I am just a beginner. Am I qualified?
Yes! AMP takes students at all levels.

The program is described as  “all ages” – what is the youngest age you take?
So far the youngest AMP student we have had was 8 years old. For parents the main thing is to gauge your child’s confidence level (e.g. will they get stage fright?) and ability to work well and cooperate with others. We want all of our students to succeed in the program and prefer that for our younger students we have some experience with them in individual lessons before accepting them into the AMP program. However, if your child has music education from somewhere other than Firehouse we are happy to do an assessment with them to determine if they are ready. The program includes 5 individual lessons as well which can help them prep.

How will the bands get put together?
This depends. Students often join the program as individuals but we do get some pairs and small groups that want to join together. Often bands end up being a mix of all of these.

Once we get all the applications in we group students based on age, skill level and musical interest. However we do think that some mixing (e.g. more advanced students with beginners, lovers of bluegrass with indie rock fans, etc.) can bring a richer experience to the program and try to not have hard and fast rules when grouping students.

Will we play covers or originals? Also what kind of genres do the bands play? Is it just rock?
The AMP program is unique in that it encourages original songwriting especially for the more advanced participants. However we do include some covers because we believe there are different skill sets that are learned when covering a song versus writing your own, and that there is also something to be learned in putting your own unique spin on existing songs. So at the end of the program your set will likely be a mix of covers and originals.

Also, AMP bands get to pick together the genres they want to cover. Past bands have played and written bluegrass, country, rock, indie rock and more.

Where and when do we rehearse?
Rehearsals take place at our stores, generally on weekday evenings or Saturdays. Your exact day and time with the teacher will be determined when you are grouped with the other students and we can match based on availability. We have some flexibility with the rehearsal space as well and can work with bands who want to get extra practices in on their own.

I used to play an instrument in middle school/high school/college but haven’t played in many years. Am I qualified to join?
Yes, in fact you are probably a perfect candidate! We have many students who haven’t touched an instrument in years and the AMP program can be the perfect motivation to start playing again. We believe that playing with others can often be more satisfying than playing alone and this program gives those folks who haven’t played in a while the perfect outlet to take it up again!

What is the final performance like?
The final performance is held at Decatur’s famous Eddie’s Attic in downtown Decatur. Eddie’s Attic has been the launching pad for many Atlanta area artists including the Indigo Girls, John Mayer and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles. The room seats about 150 people making it large enough to accommodate a good crowd but still maintain an intimate atmosphere.

A professional soundman will be present for the performance ensuring that you sound as polished as possible.

What if I have a question not answered in this FAQ?
Email marketing@guitarsatlanta.com

How do I sign up?
To sign up see: http://guitarsatlanta.com/lessons.