December LIFESTYLE CHALLENGE

Here we are...December 2013! Time for another challenge!

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

Nov/Dec Follow-up

1) We had a fantastic recital last Sunday!!! Filled the entire 60 seats at Willis and had more standing, with students of 4 SDML certified instructors representing (Paul, JD, John, and me). The NEXT recital will be in February.....details on when and where will be coming after the holidays!!!

2) NEW group session begins the week of January 6 (Monday 6 at COC and Thursday 9 at our NEW location). We'll have more details soon....but remember the Beaumont YMCA classes will, as of January, be held OFF-SITE. We'll make an announcement on the new location after Thanksgiving.

3) Great shows coming up throughout the rest of the year from the SDML family (students, former students, and instructors)...,.oh, yeah - and me. I'll be at Artsplace in December (Thursday, Dec 12) doing an acoustic set for their Arts at Noon series along with rad poet Jude McPherson.

https://www.facebook.com/events/338265436315520

4) Checkout all the great resources at Skinny Devil Magazine (interviews, free lessons, product reviews, and much more)!

http://skinnydevilmagazine.blogspot.com/

NOV/DEC Student News!

1) Recital - Reminder that the next SDML student recital is just DAYS away! Sunday, 11-17-13 at Willis Music at 1pm! Come on down to play and/or support!!!

2) Lessons - BIG news coming soon....but in short, we are moving the Beaumont YMCA classes OFF-SITE. More details soon.

2.5) FREE Lessons - ALL private students who are at a GTR-4 level now get the GTR-4 classes (at the Y, the COC, or our new TBA location) FREE.

3) Scholarships - Scholarships still available....50% and even 100% off regular price at COC and Hurst. Y scholarships available thru the Y.

4) Students - Congrats again to miss Julia Knight, who is now featured on the new LIFETIME NETWORK reality TV series "Chasing Nashville"....every Tuesday evenings on Lifetime!

5) New Session - Info on the new January session at our new TBA location and the COC coming VERY soon. Just gotta nail down all those details over the next coupla weeks.......

6) SD Magazine - Not only magazine news (we're about to go on the rampage again, with lessons, interviews with some of the world's greatest guitarists, product reviews, contests/give-aways, and more), but big news in the Skinny Devil Universe in general....from TWO new gig series to a new lesson location to Alien Blue and my solo acoustic performances to new music to BIG student opportunities and more! Stay tuned for ALL of that!

More soon!!!

Holidays....

The holidays are right around the corner....

...and with that, there will be some BIG changes in the Skinny Devil Universe....which is to say changes in my personal and professional life. The teaching, especially, seems destined for some major changes. Not sure what it will look like on the other side just yet, but I have some ideas....and they may include Thursday Y lessons OFF-site and the end of the Monday lessons (at least at the COC...unless we renegotiate).

But we'll see....along with all the other changes coming around the bend. Student recitals, a new talent showcase series at a local venue (with prizes!), and more.

No worries - I'll keep you posted!

July/August SDML Student Newsletter

Guitar Student Newsletter

July/August 2013

New session...the student recital...special pricing...new lesson schedules....MORE!!!

First off, we're in the new month, so please make sure your fees are paid in full.

Also - the BIG SWITCH happens in August! All Monday Hurst students will be switching to Tuesdays (at Hurst) while the Tuesday COC classes are moving to MONDAY (at COC).

1) RECITAL: The next SDML Student Guitar Recital is August 25 at Willis Music. That's less than 5 weeks out, so start getting ready! We'll likely have only 5 minutes per performer, but sometimes we get a tad more, so have TWO songs ready to go. Let me know if you need any help (or for me to play along) soon.

2) NEW SESSION: A new GROUP session begins at the Beaumont YMCA and the COC at the END of AUGUST (just after the recital) - Monday, August 26 at the COC and Thursday the 29th at the Beaumont YMCA.

Private lessons continue as scheduled, but if you A) are taking private lessons and need a different time, or B) want private lessons, I have some openings now...CONTACT ME ASAP!!!

https://www.facebook.com/events/480062808744436/

If you have ANY questions about sign-ups, locations, cost, etc, please let me know. And if you need a scholarship......

3) SCHOLARSHIPS: Scholarships are available thru the YMCA. In addition, we offer the SDML scholarships (50% off regular price) for those in need (participating instructors only). The economy is still shaky, so please don’t be shy about asking if things are tight in your household. If you are opposed to discounts or pro bono, we can always talk quid pro quo!

3.5) GROUP DISCOUNTS: Have co-workers or fellow church members or family or organization members who want to take lessons? Sign up together and get a discount!

We're trying to partner with area businesses to provide discounts for groups coming from a local biz (or church or organization) to the group classes (or private lessons). This will take the COC pricing from $122/8-week session to $100/8-week session (comparable to the YMCA member discount). If YOU have friends or co-workers who would like to take lessons, bring them along to the new session for a discount....or if you would like me to send word to your business (like we have with Lexmark, etc), drop me a line!

4) OPEN MIC opportunities: Paul Felice is running a new open mic at SEC Sorts Pub on Sundays....there is also Common Grounds on Mondays....Lexjam 2nd Saturdays...and more. SEND ME YOUR OPEN MIC DETAILS and I'll get them compiled and get the word out to everyone!!!

5) INSTRUCTORS: I assume everyone knows about the SDML Instructor Network. Our certified instructors include Paul Felice, J.D. Wright, Chris Simpson, Luke Jackson, Tim Fowler, & more....and most of these guys have at least a few openings. So contact me and I'll put you in touch with them immediately.

6) WEB-SITES, etc.: Check out he free guitar lessons and the "Guitar Gods" interview series at Skinny Devil Magazine....plus info on new guitar clinics, music workshops, the expansion of our SDML instructor network, job & intern opportunities, and much more....details coming soon!

Be sure to visit us at http://www.skinnydevil.com and Skinny Devil Magazine ( http://skinnydevilmagazine.blogspot.com/ ) as well as our facebook pages:

http://www.facebook.com/skinnydevil (David)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alien-Blue/60373576192 (Alien Blue)


That's all for now - hope to see everyone soon!

-- David "Skinny Devil" McLean

January Lifestyle Challenge!!!

My job is SOOOO hard, you just don't know!

So here we are...January of 2013! Time flies, and it's time for another challenge.

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals & up-dates below.

How about YOU?