FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

All-ages school of rock gears up for its third semester

DECATUR, GA, August 10th, 2010

Firehouse Guitars & Music announces its third semester of the Academy of Music Performance (AMP), an all-ages “school of rock,” to run September to November 2010. The program began in the fall of 2009, with many students returning to build upon skills learned in the premiere semester.

“That is one of the cool things about AMP – students can come back and pick up where they left off or join a new band and create a completely different sound,” says Firehouse owner, Eric Murphy. “Last spring one group stayed with the same line up, and the growth showed. Another student initially played with a bluegrass band and then gave indie rock a try with a new group of musicians in the spring. It was amazing to see his playing style completely change.”

Participant ages have ranged from 10-50+ and music styles from hard rock to folk. The curriculum focuses not only on performance but also on original songwriting. “Our band learned to work together, and we were challenged to write music that fell within our collective sensibility,” says violinist Karyn Lu who played with the band “Fact vs. Fiction” and has gone on to play with several gigging bands in the Atlanta area. “AMP provided a great opportunity to learn from a seasoned musician. Completing the program gave us a big sense of accomplishment, and the performance was a night to remember.”

Both semesters ended with students performing to a packed house at the famed Decatur venue, Eddie’s Attic, bypassing the long waiting list for their renowned open mic nights and joining the ranks of national acts such as John Mayer and the Indigo Girls that have graced their stage. One group, “the Excellerators,” participated in both semesters and became the subject of a serial that tracked their progress at the Decatur News Online blog (http://bit.ly/cnrG3J). The date for the fall semester showcase is November 10, 2010.

Prospective students can register online at http://bit.ly/9AXScO. Additional information on the program, including “top 10 questions about AMP,” can be found at http://www.guitarsatlanta.com/lessons. The fall registration deadline is September 3 with an early bird discount for those who sign up before August 20.

Firehouse Guitars and Music of Georgia, Inc. was established in July 2008 when new owners Eric and Lori Murphy purchased the Atlanta area stores Eric had managed for several years (Conyers was established in 2001 and Decatur in 2005). Both locations carry top brands, such as Fender and Ibanez, and provide lessons for nearly 300 students in everything from guitar to drums to banjo. Currently only the Decatur location offers the AMP program, but there are plans to bring the program to Conyers in the future.

Firehouse Guitars & Music of Decatur is located at 2520 N. Decatur Rd at the intersection of N. Decatur, Medlock Road, and Scott Boulevard. The Firehouse store in Conyers is located on the access road off I-20 at 1413 Iris Drive. Firehouse maintains an active fan page on Facebook and can be followed on Twitter @guitarsatlanta. Their web site is www.guitarsatlanta.com.

Contact:
Lori Murphy, Media Relations
lori.murphy@guitarsatlanta.com
404-372-2840

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