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ACGS Education was developed on the belief that the classical guitar is an unusually powerful ambassador for the fine arts. While proper study of the classical guitar includes all of the components that would be expected of any serious school-based musical study (reading music, established technical foundation, rehearsals and performances, practice and diligence, music theory, etc.), the associations the instrument has with “guitar”, the ubiquitous pop instrument of the world, make it uniquely capable of attracting widely diverse student participants. Having experienced this phenomenon through growing and diverse classes in its nascent education program (the program began in 2001), the Austin Classical Guitar Society recognized the need to develop a strong curriculum-based approach for teaching classroom classical guitar in order to provide the best possible learning experience for the growing number of students being served. The curriculum was developed between 2004 and 2008 and, now published online, powers the substantial Austin class guitar programs and is in wide usage beyond Austin as well.

Educational Outreach is the largest single part of ACGS’ operations and it is the program that separates this organization from all other classical guitar societies nation-wide. ACGS trains area teachers, provides curriculum-planning support, sends highly trained instructors into classrooms, and provides instruments and free lessons for low-income students. The Austin Classical Guitar Society seeks to provide a positive, enriching and ongoing musical experience for all students in Austin regardless of geographic, financial or any other barriers. The goal is for students to achieve their potential as musicians while fostering a love of the arts and providing positive concert experiences to encourage future generations to be arts consumers and participants.

In October 2008 ACGS finished development of the first formal classroom classical guitar curriculum. It was a four-year project that had been deemed essential by the Austin Classical Guitar Society in light of the growth and success of the Educational Outreach program in Austin, the increasing popularity of classical guitar classes around the nation, and the total lack of a nationally accepted curriculum for class guitar instruction. The curriculum launched online in October of 2008 and is already in use in around 50 locations in the US and Canada.

The unique ACGS curriculum (guitarcurriculum.com), has literally transformed classroom classical guitar education in Austin, bringing music instruction on the classical guitar to schools where there was none previously. On the strength of guitarcurriculum.com, ACGS-affiliated programs have grown from serving around 20 students in one class in 2001 to around 650 students in 14 area schools each day in Austin alone. Four additional Austin schools added high-quality guitar programs this year with the assistance of ACGS (2009). In spring 2008 around 90% of the students registered in ACGS classes reported that they were coming to school-based fine arts classes for the first time.

The programs have produced astonishing results. A small selection of recent highlights are: 112 students from 7 area programs attended ACGS’ first-ever “GuitarFest”, hosted by Southwestern University and spent the day playing for each other as well as preparing a large ensemble performance including all participants. Two ACGS students received “best of class” ratings in Texas State-wide solo and ensemble competition, in 2008 thirty-six guitar students involved in the Educational Outreach program received a rating of “Superior” at Texas State Solo & Ensemble Competition, and six of those students performed at UIL State Solo & Ensemble Competition. The McCallum High School Advanced Ensemble performed and won first place at the UT Brownsville National Guitar competition for the third straight year (March 2009). More than 10 students have been accepted to, and received scholarships for, advanced guitar study beyond high school.

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