Sound Bites - Issue #17 - January 2015

A Happy New Year Filled with Professional & Enrichment Classes!

Happy New Year! With SMC Community Ed’s vibrant Winter Session under way, we are now looking ahead to an even heartier Spring Semester – with more than 170 classes, workshops and tours, including several new offerings. Registration for both sessions is now open, and spring classes begin Feb. 21.

With a theme of career training and professional development, we’re offering a wide range of courses in spring designed to help students advance their careers.

We’re particularly excited to launch our Paralegal Academy, which offers professional paralegal certification that opens the doors to high paying careers in as little as 11 months.

We’re also pleased to partner with the SMC main campus to offer the brand new ‘Career Coach,’ a free online program available to the public that will assist users find training programs at SMC, compare wages and employment trends, find “live jobs” in their fields, and build a professional resume in minutes.

Marking another first, we’re excited to offer an Open House for five consecutive days – Jan. 26-30 – that will give attendees a chance to meet instructors and staff, receive discounts, enter into a drawing for a free class and receive a surprise gift. Each Open House will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bundy Campus, Room 112, 3171 S. Bundy Dr., Los Angeles.

Of course, we also offer a wide range of fun enrichment classes that will guide our students to creative expression, healthy minds and bodies, language skills and much more.

I’m always surprised at the interesting and creative mix of new courses we are able to offer our community. For example, some of the new classes for spring are Ayurveda Spring Cleanse Retreat, Dressing from the Inside Out©, Conversational Italian, and Director’s Journal: How to Develop Your Directorial Style.

Many of these new courses are a result of student demand, demonstrating that we try hard to be responsive to the community’s wishes. Similarly, because of the great response to our tours, we will be offering two in the spring and adding a greater number of tours in future semesters.

Specifically, the two new tours this spring are Santa Barbara Orchids by Rail with Coast Starlight Train and The Bold & the Beautiful: Carlsbad Village Faire & Coastal Gardens with Champagne Brunch.

To register, call (310) 434-3400 or go to http://commed.smc.edu. You can also email commed@smc.edu.

Warm regards,

Michelle King
Director of Career & Contract Education

 

What’s New: Open House with Lady J

 

Featured Instructor: Marlene Hutchinson: Play Guitar in One Day!

Guitar playing and teaching came later to Marlene Hutchinson than many, but that has not dampened – in fact, it has fueled – her passion for the instrument. She started playing the guitar in 2002 and began teaching shortly after that.

What’s particularly unique about her teaching is that she has developed a workshop called Learn to Play Guitar in a Day!™ – and delivers what sounds like an impossible task.

“People are so excited about how much you can learn in a day,” she says.

Using that same format at SMC Community Ed – where she has been teaching since 2011 – Hutchinson has received enthusiastic student reviews as well as plenty of media attention for her unique approach to teaching guitar. (Her next workshop at SMC will be offered Saturday, March 28.)

Originally formulated to meet the needs of busy adults, the workshop is based on her private lesson program format and is equivalent to about six weekly private lessons.

The former elementary school teacher and married mother of four has taught the workshop to thousands of students at colleges, universities and other locations around the United States.

In 2011 she produced a DVD of the workshop, which airs periodically on PBS. She and her workshop have also been featured on CBS, KCAL 9 News (Los Angeles), NBC, Orange County Register, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, and The Women’s International Music Network website, as well as several print publications.

In addition, “Learn to Play Guitar in a Day!”™ is a 2014 Acoustic Guitar Player’s Choice Award nominee. Hutchinson is a clinician and spokesperson for the Guitar and Accessories Marketing Association (GAMA) and a Contributing Editor for Making Music Magazine.

Hutchinson, of Orange County, is the owner of Marlene’s Music ~ Guitar Lessons, Guitar Workshops and Guitar Products; the author of the “Learn to Play Guitar in a Day!”™ book; producer and star of the “Learn to Play Guitar in a Day!” ™ DVD. In addition, she has recorded 2 CDs. 

How did you get to be a guitarist and guitar teacher?

My guitar journey began in 2002, when I thought it would be cool to play guitar, so that was my New Year’s resolution. I found a group lesson, bought a starter guitar, and from the first strum I was hooked. I loved playing so much that I played frequently for all types of audiences – my kids’ classrooms, my own classroom (I used to be an elementary school teacher), church band, local festivals, senior care facilities, and friends’ homes. Within a year several people asked me to show them how to play, and my guitar lesson program was launched. My concept was to keep it simple and basic so that my students could begin playing right away. 

What’s the best thing and the worst thing about being a musician?

Best: The opportunity for me to actually create music. I love to sing too, so it’s fun to play and sing along with my songs. I like to share my music whether I’m performing or just sitting around with friends jamming, it’s just so peaceful to make music. 

Worst: Not one thing!

What’s been the highlight of your career as a guitar teacher?

My program airing on PBS was a huge milestone and being featured on CBS & KCAL-9 this year was a thrill! The most recent highlight was meeting a man who recognized me at an event. He told me that he plays guitar all the time, thanks to me getting him started, and that “playing guitar has changed his life.” That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing – guitar changed my life and I know it can make a difference in other peoples’ lives too!

Tell us one to three things that most people don’t know about you.

I took 6 months off during college and went on a road trip around the United States and Canada with my best friend. We went to 38 states and 3 provinces in Canada.  It was a wonderful way to see this amazing country!

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?

Skydiving! I thought it would be cool to try and it was super cool. Though I must admit that jumping out of a perfectly good airplane is a bit nuts, once your parachute opens (thankfully), then the peace and quiet you experience is like none other. The views are fantastic too!

What do you like best about teaching at SMC Community Ed?

I like teaching at SMC because the staff makes it simple for me to focus on what I do best, which is to share the wonderful world of guitar with my students. SMC does a terrific job of managing the various administrative aspects of teaching, like registration, and SMC provides the facilities that are just right for my students.  

What turns you on most about the guitar?

I like to try a new skill/technique and then work hard to “master” that skill. It can be frustrating, but when I’ve got it, it’s a fantastic feeling. The sound of an acoustic guitar is sweet and the smell of the wood makes me appreciate its origins. I also like playing familiar songs that evoke fond memories. Sometimes the inspiration for a song will simply be hearing a tune while out somewhere, like the grocery store, and thinking “I forgot about that song and how much I like it.” Then I’ll look up the music and play the song.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Playing guitar on the beach!

Who are your favorite guitarists and/or musicians?

Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Jimmy Page, Tommy Emmanuel, Nancy Wilson, Neil Young.

What kind of music do you like best?

I like most any kind of music. I tend to lean towards the music from the 70’s and 80’s, but I like contemporary songs/artists too. 

What tips do you give your students?

1. Find music/songs that you really like because then you’ll be more inspired to play your guitar frequently. 

2. I remind my students that when you practice you are making muscle memories and the more you practice the more permanent the memory – “practice makes permanent.” Another way to put it is: Step 1: Play guitar, Step 2: Repeat step 1!  The more you play the better you get.

Anything you would like to add?

My mission is for everyone in the world to play guitar because it’s so much fun!