Budding guitar students to give recital Saturday

Some budding guitar students may not have to end their classes with a test, but they will be required to hop into the spotlight for a bit and serenade a theater full of music lovers.

Those students will be hoping for a proverbial passing grade from the audience Saturday, when the student strummers give a recital at the Historic Yuma Theatre, 254 S. Main St. The performance is slated for 2 p.m., and admission is free.

The recital will feature the music of 20 young guitar players. Most students are graduating from guitar classes offered by the Yuma Art Center, while a few others are private students learning from the same instructor, Alyssa Corea.

"They are all doing wonderfully, especially for this having been just six weeks," Corea said. "My whole goal was to have them be able to play at least one song by themselves."

The graduating classes at the Yuma Art Center are beginning guitar and intermediate guitar. Students range in age from 8 to 19.

"Some of the students are really good but didn't read music, so they went into the intermediate class," Corea explained.

Organizers at the Yuma Art Center have raved about Corea's classes, praising her for teaching beyond simple playing. She also insists that students learn basic music theory.

"I push them a lot, probably more than other teachers, but I also make it fun," Corea said, adding that she certainly gets the green light from students. "I think they pretty much like it."

People planning to attend the Saturday recital will likely notice that the students aren't just talented, they are pretty diverse in their tastes, too. Corea stressed that the recital will truly reflect students' true tastes in music, versus just forcing their fingers to play only certain musical styles.

"They will be presenting pretty much everything. We have some country. We have some hard rock," Corea said. "We're going to have everyone from Johnny Cash to Black Sabbath."

Guitar classes at the Yuma Art Center are offered year-round, starting every six weeks. Registration for the next round is set for Sept. 2, with classes beginning the very next day.

Classes are $21 for Yuma residents and $41 for others. To register stop by the Yuma Art Center or the Parks and Recreation office at City Hall.

The age range is 8 and up, although parents have taken classes alongside their sons or daughters.

Beginning guitar meets every Wednesday and Friday or Thursday and Saturday, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. The intermediate guitar class meets every Wednesday and Friday from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m.

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Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.