The Lead Guitar Program
What
is
Lead
Guitar?
The Lead Guitar Method teaches classical guitar through a co-teaching model. Students learn technique, theory, ensemble-playing, and performance skills. These are the same aspects of other music programs that have been proven to improve test scores, attendance, and graduation rates.
Our goal is to appeal to students not usually drawn to band and orchestra programs using an instrument to which young people relate well while mirroring the curricular integrity of those more traditional programs. If there is a population at your school that is not receiving music education, then Lead Guitar can help.
How does
Lead
Guitar
work?
A Lead Guitar instructor partners with a certified teacher from your school to co-teach a year-round guitar class. Your classroom teacher learns and plays along with the students while the LG instructor models our curriculum. When the class meets without our instructor present, the Teacher-of-Record (TOR) guides practice and reviews concepts introduced in previous meetings.
For high schools and middle schools that meet five days per week, the TOR often pushes forward in the curriculum. Whenever possible, our LG instructor stays for an additional hour each week to offer private or small group lessons for students or the Teacher-of-Record.
What
else does
Lead Guitar
provide?
-
Up to 70 hours of on-site teaching including classroom instruction and private/small group lessons
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Annual Teacher's Workshop for Professional Development credits as well as private lessons for teachers, where needed
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Digital access to instructional videos, method books, sheet music, and evaluation and assessment resources
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Access to in-school touring artist assemblies
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Access to on-campus matinees, performances, master classes, and the end-of-year Lead Guitar Showcase Concert
On Sustainability:
Our mission is to create a permanent classical guitar program at your school. We train teachers to teach classical guitar so that the program can continue long after a school requests our services. We do not replace or undermine music teachers, but rather partner with music teachers to give them a new subject to teach. This aims to increase overall enrollment in music and in many cases stabilizes our partner music teacher's job by helping them add hours to their schedule and new skills to their resume.
Our contract with a school is more accurately described as a partnership--we could not do what we do without the incredible classroom teachers who partner with us! Classroom teachers are also invaluable in passing on wisdom and classroom management techniques to our teaching artists, often early-career concert artists and college professors.
How
much does
Lead Guitar
cost?
Lead Guitar is a 501c3 nonprofit and we are almost entirely funded by private and corporate donors, foundations, and grants. We ask schools to contribute a small fee based on how many students are eligible for the federal Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (FRPL) program:
More than 80% of students eligible = FREE program
Between 50-79% of students eligible = $1,500 fee
Less than 50% of students eligible = $3,000 fee
How
do
I
start?
-
Contact us to set up a meeting so we can learn about the specific needs of your school.
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We determine costs and pinpoint funding.
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We invite you to fill out an application, including basic information about the proposed partner teacher and class.
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Schools purchase guitars, make footstools, and add the class to the school schedule with guidance from Lead Guitar.
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The partner teacher attends our Teacher's Workshop or receives supplementary private lessons.
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Schools sign final contracts and classes begin.