Guitar teacher instructs all ages, levels
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News from Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation
PABLO — Salish Kootenai College guitar instructor Tim Torgerson has a challenging task. Every week he leads a class of enthusiastic guitarists ranging in skill level from beginners to those with a solid understanding of the instrument who want to improve their technique. The class meets for three hours and the student’s ages run from young teens to adults. His challenge is giving everyone something that meets their musical needs and holds their interest.
“When I was organizing this class for SKC I wanted to open it up to any level of student, from beginner to advanced. I quickly realized that I was going to need both a linear and non-linear approach, meaning that we weren’t just going to focus on guitar notation, but also learn to play basic chords and by ear,” he said. “I know that I learn more quickly when I have fun playing and I wanted the students to experience the joy of music along with the technique.”
He achieved this by dividing the large group of students into skill levels, with the beginners in one part of the room and more advanced players in another part. He then assigns each group a musical exercise and rotates around the room spending time with each student.
Torgerson said that the generous donation of 10 classical guitars and 10 steel string acoustic guitars by the Yamaha Guitar Foundation, plus the donation of tuning devices, capos and picks from the D’Addario Foundation have really boosted the program’s success.
“Now we can offer an instrument to pretty much anyone who needs it in order to learn to play,” Torgerson said.
A singer and songwriter, Torgerson began playing guitar when he was 12 and has studied the instrument for more than 30 years, playing in bands and in solo gigs. Currently he plays lead guitar with a band he calls Creation Highway, consisting of his wife Alex on vocals, his daughter Elle on keyboards and accordion, and his young son Joseph on bass and guitar.
He began teaching guitar in 2005 and says it has been most rewarding.
“I didn’t realize how cool it could be, how it would improve my playing and how I would skyrocket as a performer,” Torgerson said. “Now I add teacher-mentor to my list of skills and I really enjoy it.”
More information about the upcoming SKC spring guitar classes by contacting SKCF at 406-275-4983.
