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By Peter Biggs
It all began just three years ago. ‘Guitar Church’ started in a church in Red Deer, Alberta, as a guitar club for teens …
Founder Tom Cameron told Options he was surprised when over 100 signed up for
the first session. They came from within a radius of 100 kilometres of Red Deer
and represented all ages and all guitar styles from country to hard rock. “It quickly grew to 130, and so I chose a time the church building would be free – Saturdays from 10 to noon.”
Students pay $150 for 10 weeks of lessons. Each week, the first hour features a ‘guest clinician.’ These clinicians “are always Christian, and are professional guitarists,” said Cameron. All weave their story of faith into the workshop. Clinicians have
included Rick Derringer, writer of Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo; Glenn Kaiser of GKB Band and REZ; Paul Colman of the Newsboys; and Doug
Doppler, who laid down many of the tracks used in the popular game Guitar Hero
(see sidebar).
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During the second hour of each week, students are broken into four groups – beginner, intermediate, advanced and bass. With upwards of 50 students in each
one, the groups have instructors as well as ‘coaches’ who help individuals. “Some in the advanced group have forfeited their sessions to stay and help
beginners,” said Cameron.
The success of Guitar Church and the enthusiasm of participants across such a
wide range of ages and cultures is unparalleled. Economically it works, with
fees helping to bring in gifted clinicians. Local music stores, impressed with
the numbers and success, are happy to donate door prizes and loan equipment. “I’ve franchized it, and it’s now being run in six churches throughout Alberta,” Cameron said.
While the majority of participants have some kind of Christian connection,
around 15 percent come from a non-church background.
Options - Winter 2010
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