Today is March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, the day where everyone is Irish… even me!

And so, here is a video of two of my favorite Irishmen signing together on Grafton Street in Dublin Ireland on Christmas Eve. They call it ‘busking’ but I’m not sure that’s entirely true since they are literally mobbed with people (a busker’s dream) and probably no one is giving them money (a busker’s nightmare).

But still, it’s a great video! Enjoy and I’ll see you right here for more guitar news and info very soon! Promise.

NOT SO if you want to prepare to perform a song for your sweetheart!

How would you like to play and sing a song to your wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, children, grandparents or anyone!

The Valentine’s Day Guitar Lesson Package

… is a limited time sweetheart of a deal and includes SIX (6) thirty-minute beginner/intermediate guitar lessons to prepare 1-2 songs to perform for your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day!

These quick lessons can be scheduled once or twice per week, whenever you have the time.

To achieve fast results, we’ll have to get right to work and focus on the skills you need most to play your song at the skill level you are currently at.

If you want to keep an extra level of Valentine’s Secrecy, leave your guitar at home and use one of mine at the studio! (Sneaky!)

If you sign up now, you’ll receive a SPECIAL BONUS: A digital recording of your song recorded at the Magnolia Guitar Studio! Your song can be emailed as an MP3 or provided on CD.

This year, forget the lousy chocolate and surprise your sweetheart with a song instead! It will be a day to remember!

PS: Maybe also bring chocolate. It couldn’t hurt!

Conveniently and safely pay via PayPal or Credit Card below or contact me for more information. I accept cash, checks and credit cards at the studio.

Valentine’s Day Special Lesson Package is over. But stay tuned for similar specials in the future. Follow me on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for more details!

Not-So-Fine-Print: Valentine’s Package may be purchased any time up to February 13, 2011. However, for BEST VALENTINE’S DAY RESULTS, please schedule at least 2-4 weeks prior to Feb. 14! Lesson Package may be saved and scheduled for another event (like a birthday or proposal) later in the year (it need not be used just for Valentine’s Day).

Resolve to Start Something That Matters

This year, why not resolve to do something a little different?

In the spirit of Six for Six, make a resolution to use your talents to make a difference for someone else. Talents are as individual as you are, so the talent you choose may be musical, visual, creative, business acuminous, or interpersonal … the sky’s the limit!

Share your New Year’s Resolution that uses your talents to make a difference in the world. On January 15, Magnolia Guitar will choose a 2012 Resolution to receive a FREE copy of Blake Mycoskie’s Start Something That Matters.

Be bold, but you need not wait for a big idea to change the world. One of the first quotes in the book says, “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

Here’s what you need to do:

1.) Visit and LIKE the Magnolia Guitar Facebook page. Then share your Start Something That Matters Resolution.

–OR–

2.) Share your Start Something That Matters Resolution in the comments to THIS blog post below.

Also, each time you share this link on Facebook or re-tweet it on Twitter #SIXFORSIX #TOMS will earn you an additional entry.

Remember, contest ends on January 15, 2012 so Resolve to Make a Difference in 2012 and WIN a copy of Blake’s book. But hurry, because the world needs you to start something that matters.

Lastly, I’ll leave you with this wonderfully sweet performance of “What Are You Doing New Years Eve?” by Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Have a happy and safe New Year!

Guitar Lesson Gift Certificates: Give the Gift of Music

If you have a guitar-playing person on your holiday list or someone who always WANTED to play the guitar, consider the Magnolia Guitar Gift Certificate!

They are personalized for the recipient and they never, ever expire!

Gift certificates are also eligible for the Six for Six program.

But you can still purchase Gift Certifiates and Lesson Packages online!

Thank you to everyone who purchased lessons during the Magnolia Guitar Black Friday / Cyber Monday 20% Off Guitar Lessons Sale! I look forward to seeing you at our next lesson!

Congratulations! You survived Thanksgiving and you may or may not have your special Post-Thanksgiving Stretchy Pants on! (I do.)

Give the Gift of Music: Magnolia Guitar Lessons Gift Certificates!

Now, instead of heading out to the mall (or at least saving yourself one more stop along the way), why don’t you treat yourself or a loved one to the Gift of Beginner Guitar Lessons at a Special Black Friday 20% Discount ALL WEEKEND long!

