The guitar is one of the most recognized and popular musical instruments in the world, though it might not be the most accessible in terms of price.
Members of the Grandview Heights Public Library are able to circumvent purchasing via its guitar rental program, which began in August. Four six-string Yamaha acoustic guitars are available to be checked out the same way one checks out a book or DVD – with a library card.
“Music is collaborative, creative, educational and fun,” says Canaan Faulkner, public relations manager for the library. “It is what the library likes to do.”
When a guitar is checked out, it comes with a hard shell case, guitar picks, instructional materials and starter materials. Anyone can use the guitars, but only cardholders 18 years old and older can check them out. No experience is needed to rent one, as the instructional materials will help beginners become familiar with the guitar, Faulkner says.
“If you never played a guitar, the instructions will teach you how to hold the guitar, how to hold a pick and more,” Faulkner says. “It provides very basic information just to get you started.”
Members have a 28-day limit of use until the guitar needs to be returned or renewed. If no one else is waiting on the guitar, it can be renewed up to three times. Members with overdue guitars will be charged a daily fine of $1.25.
The lending program was inspired by Licking County Library’s guitar and ukulele lending program, Faulkner says, adding the library knew it would have a broad appeal.
“It supports education and arts and promotes hands-on, collaborative learning for any age,” Faulkner says. “Both the library and the Education Foundation loved the idea of bringing it to this community. It's a perfect fit.”
The program was also possible thanks to help from the Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Education Foundation and the Guitar House Workshop. The Education Foundation, which funds projects for schools and the community, awarded $2,000 to the library.
“We are thrilled with the program’s success, and we love working with the Education Foundation. It’s a win across the board,” Faulkner says.
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Ewen
The Guitar House Workshop – located in Clinton Township, near Grandview – helped the library select the guitars and also provides routine maintenance.
In addition to guitars, the library offers rentals of vinyl records, slide and negative scanners, and preloaded e-readers, and laptops are available for lab use.
“These are other offerings that are outside the scope of what you would expect from a library,” Faulkner says.
Proof of the program’s popularity? The guitars are almost always checked out. And, while there are no plans to add instruments other than guitars for patrons to check out, Faulkner says it’s possible the library will add more Yamaha guitars to cater to demand.
“We have heard nothing but positive things about the program,” says Faulkner. “It has been very popular among our members. Having guitars to check out is awesome.”
Kyle Tucker, a guitar instructor with Musicologie who will visit the library in May to teach guitar basics, says the lending program is a good solution for those who want to try out the guitar before purchasing it.
“It opens up music to people for whom the barrier to entry has been too high,” Tucker says. “It can be very pricey to start playing an instrument, and the library does a lot to make learning more accessible for everyone.”
While the best approach to learning an instrument is through one-on-one instruction, a large quantity of information exists at the library or online for learning how to play, Tucker says. He suggests avoiding “how-to” instructional videos though, since it’s difficult to verify whether content creators are qualified.
“A video like that could set a student back more than help them,” Tucker says. “Published works are more likely to have correct and meaningful information.”
Most importantly, guitar students should listen to music.
“The library is a great resource for finding new music and exploring generations of different guitar players and styles,” Tucker says.
Guitar students using lending programs can make the most of limited access to an instrument. Teachers aware of time constraints can craft lesson plans accordingly.
“I have taught students over summer break, and I have done my best to provide them with enough information and content to last them longer than our sessions,” Tucker says.
Students can also pursue alternative instrument donation programs, such as Music Loves Ohio, Tucker says. Musicologie also offers monthly group classes with instruments provided. During times that they don’t have instruments, students can also study music theory via websites such as www.musictheory.net.
“Keep listening to music, go to shows and join a community of musicians,” Tucker says. “Find other ways to practice music, such as singing, studying theory and working on ear training or rhythmic exercises.”
William Kosileski is a contributing writer. Additional reporting by Hannah Bealer and Sarah Sole. Feedback welcome at hbealer@cityscenecolumbus.com.
Learn at the Library
At 7 p.m. on May 10, Kyle Tucker, a guitar instructor from Musicologie, will visit the library to teach members guitar basics.
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