I was recently interviewed for The Guitar Hero series on Jemsite.com, a website devoted mostly to Ibanez guitar enthusiasts. The Guitar Hero series features interviews with guitarists and musicians who may not have star status but are guitar heroes in their own right. You can read the interview here: Guitar Hero Series – John Horne
Continue reading 'New Interview at Jemsite.com'

I’ll be teaching at the National Guitar Workshop (NGW) campuses in Chicago IL and McLean VA again this summer. If you know anyone who might be interested in attending NGW please have them contact me for a discount code worth $100 off the price of tuition. (Valid through June 15 2010.)

Along with professional teachers like myself, NGW offers opportunity to learn from some of the finest guitarists in world. This year will feature guest seminars from artists such as: Pat Metheny, Paul Gilbert, Tommy Emmanuel, Scott Tennant, John Scofield, Sonny Landreth, Kurt Rosenwinkel and many more! The campuses are located in New Milford CT, Chicago IL, McLean VA, Austin TX, Los Angeles CA, and Bigfork, MT. NGW is open to students of all ages.

More information is available in NGW’s digital 2010 brochure located at: http://digitaledition.qwinc.com/publication/?i=32588.

Feel free to forward this information to other friends and colleagues that may be interested.

Thanks!
John

I’m a big fan of Athens Children’s Chorus!

Luke Abaffy for The Post

Teaching 45 music classes, working with about 600 children and directing a chorus of nearly 40 singers is all in a week’s work for the director of the Athens Children’s Chorus.

Melanie Horne has been directing the chorus for 11 years and is also an affiliate faculty member of the Ohio University School of Music.

“I love seeing the ‘aha’ moment,” Horne said. “When a child makes a connection, like finding their head voice, for the first time.”

Horne’s work with the children throughout the year will be displayed at 7 tonight in the Robert Glidden Recital Hall during the chorus’ final performance of the year. The concert is free and open to the public. The chorus will be accompanied by OU graduate student and clarinetist Brian McLemore, pianist Sara Golden and Assistant Director of the chorus Katie McGonagle.

Although Horne said she has always loved singing, she didn’t have her first opportunity to work with a children’s chorus until her senior year at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

“I had an amazing choral director in college, and found that I was most passionate about teaching younger children, even though I enjoy – and have taught – choral music at lots of levels,” Horne said.

Horne also teaches general music at East and West Elementary Schools in Athens, and said it’s hard to keep track of her schedule.

“I have a very active, busy day job,” Horne said. “But I always gain energy by working with the chorus. They’re such great kids.”

McGonagle, a senior music education major said she really likes directing the kids too.

“They’re all really cute, and so full of energy,” McGonagle said.

Sometimes that energy gets out of hand, said Golden, a graduate student studying music education. This happens around the same time each month.

“The most interesting thing is to come around the full moon,” Golden said. “The kids’ energy is crazy then.”

Horne said she hasn’t noticed a specific time when the children are less attentive, but rather has learned to always be ready for surprises when working with kids.

“I never know exactly what to expect,” Horne said. “It’s part of the fun of my job.”

Members of the chorus range in age from seven to 14, and have performed with the Singing Men of Ohio, Women’s Chorale and the OU Opera’s production of Hansel and Gretel.

“I love watching the group go from kids who don’t know each other to a connected group who support each other and sing beautifully together,” Horne said.

I’m really looking forward to this Friday evening’s guitar recital at Donkey Coffee & Espresso. Here is the program as it stands so far. The show is free. Please come grab a cup of coffee and support Athens’ promising young musicians!

Friday April 9 2010 7:00pm FREE!
Guitar Studio Recital!
Donkey Coffee & Espresso
17 West Washington Street
Athens OH 45701
740-594-7353

PROGRAM

SYDNEY HARDY
Straight Jig
Shortnin’ Bread
Boogie Blues

SHELBY GERLACH
Best Day (Taylor Swift)
Teardrops on my Guitar (Taylor Swift)

EVAN COOLEY &TAG HAUSCHILD
Last Dance with Mary Jane (Tom Petty)
Message in a Bottle (The Police)
Fell in Love with a Girl (The White Stripes)

JOSH HELBAK
Kings and Queens (Hlebak)
200 Miles (Hlebak)
Sea of Mercury (Hlebak)

LUCAS REILLY & ZACK SCHAFFER
WITH YONRY ZHU (AKA TWO AND FRO)
The Wind Cries Mary (Jimi Hendrix)
Smokin’ Hot (original)

JOHN HORNE
TBA

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