Croydon guitar community still going strong as students take part in virtual recital
The music hasn't stopped for Croydon Guitar Tuition students, who recently took part in an online "virtual recital".
Students of all ages and abilities submitted recordings of themselves playing and the performances were then streamed online, with students and their families given the option to watch along in a private Zoom call or via the school's Facebook group .
The show is just one of the things the team at Croydon Guitar Tuition have been doing over the past few months to keep their students engaged in their learning and part of the schools' rich community of guitar players.
Vicki Workman, Croydon Guitar Tuition manager, said: “Like many music schools all over the country, we started offering online lessons once the lockdown started. We've had an amazing response from our students and their parents and the virtual recital was a way of bringing everybody together to celebrate the role playing music has played in keeping everybody sane and connected over the past few months."
Veena Mukesh, whose son Tarun closed the show with a blistering performance of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird said: “Thanks to the team for organising this event. Great performances from everyone, I thoroughly enjoyed it."
The school plans to re-open for in-person lessons in September but keep an online option available for those who want it. Some students have been enjoying the online lessons so much that they have indicated they would prefer to continue learning online, even once the lockdown is over. For now, the school is focussed on providing the best online learning experience they can.
As part of the G4 Guitar Network, Croydon Guitar Tuition teachers are trained in delivering the school’s structured, fun and easy-to-follow method, which aims to get students playing their favourite songs in less time by learning the 7 Essential Skills of guitar.
As well as the lessons themselves, the school is providing additional support and content to students, including attendance at multiple classes, teacher feedback via WhatsApp and a weekly Q&A in their Facebook group. The virtual recital was put together in place of the school's usual summer performance event.