Published April 06, 2008 12:01 am - A simple flick followed by a pluck, then a quick strum, and a small corner of Snyder County was filled with music.
Group gives guitar lessons ... and instruments
Free lessons come with free instruments
By Jaime North
The Daily Item
BEAVERTOWN -- A simple flick followed by a pluck, then a quick strum, and a small corner of Snyder County was filled with music.
It may not have been classic Eric Clapton or folk icon Sheryl Crow, but it was music to the ears of 15 first-timers who spent a few hours Saturday learning how to play acoustic guitar.
The Generoo Organization, a nonprofit group in Beaver Springs, organized a free community guitar workshop at Beavertown Lutheran Church to help influence locals to follow their artistic interests and take to the guitar.
"Guitar is very popular these days," said Hannah Bingman, who organized the event and was among three guitarists giving lessons. "If people aren't already playing guitar, they're playing Guitar Hero (video game). There aren't many opportunities for people in our area to take lessons. Everywhere we go, we have to drive 30 minutes."
Bingman said the goal of the workshop was to encourage people to continue playing the guitar. The students, who ranged in age from 10 up to 50 years, learned many fundamentals, including how to read music and play three basic chords on the guitar.
Students who didn't have a guitar before the workshop were given a new one as a surprise gift, Bingman said.
"We wanted to pack as much as we could in three hours," Bingman said. "When they leave, they should be able to play a little at home and hopefully keep taking lessons."
Michaela Wagner, 10, of Beaver Springs, said she couldn't wait until she got home to play guitar with her dad.
"I love music, and I've always wanted to try guitar" Michaela said. "My dad has one that I've played around on, but I never really learned how to play it. Now I can surprise him."
Kacie Bogar, 12, of Beavertown, was also looking forward to joining her family guitar players. She was most excited to learn how to play a new instrument, especially one with such flexibility.
"I've started to get bored playing other instruments," Kacie said. "When you play the drums, you can't change it too much. A drum is a drum.
"If you know how to play guitar, you can play acoustic, electric or even bass. There are a lot of options."
Although the main lesson in the workshop evolved around the acoustic guitar, Bob Dock, 43, of Beavertown, couldn't wait to try his hand on the electric guitar even if it meant he had to take another lesson.
"I've always wanted to learn how to play but never had the chance to get started," Dock said. "Guitars are rock music, and that's what I like best. It will be interesting when I try out an AC/DC song. We'll see."
The event and gift guitars were sponsored by a grant provided by the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts.
Generoo has applied for funding assistance from the Degenstein Foundation and M&T Bank in hope to offer the workshop next spring, according to Bev Lash, Generoo's board president.
"We're always trying to find out what the community is lacking in terms of the arts," Lash said. "We hope to do more events like these, including possibly putting together a community theater group and drum circle class."
In addition to the Council of the Arts grant, Bingman said a few local businesses lent their hand to the workshop.
Robert M. Sides Family Music Centers in Williamsport donated music folders, while USA Embroidery Silk Screen LLC in Penns Creek donated guitar jammies to help protect the gift guitars in their cases.
In-Tune Music Shoppe in Millmont donated picks and guitar strings, and Airy Dale Farm Market in Beaver Springs donated snacks for breaks in between lessons.
For more information on Generoo and its other community events, call Lash at 658-7710.
