For many students at Bergen County Academies, music is a way to express yourself creatively and relieve the stress of everyday life. Learning a new instrument, although it requires practice and dedication, is extremely rewarding and can evolve into a lifelong passion. For students who don’t have a strong background in music, taking Guitar Class at BCA is the perfect way to both learn a new skill and begin to develop a better understanding of music.
Guitar Class 1, 2, and 3 is a series of courses that teach students the basics of guitar. It is run by Mr. Lemma and meets Mondays and Thursdays, period 5. Consecutive courses build upon familiarity of skills learned in previous ones. In Guitar 1, students will learn the basics of music including notation, tablature, ensemble skills, as well as basic chords and notes. These skills are then built upon in Guitar 2, where the focus is on power chords, improvisation, and improving player style. Finally, students are introduced to barre chords, fingerstyle playing, and basic music theory. At this point, students will have a strong understanding of guitar and will have the basics to be able to further develop their talents independently.
This course is a great opportunity for everyone, regardless of their grade level or previous musical experience; the only thing students will have to bring to class is their instrument and their enthusiasm to learn. For beginners, the low pressure environment offered provides an optimal learning zone to master new skills.
Kirsten Marcelin is a sophomore in ABF who is taking Guitar Class for the first time. When asked why she decided to sign up, she said: “I wanted to learn an instrument and since they were offering guitar, I thought it would be an interesting instrument to learn.” Despite having no previous experience in guitar, Kirsten is determined to put in the work so that she can learn to play songs on her own and plans to continue guitar for years to come.
Aside from being beginner-friendly, this course serves as an introduction to many basic music skills. The guitar is a great foundational instrument to learn off of and this class can be an introduction to more advanced music topics. When asked about the goal of this course, Mr. Lemma said: “It’s the ability to play music for yourself on your own terms, as an independent-thinking, avocational musician.” Many of the students who graduate this course often go on to audition for BCA’s Guitar & Mandolin Orchestra or perform at school assemblies.
Bergen County Academies has many accomplished music programs as well as incredibly talented musicians, but don’t let that discourage you from trying out a new instrument for the first time. Guitar Class has an easy, low-stress environment that allows students to start a passion that will stay with them for the rest of their life.
