NEWS

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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I am just a beginner. Am I qualified?
Yes. For the purposes of the Academy of Music (AMP) program we define beginner as 6 months – 1 year of lessons or experience on an instrument, advanced beginner as 1-3 years and “advanced” as 3 years plus. We take students at all three of these levels.

For absolute beginners (i.e. never picked up the instrument before) we recommend that you take at least a few months of individual instruction in your chosen instrument before joining the AMP program. Ask us for more information and we can get you paired with a teacher that best suits your needs.

The program is described as  “all ages” – what is the youngest age you take?
So far the youngest AMP student we have had was 10 years old, but we will take younger students if they are interested. 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, and can work with them in individual lessons first if needed.

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?
The AMP program is unique in that it encourages original songwriting. 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.

Where and when do we rehearse?
Rehearsals take place at our Decatur store, 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. Tickets for the final performance are $8 or $40 for a 4-person table. Each AMP performer gets 1 complimentary ticket or discounted table to share with friends and family.

How can I get a discount?
There are several ways you can get a discount to the AMP program
1)    Become an alumni. In other words, go through the program one semester and tuition will be cheaper the next!
2)    Become a student at Firehouse Guitars & Music
3)    Refer your friends. For each referral you will receive a $25 gift card.
4)    Bring a group! Talk to us about group discounts.

Will the program be offered in Conyers?
Yes, we hope so! We are currently working on the logistics to bring the program to Conyers within the next year.

What if I have a question not answered in this FAQ?
Information on pricing and curriculum is available at http://guitarsatlanta.com/lessons

To register for Fall AMP 2010 see our online sign up form - if you are registering before August 20, 2010 make sure to use the applicable Early Bird special promo code to get a discount!

• Early Bird – use this code if you are new to the AMP program and NOT a current student at Firehouse
• Early Bird Student – use this code of you are a current student at Firehouse (student rate + early bird discount)
• Early Bird Alumni – use this code if you’re an AMP alumn (alumni rate + early bird discount)

For any additional questions send a note to marketing@guitarsatlanta.com and we will help you out! Or please always feel free to call the Decatur store at 404-929-0012.

For information on individual lessons see http://guitarsatlanta.com/lessons.

Check out pics from the the past two semester’s performances on our Facebook page.

Students wanting to get in on our fall semester of the Academy of Music Performance (AMP) our unique all-ages “school of rock” now have the chance to do so at an “Early Bird” discounted rate ($25 off) until August 20th! This unique program groups students together to form bands that are instructed in songwriting, playing and performance. The end of the semester  culminates in a performance at Decatur’s famous Eddie’s Attic.

To sign up and get your Early Birdy discount go here: bit.ly/9AXScO and use one of the following codes:

• Early Bird – use this code if you are new to the AMP program and NOT a current student at Firehouse
• Early Bird Student – use this code of you are a current student at Firehouse (this will give you the student rate + early bird discount)
• Early Bird Alumni – use this code if you’re an AMP alumn (this will give you the alumni rate + early bird discount)

Congrats in advance to all you Early Birds! We look forward to seeing you take the stage at Eddie’s Attic this fall.

Want to learn more about this unique program? See our AMP Top 10 FAQs or visit our Lessons page.

We are now taking sign ups for this fall semester’s Academy of Music Performance. The semester starts early September and wraps up with the final performance at Eddie’s Attic on Wednesday, Nov. 10th.  Download the sign up sheet on our Lessons Page.

Saturday, June 5th some of the best talent in the region and around the country will compete to win the prestigious Eddie’s Attic bi-annual open mic shootout! If you are looking for something fun to do in Decatur, GA check out the live broadcast on their patio and grab some eats while you are at it. (Music room is sold out!)

Firehouse would like to say a big thank you for our most talented spring semester AMP students! They brought a wealth of creativity and talent to our second semester of this all-ages school of rock that was truly inspiring. If interested in our Fall semester (with a performance at Eddie’s Attic in November) email marketing@guitarsatlanta.com for information on the schedule and dates. Read more about the final performance of our spring semester students here: http://bit.ly/9I9sLB from our friends at Decatur News Online.

The second semester of the Academy of Music Performance (AMP) program is coming to a close and our students are ready to show off their stuff! 4 bands will get the opportunity to grace the stage at famed Decatur venue Eddie’s Attic, where many national acts have gotten their start. Each band will perform at least one cover song with the emphasis being on original music written by the students during the 10-week program. Tickets to see the showcase can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/b3C82j – reserve yours today!

Just got a new shipment of great Danelectro guitars in including hand-painted and 12-string models. Come by to either store and try one out. We are excited to have them!

For those of you wanting to learn a little more about our Academy of Music Performance (AMP) program, an all-ages “school of rock,” the Decatur store will be having an open house 7:30-8:30 this Wednesday, January 27th. This will be a time for our signed up students to meet the teacher, see the rehearsal space, discuss their weekly rehearsal timeslots and ask questions about the program. Hope to see you there!

We are gearing up for our next semester of the Academy of Music Performance, with classes starting the first week of February! Sign up sheets are now available to download or you can pick one up at our Decatur store. This unique program is all ages and allows students to go beyond individual lessons and play with others, learning how to write songs and perform in a band. Our end of the semester performance will be held at Decatur’s famous Eddie’s Attic, where acts such as the Indigo Girls and John Mayer got their start. Come join us for this one of a kind program!

AMP Spring Semester Sign Up Sheet (PDF)

Questions? Email marketing@guitarsatlanta.com