A brief overview lesson for beginner guitar players that will teach you the absolute basics. Learn more with free extended lessons on each subject.
freeguitarvideos.com

HOW TO PLAY GUITAR FOR BEGINNERS : PLAYING EXERCISE 1 FOR BEGINNERS
csgacademy.com

Absolute Super Beginner Guitar Lesson Your First Guitar Lesson
GuitarJamz.com

Hi Erin!

We wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to Viva Musica!  You've improved our music classroom by giving us the gift of new instruments to use!  They're delightful.  We are so appreciative for your donations.

Pictured here are one of the 3rd grade classes, Mrs. Reissy, Mr. Nyembwe (principal), and myself.


Becca :)

-- 
Rebecca Michaelson
Music Specialist
St. Paul City School

L-R: Meagan (Teacher), Erin (VM Founder), Becca (Music Teacher)

Becca Michaelson, Music Specialist at St. Paul City School

Congratulations to Julie! Our VERY FIRST Lucille Project Apprentice!

CHECK OUT JULIE'S VIDEO ENTRY HERE...

       "... I cherish music so much because it is another language; sure it’s not a flick of the tongue or a verbal language, but its spiritual. You can meet a complete stranger and from music you know them. You understand people on a different level based on the type of style they play, or what instrument they’re involved with. If I’m in a bad mood I grab my guitar and play the minor chords, inventing songs that have slow picking patterns. Or if I’m in a better mood, I strum the happier array of chords or pluck a warm tone. That fact leads on with any feeling, angry, confusion, or anything 
in-between."

       "... I admire everything to do with guitar and I am greatly proud to be a musician. I love how the frets feel when I slide my fingers across them or how the strings sound when plucked. It is truly my favorite thing in the universe; every second I can spend playing, I do."

       "... Another fact why I adore guitar is that you’re never completely finished learning. There’s always a song you don’t know, or a style or music you’re not absorbed in. I’m exhilarated by the thought that there’s never an end to guitar; I constantly learn new things and boredom never strikes because there’s thousands or tabs, hundreds of artists and millions of notes and chords, it’s fantastic. You can master a sport and be the best basketball player ever and know every shot or move possible, because the sport has rules and limitations to what can or cannot be done. Guitar does not have limits, there’s risk taking individuals throughout history who have created new styles or ways to execute guitar like Merle Travis or B.B King."

       "... When I’m alone in my room with my guitar it’s my favorite time of my day. I can escape all the stress in my life, I play guitar before a nerve racking test and in my opinion I excel on my tests because of this. Guitar makes me happy, after I complete a song I’ve been working strenuously for days I am immediately put into an excellent mood. Just hearing guitar heightens my senses and makes my life all the better. Without guitar I picture myself being bored most of the time, majorly tense, and just unhappy."

       "... The music I enjoy most is either folk styled music where guitars are featured with interesting finger picking or strumming patterns or the other style I absolutely adore is warm rich jazz with bends and riffs. When I hear a guitar talk or cry I close my eyes and am exported; I like to think of it as a six dimension where emotions of songs tumble over hard edged rocks and fall to a white water pool beneath but the stream out flowing from it is both mighty and calm."

       "... I think it is hugely important for music and music education to be taught in the Minnesota School system. The first reason it is important is because I started off in my school. I was given the opportunity to have guitar classes in my middle school, and I was blessed with a very talented and optimistic teacher. If many students have the option to promising music teachers and music theory they can exceed in multiple things. I recently worked on a project in school about how music affects your mind. Studies have shown that music boosts your creativity, happiness, and your language skills. It reduces anxiety and decreases pain. It has been shown that students who are involved with music generally have higher tests scores and earn more academic awards. School systems don’t understand enough how beneficial music is to their students."

Julie, it is an honor to be able to give you this guitar and help you out in your journey in music and as a musician... Clearly you have a passion for the guitar, music and it's benefits to students and how it enriches one's life.  Thank you for your support of Viva Musica and our Mission.  It's because of students like you we do what we do!

So for in 2013 we have donated and given away...

20 Choral books 5 Violin books Music stands Flute Piano Books Metronome  (Pictured Left (L-R): VM Founder Erin Belanger,  Carrie Knudsen Hendrickson and Kathleen Murphy

Violin Books (pictured above) were given to the Robbinsdale School District, donated by a Minnetonka High School graduate.

The Flute was given to the Burnsville Music Program. This is a neat program where the child choses which musical instrument they would like to play in elementary school, and they keep that instrument until they graduate. Then the instrument starts over with another 5th grade student, and the flute plays on! Click here to find out more about the Burnsville Music Program, and check out all the  "Benefits of Music Education" they have listed! BMP... we like your style!

"Foundation Financial Group Funds High School Music Scholarships"

View Full Story in the Star Tribune HERE
Read More About Foundation Financial Group and Their Philanthropy Program