Belchertown Recreation Department
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String Life 1 - Beginner Guitar and Ukulele -
String instruments are as popular now as they’ve ever been!  Every day, new children embark on a lifelong journey with a string instrument. In “String Life 1”, our aim is to launch new musicians into the world of Ukulele and/or guitar.  This class is preparatory for students who wish to learn and continue on to String Life 2.  Students will meet once a week throughout an 8 week course designed to build strength, coordination and practice reinforcement.  Students will learn basic chords, tuning, strumming and also reading musical rhythms and chord charts! Our aim is to build good habits on a lifelong instrument for early musicians. It is strongly suggested to attend class with your own working ukulele/guitar and SNARK tuner…

This class is 3:30-4:30pm SRE Music Room
*Participants need to bring a note to school allowing them to stay after school.
*The school will dismiss participants and allow them to go to the cafeteria to wait for class to begin.
*If Swift River School has early dismissal due to inclement weather, class will be canceled for that evening and the instructor will reschedule.
*School nurse/school staff are not present for this after school program. 
Recommended for class -
Makala Shark Ukulele (or something similar)
https://www.amazon.com/Kala-BLK-Makala-Soprano-Ukulele/dp/B00FYXCQJG?th=1
SNARK Tuner
https://www.amazon.com/Snark-ST-2-Multi-Instrument-Chromatic-Tuner/dp/B01H62TQ68/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3NEULO1B3QSW5&keywords=snark+tuner&qid=1671036558&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=snark+tuner%2Cmi%2C72&sr=1-3
If purchasing a guitar for class and need suggestions, please email class instructor at ggould28@gmail.com




String Life 2 - Intermediate Guitar and Ukulele
Have you taken a couple sessions of String Life 1? Or have you been strumming at home and made progress with your string instrument?  String Life 2 is designed for musicians who are ready to take a next step in their journey with Guitar and/or Ukulele.  Students will be engaged with more diverse scales, chords and strumming patterns.  Students will collaborate on songs together learning their role within the music.  String Life 2 students will be engaged on a wider breadth of musical concepts, songs and techniques.  Our aim across the 8 week session is to build a group of motivated string players who are hungry for functional playing on their favorite string instrument and are ready to move beyond the beginner phase!  Great class for younger and older musicians!

This class is 4:30-5:30pm, SRE Music Room
*You must attend class with your own guitar/ukulele!
*If Swift River School has early dismissal due to inclement weather, class will be canceled for that evening and the instructor will reschedule.
*School nurse/school staff are not present for this after school program. 
*Classes Starting at 4:30 must be dropped off and will not be allowed to stay at school and wait for their class. 
*It is highly recommended to pick up a “snark” tuner.  We will use these in class to keep ourselves in tune. 
https://www.amazon.com/Snark-ST-2-Multi-Instrument-Chromatic-Tuner/dp/B01H62TQ68/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3NEULO1B3QSW5&keywords=snark+tuner&qid=1671036558&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=snark+tuner%2Cmi%2C72&sr=1-3

Registration Deadline
  • 10 days prior to the start of class
  • A $10.00 late fee applies to all registrations after the deadline
  • If Swift River School has early dismissal due to inclement weather, class will be cancelled for that evening. The instructor will reschedule class due to inclement weather.

Instructor
  • Geoffrey Gould is a 20 year veteran elementary school music teacher, piano player, guitarist, vocalist and product of Belchertown Public Schools Music Program. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine School of Music and he holds a master degree in education from Cambridge College in Boston. Gould is a 2014 Grinspoon award recipient for excellence in teaching and was named a national finalist for the 2020 Music Educator of the Year award presented by the Recording Academy and Grammy Music Awards.

Register Activity Ages Grades Days Date/Time Fees
 
   Log In
String Life 1 - Beginner 
N/A K and up Th  03/20/2025 - 05/15/2025
03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Swift River School 		$215.00 Res, $225.00 Non-Res
 
   Log In
String Life 2 -Intermediate 
N/A K and up Th  03/20/2025 - 05/15/2025
04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Swift River School 		$215.00 Res, $225.00 Non-Res
* Adjustments and discounts will be applied during checkout if applicable. *

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