Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What age should my child start guitar?
A: Any age is a good age to start! Nathan works with students ages 4 and up. Because Garden City Guitar Program is focused on starting students in their pre-teen years, Nathan generally does not enroll new students over age 11, though students who start younger are welcome to stick with lessons as long as there is interest! Many students will start lessons at age 4-8 and continue through high school. If your child is over age 11 and would like to start guitar Missoula has some other good teachers focused on starting teens with guitar.
Q: Do you teach beginners?
A: Yes. Nathan loves teaching absolute beginners and offers a great student starter package that includes a Cordoba Protege Guitar, a month of lessons, and beginning materials for an affordable price.
Q: How Much Do Lessons Cost?
Small Group lessons (2-3 students) are $100 per month. Private lessons are $130 per month.
Q: What size guitar should I get for my child?
A: It depends on your child's age and size. Generally children ages 4-5 are best suited with a 1/8th size guitar, 5-7 a 1/4 size guitar, ages 8-9 a 1/2 size, and ages 10-12 a 3/4 size. Feel free to contact us for a recommendation of the appropriate size guitar and answer any questions you may have about children's guitars. Because 1/8th size guitars need to be specially sourced from a different guitar maker (laMancha) there is a $50 charge added to the new student package to cover the difference in instrument cost.
Q: How long and how often are the lessons?
A: The lessons are a 1/2 hr. long and we meet once a week. Lessons are available Monday-Friday from 1pm-7:30pm.
Q: How long does it take to learn the guitar?
A: Instructor Nathan Zavalney's goal is to have student making music from the first lesson, giving students enjoyable, appropriate, and achievable challenges that will develop the interest and inspiration to make guitar playing a lifelong activity. We recommend that parents commit to a minimum of 2 months of lessons when starting a child with learning the guitar. Learning guitar can be a lifelong journey!
Q: As a parent, how can I best help my child’s musical ability?
A: Even if you don't have any musical background you can ask the teacher for advice on how to help your child practice. By encouraging your child, showing interest in their playing, and helping develop the student's practice habits your child will improve. Parents are asked to attend their child's music lessons to get an idea of how songs should sound, what the student should be practicing, and to learn tools and techniques for helping with practice.
Q: I have more than one child, can I bring them to the lessons?
A: Many families involved in Garden City Program have more than one child. Our facility is well equipped to handle parents bringing siblings to class, with play areas outside the classrooms and activities to keep kids busy. We also offer a 20% sibling tuition discount ($15 per student) if you would like to enroll more than one of your children in lessons.
Parent testimonials:
"My 9-year-old boy has been taking guitar lessons with Nathan Zavalney for 3 years now. And he loves it. His instructor has always brought out the best in the 3 high-energy boys in the group lesson. He helps them focus and learn in a really fun way. They know scores of songs now of increasing difficulty. And they play with musicality. And when any one takes the focus away (as nine-year-olds will do), the teacher has a great way of turning their distractions into fun, creative ways to make music by pulling out exotic instruments, having them play behind their back, each contributing a repetitive sound to the collective "noise machine," balancing one more stuffed animal on their heads with each successful repetition of a tricky part of the song or any number of ways that he's figured out kids respond to over the years. It's great."
Jason K.
"Nathan Zavalney offers an amazing program and I cant imagine not giving my children this experience. I am not a musician but my kids are, they learn to play at a pace they understand, they read music, they have fun and they are proud of their accomplishments. Music has opened their minds and they've learned to understand and appreciate music on a level I dont understand. I wish I would've had this opportunity as a child. Sign your children up and stick with it, it will change their lives and yours. I would highly recommend this program!"
Rich R.