Stephen F. Austin State University

NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS - Alan Scott, adjunct faculty in the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music, has joined the Music Preparatory Division as a teacher of classical guitar. He and Herbert Midgley, SFA lecturer, will both be available to teach half-hour or one-hour private lessons.

As a guitarist, Scott performed and taught in Costa Rica as part of the Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano Promising Artists of the 21st Century Program in 2002. He is also a composer whose compositions have been performed at festivals and conventions within the United States and abroad. He received his Master of Music in composition from Florida Sate University and is pursuing his doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Midgley has been a member of the music preparatory faculty for 11 years. He earned his Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Master of Education from SFA and currently teaches music appreciation, guitar and electronic music for SFA's School of Music.

The guitar program in the SFA Music Preparatory Division focuses on both traditional and classical guitar techniques, explained Pat Barnett, division director. "Students learn both how to read standard music notation as well as how to play chords, which will allow them to play in any popular style of music."

Students who sign up for private guitar lessons will meet with the instructor once a week for 12 weeks, beginning the week of February 12.
Cost is $150 for half-hour lessons and $250 for one-hour lessons.

The Music Preparatory Division also offers group guitar lessons for students to learn some basics about the guitar before registering for private lessons. A class for third to eighth graders with little or no experience will be offered on Mondays at 4 p.m. An intermediate class for youth and adults will meet at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays. Performance of a wide variety of standard and popular duet, trio and quartet repertoire will be included.

Both classes will meet for 12 weeks in the Wright Music Building, Room 275, and will be taught by Midgley. Cost is $150.

Registration is now open for all of the private and group lessons offered through the Music Preparatory Division. Fifteen-week private lessons begin the week of Jan. 15. For a complete listing of offerings and a registration form, visit www.music.sfasu.edu/prep. For additional information, contact Barnett at pbarnett@sfasu.edu or call her at (936) 468-1291.