Spring Performances

Our “Spring Student Showcase” is coming up at The Pullman on 3/23. Our Student Showcases are informal performance opportunities for solo and duo performers (sorry no drums). This showcase is limited to 20 students and is a great way to hone your chops in front of a live audience. They have a great PA system, food, and drinks. The event is from 2-4 pm and you can sign up now in our student portal. Tell your friends and RSVP here.

Our first “Spring Concert” is on 4/15 (Tax Day) at Red Light Cafe. This performance will showcase all of our groups at Guitar Shed; Teen Band, Rock Ensemble and the first performance of our newest group, Americana Ensemble. Tell your friends and RSVP here.

Looking ahead, our Summer Recitals are on 6/1(Kids) and 6/2 (Teens and Adults). Signup begins in the student portal on 4/1.

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Meet the Teachers – Zack

Zack Albetta has been playing and teaching professionally for 15 years. He grew up in Santa Fe, NM, where he began playing drums at age 8. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in percussion performance, a Master of Music in percussion performance, and a Master of Arts in jazz and studio performance. From 2003 to 2010, Zack lived in Kansas City, MO and was a first call drummer in that city’s rich and historic jazz scene.

In 2010, he moved to Los Angeles, where he expanded his jazz resume, played dozens of musicals for the region’s top theatre companies, and became a staff musician at Disneyland. In 2016, he and his wife relocated to Atlanta, where he has hit the ground running with top acts such as Atlanta Funk Society, The Equinox Orchestra, and Delta Moon. As an educator, Zack has taught everything from beginning private lessons to college classes with students ranging from ages 8 to 80.

Zack’s website: Zack Albetta

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Meet the Teachers – Nichelle

Nichelle has over 18 years’ experience teaching music and theatre in various public and private schools instructing Pre-K, elementary, middle, and high school students. In addition to group teaching, she has over 16 years’ experience instructing students of all ages in private voice and piano lessons. Nichelle has enjoyed being on a brief tour with Grammy award winning Speech from Arrested Development as well as conducting a 24-piece choir for one of Josh Groban’s tour concerts. She has also had the pleasure of being an integral part in the audio recording, instructing and conducting of a 60 -100-piece choir and band for many years under the direction of Frank Davis. Currently she helps lead worship, singing from the keyboard alongside her husband (bass player) with various musicians and singers on Sundays.

Nichelle is ecstatic to be using her Bachelor of Music degree as she steps into the role of teaching both piano and voice here at Guitar Shed. She equally enjoys her administrative role as Office Manager assisting Parker as a liaison between parents/students and teachers.

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“The Dragon King” – Debut Musical Performance – 1/31 and 2/1

We are very excited to announce that the musical, The Dragon King, (created by one of Guitar Shed’s own teachers, Vivian Slade) will be performed by the Academy Street Theatre Group at River Ridge High School, 400 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, GA.  Performance times:  7pm, Thursday, January 31st and Friday, February 1st.  Tickets are $5.  The musical, The Dragon King, is based on the children’s book, The Dragon King (www.TheDragonKing.com)–an entertaining fairy tale with an empowering message written for a boy who had been badly burned. This is Vivian’s first musical.

What people are saying about the book, The Dragon King:

“I loved it!  I want to give you a hundred hugs for it!  I am definitely adding it to my list of favorite books.” –Kiley, Age 10.

“Courage, responsibility, and dependability are character traits that every parent wishes for their child.  As a mother and a licensed therapist, I highly recommend The Dragon King as a must read.” –Sandy O’Donnell, LPC, MHSP, Nashville, TN.

The Dragon King is a children’s book (also in Spanish), audio book, values education curriculum/workbook and musical.  Find out more/purchase at www.TheDragonKing.com.

Based on the book by Vivian Slade

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Kids Winter Recital Video

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Camp Woodshed 2019 Dates Announced!

Click the poster for details!

