Published: November 08, 2009 10:37 pm         

Classical guitar program offered at Emerson, soon EHS

Professional classical guitarist Brad Richter, formerly of Enid, is spending some time away from his home in Tuscon, Ariz., to help start a classical guitar music program for Enid’s students.

Lead Guitar is a program that brings classical guitar opportunities to students at schools across the country.

“The program Lead Guitar is a rapidly growing organization that puts guitar playing in schools around the country,” said Richter. “I’d been wanting to bring this program to Enid for awhile.”

Enid Arts helped bring a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council to Enid which started the program locally. The Lead Guitar program has began at Emerson Middle School and soon will take off at Enid High School.

Kevin Miller is teaching the guitar class at Emerson and is receiving coaching from Richter when Richter comes to Enid.

“A lot of what I’m focused on is teaching the teachers to use this method,” said Richter.

Richter said many students who may not be interested in band or orchestra are interested in guitar and musical training is beneficial to all students.

“Kids in school music programs are 20 percent more likely to graduate,” said Richter. “Over 80 percent of those who earn over $150,000 have studied music.”

Even with the statistics showing the benefits of music training, many students don’t think band or orchestra is something in which they want to participate.

“Sometimes (guitar is) perceived as a ‘cooler’ instrument because it has to cultural bridges in pop music and rock and folk,” said Richter.

Lead Guitar is a flexible program that can be tailored to fit each school’s needs. Richter spends his time in Enid training the onsite teachers, installing the Lead Guitar curriculum and spending individual instruction time with the students.

The most important part is finding a teacher willing to learn the curriculum and invest time and energy in the guitar students.

“The program in the school kind of lives and dies depending on the enthusiasm of the instructor,” said Richter.

Richter said Miller’s enthusiasm and willingness to learn has been a great benefit to Emerson’s Lead Guitar students. Emerson currently has about 20 guitar students, and Richter said he expects that to double by next year.

Enid High School will begin its Lead Guitar program as an after-school activity for the remainder of this school year but it will be a regular class during the school day next school year.

“I just think this is such an awesome project,” said Molly Helm of Enid Arts.

Richter recently gave a concert to the students of Enid High to spark interest in the program.

“The whole student body of Enid High School was absolutely spellbound by his playing,” said Helm.

As more students enroll in the Lead Guitar class, Enid High School and Emerson Middle School will take donations of classical guitars to help offset the cost of the program.