• Call - (712) 250-4398 today to see what lesson times are open.    
• Register - we can email or mail you a registration form. To reserve your lesson day and time just return your completed registration form with the first month tuition (see "Rates" below) + $10 registration fee for that term. There are three terms: Fall (Sep - Dec), Winter (Jan - May), Summer (June - Aug). Current students pre-register to retain a lesson time or acquire a different one. After pre-registration the remaining lesson times are made available to new and returning students.
• Order - what you need from the lists at the top of the Supplies or Instruments page.

Schedule

Visit our Locations page for directions to our studios in Atlantic & Carroll, IA and via Skype Online Webcam Guitar Lessons.

Openings

Most children and teen beginning guitar students meet weekly four times a month In-studio on the same day and time with their teacher. This includes our optional low pressure, annual student rehearsal and concert. Guitar lessons that meet bi-weekly, monthly or via webcam are another option that often work best for intermediate, advanced & long commute students. Openings  are handled on a first-come, first serve basis and start at any time.

Attendance

There are typically 4 lessons per month. Two holiday months will only have 3 lessons (December and one other month) but the same flat tuition rate applies every month. Occasionally, the month before or after may have 5 lessons to balance the difference. 

• Reschedule - up to a week after the originally scheduled lesson IF there's an opening in-studio or via webcam. Otherwise,
• No Make-Ups, Credits Or Refunds - when a student is absent or when we close due to bad weather or a holiday week.
• Weather Cancellations - we can do a webcam lesson during your regularly scheduled time when bad weather does not permit travel to the Atlantic or Carroll, IA studio. Call Somers Guitar at (712) 250-4398 and listen to the message to hear if there are weather cancellations. Cancellations are announced as soon as determined via radio. 
• Technical Cancellations - if computer issues prevent a lesson (in part or whole) we reschedule the balance of time due.
• Teacher Cancellation - we reschedule ahead of time when the teacher is absent due to sickness or schedule conflicts.
• 30-Day Hold On A Lesson Timeslot - if you pay ahead for the month you return. It's great if you need time off for vacation, camps, work schedules, etc. We can open up the timeslot to another student after 30 days if you decide not to return.
• Health Concerns - please inform your instructor in writing about health concerns affecting your child and others. Students should stay home if they missed or will miss school due to (1) illness, (2) lice, or other communicable disease concerns. Guy requests that students with warts on their hands have them treated by a doctor until they are removed. Lessons are temporarily stopped until the wart is treated. Credit is given. Lessons continue after the wart is treated.

Payment

Payments are pre-paid by the 1st of the month. They are a flat-rate (the same amount every month). Payments reserve a specific lesson day and time for the calendar month. Pay by the month or for the entire term - Fall (Sep - Dec), Winter (Jan - May), Summer (June - Aug).

• We Accept - cash or check made payable to Somers Guitar.
• Late Fee - $10.00 is charged when tuition is late. Tuition is considered late (for any reason) when it is not received by the end of the 1st day of the month. Lessons continue upon full payment. If you accidently forget your checkbook or cash, we can direct you to the closest ATM machine to avoid paying the late fee.
• Returned Checks - the bank's charge is applied when checks are returned for non-sufficient funds. Lessons resume after payment is received.
• Recurring Tuition Auto-Pay - in the future we are adding a recurring tuition auto-pay system. At that time we will accept electronic check, debit card or credit card (Visa, Master Card, Discover, American Express) thru Google Checkout.

Rates

Goals  

The goals of a music teacher vary between studios. Below are some of the goals your guitar instructor has at Somers Guitar:

• Beginners - basic notes, chords, songs, strumming, reading music, tab, charts, tuning, technique & good practice habits
• Intermediates - hand position, fretboard knowledge, chord & scale theory, phrasing, ear training & learn alternate tunings 
• Advanced - relaxation, tone production, musicality, interpretation, improvisation, arranging, composition & performance
• Popular styles - signature features, licks & techniques of rock, metal, blues, pop, funk, R&B, country, folk & classical

• Worship - traditional, contemporary & modern styles, playing in different keys with a capo & the open chord system

• Copyrighted music - students purchase and work from only legal, copyrighted, print and audio music

Practice

Progress depends on consistent practice habits. We recommend practicing (1) five days a week, (2) at the same time if possible.

• Practice At Least - Grades K - 2 (15 minutes daily), Grades 3 - 5 (20 minutes a day), Grades 6 - adult (30 minutes a day).
• Practice Times - before or after school, homework, supper, or bath/shower time.
• Practice Area - keep an area setup with good lighting, music stand, books, footstool or strap, tuner, picks & pencils.
• Practice Reminders - children often need reminders and adult help with practice. Use a timer to know how long to practice. 

Annual Student Program

There is an optional low pressure student program held annually during the 4th week of April. It is a casual "Open Mic Night" NOT a formal recital. Students who have completed one year of lessons are eligible to perform with a song of their choosing. They can perform solo, as a duet or trio (with students or instructor), or as a band. Amps, drums and sound system are provided. There is not a rehearsal the week before the show. Dress is casual. No shirts with pictures or large words please. We want the student and guitar to stand out in the pictures. The night of the show BANDS ARRIVE AT 5 PM to briefly sound-check on stage. ALL OTHERS ARRIVE AT 6:30 PM to tune up and practice in practice rooms.

• ATLANTIC - Thursday, April 26th, location to be announced. Starts at 7 PM. Admission is free.
• CARROLL - Tuesday, April 24th, 2012, location to be announced. Starts at 7 PM. Admission is free.

Annual Calendar 2012

• 2012 No Lesson Days - Jan. 1 - 3 (New Year), Feb. 15 (Valentine's Day), March 15 - 17 (Atlantic Spring Break), April 9 (Carroll Spring Break), May 28 - 31 (Memorial Day), June 29 - July 6 (Independence Day), Aug. 29 - Sep. 3 (Labor Day), Oct. 30 -31 (Halloween), Nov. 22 - 24 (Thanksgiving), Dec. 22 - Jan 3, 2013 (Christmas & New Year).

Atlantic & Carroll, IA  ·  Skype Online Webcam Guitar Lessons  ·  (712) 250-4398  ·  © 2012 Somers Guitar