Web-blog of freelance musician/guitarist David "Skinny Devil" McLean - news about his guitar instruction, instructor network, students, solo projects, acoustic duo Alien Blue, percussion ensemble Skinny Devil Circus, band Gone to the Dogs, and much, much more!
Right to the point: The current COVID-19 situation caught many of us completely off-guard. Luckily for Paulie & JD & me at SDML Academy of Guitar, we had been using online resources for students for quite some time, and had even implemented our VGC (Virtual Guitar Class) many months ago, so the quasi-quarantine forced transition to the 100% virtual model was not as painful as it has been for many.
Due to this, we've been asked multiple times by individual instructors if we can help them. This brief post is an attempt to lend a quick hand.
EDIT: This post will NOT be up-dated. All up-dates and future student info will be available at the new SDML Student Blog. If you are a student and did NOT receive the new URL, please contact me as soon as possible!
Hello, everyone! I hope this finds you and yours doing well and adjusting to our new (but thankfully temporary) pandemic-driven reality. Info for both group & private students below (including supplemental material for everyone).
Also, if you haven't already, please sign up as a member at the SDML membership page so you will have access to all the material we offer.
Those students signed up with me, you can pay for April with card or Paypal account at my directly link http://www.paypal.me/skinnydevilmusic or Venmo at www.venmo.com/David-McLean-47 ....and I'm looking into options from Square for online payments, as many of you have been using your card via my Square reader.
1) PRESS - I've done a fair bit of local press in the past couple of weeks discussing SDML Academy of Guitar's transition to 100% virtual learning model, our needs-based scholarship program, the impact on the local & national music & arts community, and much more. I've collected the WLEX-TV interview and the WUKY and WBVX radio interviews and placed them HERE for anyone interested
MY THANX to Nancy Cox and Kristen Edwards and all the folks at WLEX-TV Channel 18, as well as Chris Teesdale, the good folks at Willis Music Company, and David Miller for being the perfect test subject!!
And major shout to JD Wright & Paulie Felice of SDML Academy of Guitar and all of our students!
The WLEX website has the web story HERE (text & photos & links) while the WLEX YouTube channel posted the broadcast version of the story (see below).
In addition, a couple of weeks ago I did 2 radio interviews....
My thanx to both NPR affiliate WUKY (& Joe Conkwright) and the mighty Max Corona at Classic Rock 92.1 WBVX for allowing me to discuss the current hardships in the local music & arts community, as well as the entire chain (venues, bar & restaurants, retail support, broadcast & print media, music educators, etc) that performing artists rely.
We (me and my partners-in-crime at SDML Academy of Guitar) have always had a standing policy that lack of cash should never EVER stand in the way of learning music. Ever.
With the COVID-19 induced quasi-quarantine, we have moved to a 100% "virtual" model for guitar lessons so that no one has to miss a lesson (or risk their health), whether a private or a group student. And this will extend to the workshops I conduct, from songwriting workshops to improvisation workshops and the like. We will resume the face-to-face option once things settle down, BUT.....
.....the situation has also created huge and often unimaginable financial hardships. As we move forward together through this global emergency, please be aware that if you (or someone you know, wherever in the world they may be) can no longer afford lessons, you need only tell us! Fill out the scholarship form and submit it, and you won't need to miss a single lesson.
We at SDML Academy of Guitar are incredibly fortunate to have found a path in life that we not only love, but have been able to turn into a vocation that allows us to pay the bills.
What we do, we do for YOU....whether you can currently afford it or not.
I hope this note finds you all safe and secure during this crisis. Everyone's health and safety is first and foremost on our minds at SDML Academy of Guitar.
This note is specifically to focus on how we're moving forward with my students of guitar (& all other instruments, like bass, piano, ukulele, percussion, & voice). Workshop students will receive a workshop-specific note.
As current PRIVATE students already know, we have transitioned completely to VIRTUAL lessons using all the technology at out disposal (texting lessons sheets, providing recorded video support, and live streaming where necessary).
We are also transitioning the new GROUP session students to VIRTUAL by utilizing our VGC (Virtual Guitar Class) option at the academy website.