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Kids Winter Recital Photos

Thank you all for participating in our Kids Winter Recital at City Winery! Click here to view the photo gallery where you can download and purchase photos. Big thanks to Addison Hill for capturing some excellent moments. We’re very proud of all our kiddos and all of the hard work they put in!   

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Kids Winter Recital Details

Our Kids Winter Recital is Sunday, December 9th at City Winery! We are excited to hear everyone perform and looking forward to a full afternoon of music.

We have close to 80 performers and are planning on everyone listed to be in attendance.

  • 11:00 – Doors Open
  • 12:00 – Drums
  • 12:30 – Piano
  • 1:30 – Violin and Voice
  • 1:45 – Ukulele
  • 2:15 – Guitar and Bass

Please arrive at least 45 min. before your set time, we will start at 12:00 sharp. You are welcome to come and go as you please, but we ask that you wait until the end of a set to leave.

There is plenty of parking available in the deck below City Winery. In addition, there is parking available surrounding the venue. They have great food and drinks and Ponce City Market is next door, so get there early and make a day out of it!

Admission is $10 and we encourage you all to purchase tickets in advance online. Admission is free for children 12 and under. Buy your tickets here!

Feel free to reach out with any questions. Most importantly, have fun on stage! This is your time to shine.

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New Group! Americana Band w/ Max!

See below for a note from Max….

Dear fellow banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar pickers,

I just wanted to reach out to some of my current and former students to see if anyone would be interested in forming an “Americana” band at Guitar Shed.  The Guitar Shed bands are a great way for students who have got the basics down to begin deepening their skills by rehearsing regularly with a consistent group and playing out in the community.  The teen and the adult rock bands have been going really well at the guitar shed, and band members have had a lot of fun performing at local bars, restaurants and festivals.  The Americana band would be a way to offer a similar experience to folks interested in bluegrass, old-time, folk, country, and everything in-between. “Americana” is a wide genre, and I’m happy to build the repertoire around the interests of the band members.

We don’t have a day/time set for the rehearsals, but they would likely be from 8:15 PM to around 9:45 PM on a weeknight, or perhaps earlier on a Friday.  Sunday afternoons/evenings are a possibility as well.  The cost for adult bands is $30 per rehearsal. If you’re interested in staying in the loop, please email Guitar Shed at [email protected] to get on the waiting list.  When enough people have expressed interest, you’ll hear back about more details.  Thanks and I hope y’all have a great Thanksgiving!

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Scholarships Available

FREE MUSIC LESSONS!!!

Please fill out an online LGMP Scholarship Application at: https://tinyurl.com/LantaGrasMusicProgram

The Lanta Gras Music Program (LGMP):LGMP provides private music lesson scholarships for one year. Lessons begin with one 30-minute lesson per week (summer and holiday weeks not included). The lessons are held at Guitar Shed, 1610 Hosea L Williams Dr NE, 30317. Students and their parent / guardians are responsible for transportation to/from these free lessons. Once awarded a scholarship, students will contact Guitar Shed to coordinate their weekly lesson schedule and to choose from one of the following instruments: Drums, Guitar, Violin, Bass, Piano, Ukulele, Banjo, Mandolin and Voice.

Eligibility and Priority: Student eligibility is extended to children who attend public school in the Jackson Cluster and/or reside in the NPU-O neighborhoods of Kirkwood, East Lake and Edgewood — as well as parents/guardians who are employed within this NPU-O zone in the following professions: schools (pre-K through 12), first responders (Police, Fire and Rescue) and military service. Our candidate age group is 4th-12th grade students, but younger candidates may be considered. Applying for this scholarship is a commitment to attend weekly lessons and an agreement to march with us in our annual “Lanta Gras” parade, which is held in Kirkwood on the last Saturday in January. Happy Lanta Gras!

Lanta Gras is a Mardi Gras Parade with purpose. Our mission is to build community and provide opportunities for children through the common bond of music. Please email questions to [email protected]

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