The Guitar Bootcamp | A Make More Music Clinical Skills Class for Music Therapists

We're proud to announce open enrollment for the clinical musicianship bootcamps for summer 2024! We would love for your to join the cohorts for the Guitar Bootcamp - a six-week online course about intentional clinical musicianship on the acoustic guitar.

Hosted live on ZOOM and recorded for asynchronous viewing options, we are seeking music therapists, interns, and students that are interested in leveling up their musicianship skills on the guitar. Each six-week cohort focuses on applicable clinical musicianship skills in a progressive manner with suggested homework, rich supplemental guides, lifetime access to recordings, and guided mentorship from a music-centered, popular stylism approach. A snapshot of the topics the Guitar Bootcamp is as follows:

SCHEDULE: (all times in Eastern Standard, GMT -4)

• WEEK 1 - Mon, 6/24, 6:30-7:30p EST - Intro to Clinical Musicianship & Foundational Practice Skills
• WEEK 2 - Mon, 7/1, 6:30-7:30p EST - Folk Stylism; finger independence & creating textures
• WEEK 3 - Mon, 7/8, 6:30-7:30p EST - Rock & alternative styles; power chords, riffs, and palm-muting
• WEEK 4 - Mon, 7/15, 6:30-7:30p EST - Blues & Jazz influenced styles; extended chord voicings
• WEEK 5 - Mon, 7/22, 6:30-7:30p EST - Pop & Hip-Hop on the guitar; Translating “non-guitar” music
• WEEK 6 - Mon, 7/29, 6:30-7:30p EST - Clinical transfers; improvisation and more

MORE INFORMATION & FAQs:

Each clinical musicianship course is eligible for 7 hours worth of self-reported CMTE credits, meaning up to 21 hours of CMTE credit for completing all three bootcamps! Check out our price savings when you bundle 2 or all 3 of the classes!

FAQs

• WHO ARE THESE CLASSES FOR / WHAT SKILL LEVEL DO I NEED? All the classes are aimed at music therapists that want to connect better to their population bases better through guitar or the digital instrument software. They do start at slightly different spots though, I’d say:
  • GUITAR BOOTCAMP - Acoustic guitar is the instrument we use and I’m assuming you’re already “proficient” at the guitar. I’ve noticed that it has moved rather quickly for some students or interns in the past. Remember, there’s no test though - so even if it’s above your current skills level, you can always take your time with the recordings and practice routines.
  • ELECTRIC GUITAR BOOTCAMP - assumes basic guitar competency, but zero electric guitar knowledge or skills. You will probably want access to an electric guitar and amplifier, even if it’s borrowing one from a friend.
  • DAW BOOTCAMP - assumes no specific competency, but I also assume that most people have opened GarageBand etc before. You will probably want access to GarageBand (iOS / apple) or Soundtrap (windows & apple compatible) or some other DAW via a laptop, desktop, or tablet device.
• DO I HAVE TO BE AT ALL THE CLASSES TO SIGN UP? Nope, not at all really. Previously, several people have signed up and participated 100% asynchronously and seem to get a lot of out the classes! Additionally, this also works if you happen to not be able to make a couple of meetings live. I intend these to be very low pressure.
• CAN I, OR SHOULD I, TAKE ALL THE BOOTCAMPS AT ONCE? Totally up to you! The concepts across all three classes definitely interrelate, so [I hope] it’ll feel congruent. The good thing about them being recorded, is if it starts to feel too much at once, you can focus on any combination of the classes at your own leisure.
• HOW DO YOU ACCESS THE RECORDINGS AND MATERIALS? All cohort members will receive a link to a BOX folder with permanent access. Classes are hosted on ZOOM.
• I CAN’T AFFORD THE BOOTCAMPS, HELP! To be honest, I hate charging anything for these and I’m exploring other ways to make this accessible in the future. I would HATE for the only reason for you not to do these was money. Please email me (chris.millett@louisville.edu) and we can work something out!
• I’D PREFER 1:1 SUPERVISION, LESSONS, ETC. DO YOU DO THAT? I’d love to talk with you about individual or even group supervision - whether it’s about clinical musicianship or other supervisory needs. Again, please email me (chris.millett@louisville.edu) and we can see if we can find time to make it happen!
• I DECIDED NOT TO, OR I’M UNSATISFIED. CAN I GET A REFUND? I have ZERO interest in taking money for something you’re not excited about. I am new to using Gumroad but email me (chris.millett@louisville.edu) and I’ll process your full refund!