Seattle Circle Guitar School

On October 8 we were privileged to work with Alana Belle’s 8th graders at SAAS, exploring the question, “What Is Music?”

(photo: Alana Belle)

On May 22, our Salmon Bay 4th and 5th grade instrumental music students performed with Robert Fripp and the Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists at an invitation-only private event. Friends and family were treated to “Norwegian Wood” and “What Does The Fox Say?” from the kids, some collaborative improvisation with The Orchestra and the kids together, and a number of selections from members of The Orchestra, including an original from the trio, Zum, a Frank Zappa composition, and a song by Charles Ives. For the encore of Norwegian Wood, the kids were surprised when The Orchestra joined them. The concert ended with Bert Lams’ “Asturias”. It was a lovely evening, and the children shined!

Orchestra of Crafty Guitarists Director, and Seattle Circle Guitar School Patron, Robert Fripp spoke briefly to the audience about the importance of Music in children’s education.

What Does The Fox Say?:

Salmon Bay Kids meet The Orchestra in the Green Room:

We are very excited to be once again working with the kids at Salmon Bay Elementary and Middle School!

This year, the Seattle Circle Guitar School program is being integrated into the music and arts program at Salmon Bay. All 3rd graders will have the guitar circle for one quarter, as part of the arts enrichment program. For 4th and 5th graders, guitar circle will be one of the options for instrumental music, along with band, orchestra, and marimba. For 7th and 8th graders, a Guitar Circle is one of the Clubs offered for the last period on Fridays. And beginning in January, we will be working with 2nd graders on the rudiments of music, rhythm, working in a group, and an introduction to the guitar, in preparation for their participation in full guitar circles in 3rd grade.

This is a great leap forward! Thanks so much to the faculty and kids at Salmon Bay for the opportunity to be part of this remarkable community.

The Seattle Circle Guitar School seeks to build community through music, and explore music through community.

The Seattle Circle Guitar School has just wrapped up another school year. Three classes at Salmon Bay Elementary School; working with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders. The 4th grade group performed 3 original compositions at the annual talent show.

No activities planned for the summer, but there are expanded and extended plans for Salmon Bay in the autumn. And there is big news brewing for Spring 2014!

Young guitarists present original compositions to their classmates.

Kids Guitar Circle!

Wednesdays, September 19 – December 12, 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Seattle Creative Arts Center, Ballard

Want to give your kids a special opportunity to play, write and learn music with other kids? Enroll now in the SCGS Fall Guitar Circle program! Students will:

• Create their own music
• Learn fundamental guitar techniques
• Build musical skills
• Build group skills

Details and registration here.

We had a great term with Marian’s 3rd graders at Salmon Bay Elementary. The focus for the Spring was “performance”, putting some of the creative and technical skills we’ve been working with to practical use. The kids performed for each other as well as for the rest of their class, for Sally’s kindergarteners, and at the Friday Morning Sing. And acting on an inspiration from one of the kids in the class, we paraded down to the school office and performed for the Principle and the office staff. Last Friday we wrapped things up with an appearance at the annual talent show. The kids were incredible, and we all left with a great feeling of accomplishment.

Now off for the summer, but we are not standing still. Plans are in the works for weekly kids guitar circles at First Place School beginning in September. A number of classes are on the table for Salmon Bay. An after school enrichment class will be on the calendar for Thornton Creek Elementary, and very shortly we will be announcing another after school class that will take place at the Seattle Creative Arts Center in Ballard.

Students at Gatewood and Thornton Creek Elementary Schools are invited to sign up now for Guitar Circles that the SCGS will be conducting at their schools this Spring!

Gatewood Elementary School
Guitar Circle Club
Mondays 7:30-8:25am
Registration due March 23

Seattle Circle Guitar School introduces a unique approach to music instruction: developing cooperation, attention, and skill in a creative and playful musical environment. Your child will play guitar in a circle as an ensemble and experience music making as part of a group. No experience necessary.

Thornton Creek Elementary School
After-school Guitar Circle
Tuesdays 3:40-4:25

Seattle Circle Guitar School instructors introduce a unique approach to music instruction, developing cooperation, attention, and skill in a creative and playful musical environment. We play in a circle as an ensemble. We will experience music making as part of a group. The class is appropriate for returning and new students and is open to kids in grades 3 – 5.

Class concept

• no experience necessary
• kids will compose and perform music
• develop attention and listening skills in a musical context
• learn the fundamentals of guitar and musicianship
• learn to play guitar as a member of an ensemble

Classes details

• Kid sized guitars will be provided.
• Classes held in the Performance Room
• Beginning on April 5 and running through May 24
• $98 for 7 sessions
• space for 9 students

Seattle Circle Guitar School has begun its Winter Term. We are currently conducting three circles; one on Fridays during the school day with third graders at Salmon Bay Elementary, one after-school program for third to fifth graders on Tuesdays at Thornton Creek Elementary, and the third is a before-school class for third to fifth graders on Mondays at Gatewood Elementary in West Seattle.

If you are interested in exploring the potential of a guitar circle at your kids school, contact the SCGS at guitarschool@seattlecircle.org.

Seattle Circle Guitar School has begun its Autumn Semester. Currently there are two circles at Salmon Bay Elementary, and one after-school program set up for Thornton Creek Elementary. One more class is currently under discussion for an elementary school in West Seattle, and another at a cooperative elementary school in Seattle – specific information will be posted as soon as it is available.

If you are interested in exploring the potential of a guitar circle at your kids school, contact the SCGS at guitarschool@seattlecircle.org.

From June 10-15, the Seattle Circle Guitar School presented a daily workshop at Billings Middle School in Seattle. The class was part of a summer program at Billings, which provides activities for children over the break. We were invited to create this program by one of the organizers of the summer session, who was aware of our work from a class Curt had led there during the 2010 school year.

Areas of focus were: circulation, learning a song, composing music together, teaching each other music, working in small and large groups, chord work for those who wished, listening to music, preparing and restoring the space, improvising together, and recording. Along with this, there were opportunities to take constructive breaks, and to reflect on and recapitulate the experience. Every part of the program was intended to provide an opportunity for experience and insight into being a musician and the act of musicking, including the parts we improvised, the snacks, and the breaks.

The success of the camp has also led us to consider an alternative model for going into the public schools. In addition to offering an extended period of one-hour-per-week sessions over a number of weeks, we can offer to go into a classroom for one week, 2 hours a day for example.

And above all, we had some fun!

The "band photo" on the final day of the camp