New School of Modern Music now offers rock music lessons in W-W

With the opening of the Classic South School of Modern Music, two musicians are about to offer local music students the chance to reach for their rock music dreams.

Washington's Justin Wilson, and William Taylor Walker of Rhine, Ga., are offering lessons in guitar, bass, and drums for individuals or small groups. "We want to make each class personalized for each students' interest, skill levels, and needs," Walker said. "We're doing free 30-minute intro lessons to sit down and findout where they are with their music, and where they want to go. We'll findout the style they want to play, and who their favorite guitarist is."

"Music class can be boring, but we want to teach in a way that's relevant," Wilson said. "If somebody just wanted to learn to play their favorite songs and not deal with music theory, that's fine, the option is there, or you can learn how to write your own songs, whatever the student wants to do. We want to make this a real personalized class."

Although the lessons will cover the basics like reading music and music theory, if needed, Walker said, he wants to take the student beyond that. "A music teacher can teach you to read music, but not many teachers can teach you to improvise rock and jazz with what you've learned."

Walker said students at the school will have the opportunity to perform with a live band. "We're going to offer live recitals where students will be able to get up and play with a full band before a live audience."

To help students hear themselves and improve, the classes will offer recording capabilities, he said.

Washington native Justin Wilson is 18, and says his peers say that the growing local music scene seems to really need what they have to offer. "What Bradley Barber is doing at the Farmers Market inspired us to start this now. The Farmers Market is bringing live local music back to Washington, and we want to be part of that. The other Thursday night they had 70 people in the rain listening to Uncle Daddy and the Time Machine Revival. In the rain! In Washington!"

Lessons and performances will be held at the Washington Farmers Market Sunday through Wednesday from 2 to 7 p.m., Wilson and Walker say, and they've talked to several potential students at the market who want to take lessons.

"We've also had a lot of parents calling for their kids," Walker said. "I know there are a lot of kids out there who want to learn to play the guitar. We just want to pass on what we have, and pull out the natural talent in people."

For more information on classes, call 706-401-9202.

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