Who: Stagelights Musical Arts Community

What: Affordable Beginning Group Music Lessons

When: Scheduled throughout the year

Time: Normally in the evenings after 5 p.m.

Where: Stagelights Studio, 619 Chetco Ave., Brookings (just south of the Redwood Theater)

Cost: Average is $60 for five or six introductory lessons

Sign-up: Forms available at Chetco Music Co., 615 Chetco Ave., the Curry Coastal Pilot, 507 Chetco Ave, and Earl E. Books, 511 Fern Ave.

Want to learn to play the guitar? Harmonica? Banjo? Fiddle? Bass guitar? Autoharp or recorder?

Stagelights Musical Arts Community is offering affordable, beginning group lessons for those instruments beginning Jan. 30. Registration deadline is Jan. 26. The classes are open to students ages eight and older.

“This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning a new instrument to do so in a fun, casual group environment,” said John Webster, Stagelights’ education and lesson program coordinator.

Each class is designed for beginners and includes an introduction to an instrument, how to hold/play it, basic music notations and class materials.The classes are $60 for five weekly lessons (except the harmonica class, which is $50 for four lessons).  Class size is limited to 10 students and a minimum number of students must register in order to hold each class. The classes are taught by local instructors and will happen at Stagelights Studio in Brookings at 619 Chetco Ave. (next to the Redwood Theater). Students are expected to bring their own instruments.

The deadline to register and pay for a class is Thursday, Jan. 26. Registration forms are available at Chetco Music Co., 615 Chetco Ave., the Curry Coastal Pilot, 507 Chetco Ave, and Earl E. Books, 511 Fern Ave.
The schedule of weekly group lessons is:

Introduction to bass guitar (acoustic/electric): Mondays, 5:15 to 6 p.m., instructor Rick Weaver.

Introduction to banjo: Mondays, 6 to 6:45 p.m., instructor Carl Rovainen.

Introduction to fiddle: Tuesdays, 6 to 6:45 p.m., instructor Carl Rovainen.

Introduction to harmonica: Wednesdays, 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., instructor Jef Hatch.

Introduction to guitar (acoustic/electric): Wednesdays, 7 to 7:45 p.m., instructor Jacque Graves.

Introduction to recorder: Thursdays, 5 to 5:45 p.m., instructor John Webster.

Introduction to autoharp: Thursdays, 6 to 6:45 p.m., instructor George Layton.

For more information about these and future group music lessons, send an email to stagelightsmusicarts@gmail.com or leave a message at 541-469-8832.

Stagelights Musical Arts Community is a Brookings-based non-profit focused on music education and outreach in the community. More information about Stagelights and its programs is available at www.stagelights.us.