Guitar Instruction & More

This is a listing of available classes as of 4/3/08.
If you have any questions or need more
information, please call us at 503-760-4439,
or click here to send us e-mail.

IMPORTANT: Click here to review our policies
regarding cancellations, payment, etc.

Looking for a great gift idea for your favorite creative type? You'll be happy to know that we offer gift certificates for our lessons and classes. Purchase an entire class or a specific dollar amount, and jump-start your friend or family member's musical journey! Call us at 503-760-4439 or click here to send us e-mail and get all the details.

Private Guitar Instruction

Private instruction is available weekly or bi-weekly, with half-hour and hourly time slots. Please call our office at 503-760-4439 for more information and registration. All levels welcome. Note: Schedule private lessons before 3:00 pm on weekdays and receive a 10% discount!

Group Lessons for Adults

Intermediate Blues Guitar with Robbie Laws

A comprehensive course set at a moderately brisk pace with plenty of one-on-one. You will learn some of the best tricks of the trade that will carry you through threshold after threshold and get you where you’ve always wanted to go in the world of blues guitar. A popular blues ensemble class designed to help students gain experience at improvising over chord changes and chord/scale relationships as they advance through progressively more challenging material. Students are critiqued on timekeeping, interplay, dynamics, accompaniment, and soloing.

Adults – Intermediate
Wednesdays, 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Instructor: Robbie Laws
Cost: $125 per month

Advanced Blues Guitar with Robbie Laws

An in-depth study of blues guitar for the advancing player. Study the legends of the '40s, '50s and '60s with a focus on signature riffs and phrases that will apply to intros, outros, turnarounds and walkdowns. A major emphasis on soloing techniques consisting of minimalism, tone, string-bending, attack, phrasing and note choice will be the theme of this class.

Adults – Advanced
Thursdays, 7:00-8:00 pm (4 times a month)
Instructor: Robbie Laws
Cost: $125 per month

From Blues to Jazz Group

The transition from blues to jazz is only a couple of simple steps. In fact, 90% of all jazz theory rests inside what is referred to as "The Uptown Changes." This class will get inside these ideas and will explore the essential components of the 2-5-1 moves that comprise this technique. We will incorporate these ideas into some jazz standards and the student will begin to see that all Western music is based on this formula. A new tune will be brought into each session to explore its progression and to practice these principles. Students will be able to see other approaches to this type of playing, talk about how they work, how to solo over these types of chord changes and create chord melodies. You will expand your ability to "comp" in a much more orchestral way using moving voicings like a piano player may do with a bass line included.

Adults – Intermediate
Thursdays, 6:15 to 7:15 pm
Instructor: Robert Carson
Cost: $125 per month

Classical Guitar Group

This exciting class covers classic compositions from the Baroque period up through 20th-century Western music. The pieces will be arranged in different voices, from intermediate to more advanced playing skills, so students who range through both levels are encouraged to join. Students should already be familiar with music notation, and have basic technique.

Adults – Intermediate to Advanced
Tuesdays, 7:00 to 8:00 pm
Instructor: Kevin Cason
Cost: $125 per month

Engineering & Recording Workshop

This dynamic workshop teaches the fundamentals of digital audio recording, from setup all the way to CD mastering. It covers every aspect of the process of capturing and grooming audio into master-quality material ready for duplication. The class is centered around computer-based multi-track recording, mixing and mastering.

Subjects Covered:

Miking techniques
Headphone setup & operation
Gain structure on a mixing board appropriate for the digital world
Multi-track recording techniques
How to mix the multi-track material down for various purposes, such as radio airplay as opposed to demo recordings, and also for Internet applications
Techniques of digital computer-based mastering for duplication, streaming, etc.

The instructor is Robert Carson. Robert has 25 years of experience as a recording engineer, producer, and studio owner. He also founded the Reptile label in 1997, which specialized in releasing live recordings for numerous well-known local artists such as Terry Robb, Duffy Bishop, The Cannonballs, Ocean 503, Mel Solomon, Norman Sylvester and many more.

Whether you are a total beginner or a home studio owner who wants to "up your skills," this 6-week workshop course is for you!