PRIVATE AND GROUP: Please go to https://www.sdmlguitar.com/sdml-membership and see the "membership" page, and sign up. There will be NO COST for current students. NEW students will get a 60 day FREE trial.
In securing this membership, you will gain access to ALL online support materials (videos, docs, etc), event discounts, and the like.
GROUP: Enroll in Virtual Guitar Class (VGC) here: https://forms.gle/M3qv9CztLBhAPSFb9
Once you are enrolled, I will send each weekly lesson to you via text & email. We will continue this approach until things return to some sense of normalcy, and group lessons are again something we can do face-to-face at Willis Music.
PRIVATE: I'm working out the kinks now, and by next week everyone will receive your lesson on your scheduled lesson day OR EARLIER! We will continue this approach until things return to some sense of normalcy, and private lessons are again something we can do face-to-face at Hurst Music.
PAYMENT: All payments can be made on-line directly to me at www.PayPal.me/SkinnyDevilMusic with PRIVATE lessons at a cost of $100/month and GROUP lessons at a cost of $200 per 8-week session.
In the words of Paulie Felice (SDML Program Director): Thanks to all of you for cooperating on this, and please do not hesitate to contact me for help. I’m expecting a lot of questions and requests for assistance, because this is a confusing situation and a new reality for now!
I am worried about my family and my friends, my peers and my community. And while I'm working on a more "journalistic" piece for Skinny Devil Magazine, I just wanted to talk to you here, one on one, as we talk face to face. Just us, talking.
So I've been checking on gigs I had booked and pending, and find myself collecting cancellations, and I know my musician friends are collecting cancellations, too. I am worried about keeping secure those who depend on me and my income.
And I am worried about my musician friends who gig significantly more (or make a greater portion of their income via live performance), knowing that many have had 3 or 4 or even a dozen cancellations already this month. Those who play locally as well as those who perform regionally & nationally.
HOWDY! A quick note for info on programs new and old, next recital, gig opportunities, field trip(s), private lessons slots, new sessions, & more!
1) MONTHLY TUITION - First of the month....so feel free to use cash or check or card on-site OR, if its more convenient, use the following PayPal link at www.paypal.me/skinnydevilmusic to pay on-line directly.
1.5) We have new programs, including our official SDML membership (see below), so we can split your payment accordingly.
2) GUITAR RECITAL - The next recital will be in early MAY....so time to get ready! We're also planning a new set of field-trips (recording studios, TV & radio stations, several venues, and more) and we'll have info on those soon!
3) STUDENT GIGS - I book the Woodsongs Preshow (lobby music prior to the taping) at the Lyric Theatre for each Monday. If you are interested in performing, contact me quick - we're making out the schedule for the next few months now!
4) LESSONS - New GROUP session starts the week of March 16 and runs 9 weeks (8 weeks plus spring break off)....and PRIVATE lesson openings available now! We also have a LOT of new options, including a membership program (which includes premium content web resources, discounts on classes, lessons, workshops), unlimited text/email support, industry field-trips, t-shirt, gig opportunities, etc). For details, visit:
4.5) ONLINE LESSONS - We ran several BETA sessions and are now full-swing into the new on-line lessons option, called VGC (Virtual Guitar Class). For information, visit:
5) WORKSHOPS - We're booking workshops now to cover subjects like songwriting and improvisation...and also working on Virtual Workshops on the same topics and more! Details soon....
6) YOUTUBE & Social Media - Please subscribe to both my YouTube channel and the SDML YouTube channel....and you can also me, SDML Academy of Guitar, & Lexington Music Awards on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the like.
7) SD MAGAZINE - Don't forget that SD Magazine has not only the "Guitar Gods" interview series (my interviews with over 80 world class players, from unknown gurus to Grammy Award winners), but other interviews, style lessons, music reviews, art, photography, fashion, dance/movement, and much more!
8) PERSONAL GIGS - Booking summer shows now....and you can catch me the final Friday of March at Taziki's in Lexington! Spring/summer performance & workshops locations/dates to be announced soon!
That's it for now! Stay tuned....and hope to see y'all soon!
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