Simply pre-pay for 6-guitar lessons or more and instantly receive 20% off regular rates. Guitar Lessons can be scheduled any time after purchase, even into 2012! Offer is open to all students: Past, Present & Future!

Just select the option you want below and safely pay using your PayPal account OR with your credit card.

If the lessons are a gift for someone, let me know their name in the available field and I’ll send out an eco-friendly gift certificate you can print out or email!

You will have an option to add an address or additional notes after clicking the “Buy Now” button. Returns available minus PayPal/credit card processing fees. Please Note: Black Friday Sale does not count towards the Six for Six Program.

Good luck out there, stay safe and Happy Shopping!

Subaru “Hockey Mom” Ad (2011)

The Pogues, “If I Should Fall from Grace with God” (1988)

The Pogues were a Celtic punk band, formed in 1982 and fronted by Shane MacGowan. When MacGowan left the band in 1991, the band continued with Joe Strummer (The Clash) and then with Spider Stacy on vocals before breaking up in 1996. The band has since reformed and has been playing regularly around St Patrick’s Day in the US and across the UK and Ireland every December. They have announced a new Japan & Australia tour in 2012.

Started in North London as Pogue Mahone, which is the Anglicisation of the Irish “póg mo thóin”, meaning “kiss my arse”.

In this video, I get right to work and demonstrate how easy and inexpensive it is to make your own home-made guitar case humidifier. You’ll save money now by doing it yourself, but you’ll also save money later, because you’ll be properly maintaining your instrument over the course of its life.

Keep your instrument properly humidified in the winter or in dry climates and you won’t have to visit a tech like me needing a big ticket repair!

Since I had to actually turn on the heat for the first time this season, I thought I’d share this 2-part video that covers humidity, temperature and caring for your guitar in the winter.

In Part 1 below, I talk about temperature, humidity and things to consider when storing your guitar during the winter months.

In Part 2 next week, I show you how to save some money and make your own home-made guitar case humidifier for practically nothing!

One thing I don’t mention in the video is that I’m among those who prefer humidifiers that don’t go inside the guitar. When used properly, these products are safe, but some just prefer not to risk it. The humidifiers that I will show you to make next week can be placed inside the head-stock area. They work just as well, and there’s risk of water leakage inside your guitar.

The video, directed by Frank Miller (300, Sin City), contains the song “Strangelove” originally by 80s cult icons Depeche Mode.

“Strangelove” by Depeche Mode

A quick look on the interwebs would show that the song could be a version by Friendly Fires or by Bat for Lashes.

“Strangelove” by Friendly Fires

“Strangelove” by Bat for Lashes

The truth is that the version of the song in the Gucci ad is a mix of both! And you can download both versions of the song for free as well as the “Intense” mix that appears in the commercial by visiting Gucci’s YouTube channel.

You can also view several different versions of the ad, including the Director’s Cut and behind the scenes footage. Impressive amount of effort, but I guess it worked since I stopped what I was doing and sought it out!

If there’s a song in a commercial that you can’t quite figure out, please let me know!

I’m super excited to announce that starting in October 2011, for every six guitar lessons a student takes with me, a NEW guitar (with six strings) will be donated to a disadvantaged child so that he or she may learn a new skill, learn responsibility and improve their self-esteem.

I’ve been a supporter of programs like Guitars Not Guns, Hungry for Music and Girls Rock! for some time. Inspired by these charitable programs and by TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie, the Six for Six initiative seeks to integrate the act of giving into the business I love: teaching music!

I play music and sing songs for a living. And I know that I’m very fortunate that, even in the current economy, my students put the value of music high on their priorities list. Because of that gratitude, I feel a strong commitment to my community to pay it forward and seize this opportunity… for myself, my students and for the kids who might not otherwise know the joy of performing music.

It’s also important to note that I’m not asking students to sign up, opt-in or do anything out of the ordinary to participate in Six for Six. And it won’t cost anything extra! All you have to do is take the lessons you were planning on taking anyway or give the gift of guitar lessons to a family member, friend or child in your life.

In doing so, you can feel good that you will be taking lessons and giving lessons at the same time. Give and take. Six lessons. Six strings. Six for six. And, perhaps, changing the life of a needy child through a shared love of music. Thank you. 

UPDATE: Six for Six has just been featured on Thumbtack.com!

For more information, please contact me here.

Press may download the Official Press Release or schedule an interview.