All Ages Welcome
Dates & times to be announced
Instructor: Robert Carson
Cost: $240 for 6-week course ($50 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your space; class size is limited)

Group Lessons for Kids

Beginning Guitar Group, Level One

Learn how to play the guitar! Taught in a small group setting with plenty of focused individual attention. Learn the 1st position chords and building chord vocabulary, as well as chord progressions and songs, while developing basic soloing techniques. This is an ongoing half-hour weekly class, and you may start the group at any time. Once the student has learned and applied these basic techniques, it will be time to move into the Level Two group.

Ages 8 - 16
Saturdays, 11:30 am to 12:00 pm (4 times a month)
Instructor: Robert Carson
Cost: $75 per month ($30 initial registration & materials fee)

Beginners Guitar Group, Level Two

When the basic Beginner, Level One techniques have been learned, the student will now move into learning more moveable chord forms: power chords, barre chords, major, minor, dominant 7th, augmented and diminished. Students will also learn all five pentatonic positions and how to apply them along with basic compositional elements. A more focused emphasis will be placed on rhythm techniques through the study and analysis of modern popular music. This class is also all about having fun while learning how to play the guitar!

Ages 8 - 16
Thursdays, 5:15 to 6:00 pm (4 times a month)
Instructor: Robert Carson
Cost: $100 per month

Youth Performance Group

Learn more advanced chords, i.e. bar chords, exploring fretboard theory, and gaining an understanding of music rhythm and developing techniques through scales and arpeggios. Music styles will focus on Blues & Classic Rock. Students are provided a wide range of opportunities to grow both technically and artistically as they gain performance experience. Periodic scheduling of performances in front of live audiences will be included.

Ages 10-18
Thursdays, 4:15 to 5:00 pm
Instructor: Robbie Laws
Cost: $100 per month

Blues Ed/Blues In The Schools Performance Program

This is a Blues Education program sponsored by the Cascade Blues Association and SixStringCentral, and is part of a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that educates and performs the blues free of charge to local public and private school systems, community centers and institutions, and local community events. The Blues Ed/BITS mission is to help fill the gap caused by budget reductions on arts and music in our schools while providing a fun, interactive and goal-oriented program designed to educate our youth on American history, heritage and culture as seen through music. Programs usually last about 45 minutes and consist of live performance examples by our youth performance bands and/or professional adult musicians, along with oral narrations and photos woven throughout the session. Students who wish to participate in the performance component of this program are required to attend a Blues Ed Workshop and then audition for a position with a Blues Ed/BITS performing band.

Please let your coach or program director know if you are interested in participating in the performance program. This program is free of charge to band participants.

Click here for an overview of the Blues Ed Workshop prerequisite.

Summer Programs

Rock Star 2008

So you wanna be a rock star? Well, here's your chance. Click here for information on our exciting new program for Summer 2008, in which you'll form a band, learn & compose material, and perform live in a packed concert venue!

Blues Ed Workshop

Here's another great new workshop for Summer 2008 – if you like the blues, or you want to learn more about this uniquely American music form, this is the place. Form a blues band, learn and play traditional and contemporary material, and make your debut in front of a live audience! Click here for more information.

Guitar Summer Camp

A 5-day (20-hr.) workshop taught in a positive & supportive environment. Learn about blues & rock ‘n’ roll history, rhythm & lead guitar, chord progressions, strumming patterns, how to read tablature & chord charts, intros, outros, turnarounds & walkdowns, soloing, how to jam with other musicians, & the greatest rock ‘n’ roll riffs of all time! Students will participate in daily jam sessions. Acoustic, electric and bass guitars are welcome. For more information and a sign-up form for Beginners' Camps or Intermediate/Advanced Camps, click here.

Weekly Sessions – Summer 2008
Age 10-18, All Skill Levels
Cost: $225 (discount available for multiple camp weeks)

Kid's Recording Summer Camp

A 3-day (12-hr.) workshop for young guitarists interested in learning how to record in a home studio, preparing for a future career in digital recording, or who are already working with Apple's GarageBand or similar programs. Students will work together in a small group setting and ultimately create two original group compositions. Acoustic, electric and bass guitars are welcome. For more information and a sign-up form, click here.

Summer 2008
Age 10-18, All Skill Levels
Instructor: Robert Carson
Cost: $150 (discount available for multiple camp weeks)

SixStringCentral School Of Music
5516 SE Foster Rd.
Portland, OR 97206
503-760-4439

Click here to send us e-mail!

5516 SE Foster Rd. Portland, OR 97206 503-760-4439
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