Guitar in Schools
Bringing quality music education to new and diverse students. By the thousands.
Austin Classical Guitar has led the creation of literacy-based, for-credit guitar courses in American schools since 2001. ACG has partner teachers in forty-five Texas school districts and most US States. In addition to developing guitar programs in typical classrooms across the nation, ACG has also created Texas’ first and only for-credit performing arts course for incarcerated students, and the world’s first braille-based sequential guitar learning system. Services we provide to these areas include in-person and virtual classroom consultation and direct instruction, free individual lessons, performance engagement with guest artists, instrument acquisition, scholarships, and individual advancement opportunities (performances, career assistance, and internships).
“I have taught every kind of music one can imagine: band, choir, orchestra, musical theater, music appreciation, music history, music theory. I have never seen kids so absolutely on fire for music as my guitar students. ACG is a huge part of this. The support I have gotten over the past 7 years has been invaluable to both me and my students.”
–Susan Rosanc, Music Educator, Travis High School
“The number one benefit of the classical guitar education program has been the opportunity to address cultural diversity through a rigorous art form. We have seen increased student, family and community engagement with the particular program. Austin Classical Guitar has done an incredible job of increasing quality and access to a new art form that has allowed a diverse option for our students.”
–Greg Goodman, Director of Fine Arts, Austin ISD
“As a judge, I routinely see young people in my courtroom whose lives have suffered by the effects of abuse and neglect, poverty, mental illness, and addiction. These youth often develop a hard exterior and are not easily reached by individuals in the community who want to engage them in positive programming. Austin Classical Guitar has had a remarkable impact on the students they work with, using a beautiful art form to crack through the hard exterior of some of our community’s toughest young people and inspiring in them a sense of beauty, passion, and self-respect.”
— Darlene Byrne, Judge, 126th District Court
GuitarCurriculum
In 2008 ACG launched GuitarCurriculum.com, a first-of-its-kind teacher resource for classroom guitar that is now used around the world. ACG staff provide extensive teacher training, district consultation, and developed Texas’ large-ensemble concert and sight reading contest following established standards.
Our core philosophy at GuitarCurriculum.com is simple: Expressive, beautiful music-making from the very first day. All of the materials and resources at GuitarCurriculum are designed to support that simple and critical goal. GuitarCurriculum will engage your students and make it easy for you to focus on making beautiful moments in every class and every concert.
LEARN MORE
GuitarCurriculum.com: classroom teacher resource
Let’s Play: Braille lifelong learning system
Live in Austin: Young Artists playlist
GET INVOLVED
We welcome inquiries from teachers, parents, school administrators, current or potential sponsors or partners, and media personnel. Contact us today.