Topic: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

Advice please for my teaching challenge. It's great to be starting to teach basic acoustic guitar in 2 UK prisons after 30 years' teaching elsewhere. (I play with ceilidh bands and folk groups of all kinds.) But how can the students practise when they're only allowed to handle instruments for the single weekly 3-hour session? The strings are a security risk so everything has to be locked up before the men are taken back to the cells. 

There will be some musical elements they can continue to practise, e.g. rhythm and improvised percussion, breathing and voice work, and of course sheets of their favourite lyrics for learning and working out accompaniments. However, they need to develop callused and flexible fingers. The gadget called Letechnique isn't permitted (yet! I'm working on it) but someone out there may suggest something. Meanwhile, I'll try with elastic bands and boxes.

Thanks in advance.

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

Hey Crowanna ,
   Interesting challenge , to say the least . ( Thinking about it , I suppose the strings could be used for all sorts of mayhem ) . Anything from garrotting to using the wound strings to saw through the bars .......
   How about a piece of wood shaped like a guitar neck about the length of the first five or so frets with the frets and strings put on with marker . At least they would be able to practice fingering .
   Good luck and let us know about your progress .

                     Jerry

" Just reading the lyrics , it's hard to hear the song , but if the words tug at the heartstrings......it's enough for now........... "

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

Crowanna ,
   Forgot to say welcome to Chordie . ( I always do that )
    L O L .
                    Jerry

" Just reading the lyrics , it's hard to hear the song , but if the words tug at the heartstrings......it's enough for now........... "

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

Hi Crowanna,

Sounds like you are into good music!!


If they only have 3 hours per week to learn how about giving them literature on music? reading music etc, the theory of it.
I would think 3 hours per week in one session would be quite difficult to teach people, 3 one hour session would be more like it.


and to learn chords they could draw a neck of a guitar wit hthe string to get use to the finger positions. I am sure they will do woodwork in there too so when they come out they can walk into ajob, so they can make a neck of a guitar with drawn in lines to practice on, then when they get frustrated they can use the neck as a baseball bat lol

ahhhh, no easy solution

Ken

ye get some that are cut out for the job and others just get by from pretending

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

Teach 'em the three chord ditties.   Easy to learn, and all those good prison songs will fit.

Then see if you can work with the prison to set up the program where the convicts can come and check out an instrument to practice under supervision if they have some free time.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

what about a kazoo band sure cant saw through any bars with one of those lol

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

I don't have any suggestions, but do want to thank you for taking an interest in society's most often forgotten people. 

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

Lots of supportive remarks -- what a friendly welcome!

Completely agree with Ken about 3 x 1 hour but can't be done: education comes in 3-hour lumps, to allow the officers time to unlock and escort etc. Yes, I'll plan in some music theory and printing off stuff they can take back and read.

Jerry's / Ken's wooden fingerboard might work. I'll find out what classes they have in that department, and if the lads attend that or others then yes, maybe they could be supervised to practise a bit during the break -- good idea.

never tried kazoos but you've got me thinking, Russell, hooray.

it's going to be interesting when I feel settled enough to ask the chaps whether they'd be willing to learn some explicitly prison-based ditties. Stuff by Johnny Cash and other songwriters who know what it's like being inside has gone down well, e.g. Boy named Sue; haven't yet offered, or been asked for, more personal songs about grieving. Children's songs are popular in one prison where recordings can be made to send to families (Storybook Dads project), so your kids don't grow up not knowing what you sound like.

Thanks again.

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

Crowanna all kidding aside I think what your embarking on is a very laudable endevor and you sure have a hercleian task I wouldn't know how to begin to organize such a program but if the results of such a program are positive then it is a worthwhile benificial thing for everone but you sure have your work cut out and I wish  you all the success

"Growing old is not for sissies"

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

It's a great thing. 

But as an aside, Johny Cash never did time in prison.  A bunch of misdemeanors, but that's it.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

I know someone in HMP Saughton learning guitar and I,m sure he,s got it for more than three hours per week.

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

Give them loads of simple songs to learn.  In there spare time.  I mean the words.

Most people showing an interest in Music know Melodies. Can they access this?

Goodluck and Blessing to you for your good work.

Old Doll.

Why Blend in with the Crowd ? When you were made to stand out !

Re: anyone else teaching guitar in prisons?

Just teach em Air guitar, they could have these amazing air guitar performances.
Eddie van Halen riffs - alot of finger tapping stuff, pinched harmonics always looks good.
Good luck!

"It's all about the Calluses, once you got them, you can't get rid of em!"