Guitar Center Announces Launch of New "Music Mentor Series" Offering Free Lessons in Every Store Location Across the U.S.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., Dec.18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Guitar Center, the world's largest musical instrument retailer, is taking their commitment to helping people make music to the next level in 2013, rolling out Guitar Center's new "Music Mentor Series" across all 240 nationwide retail stores. Created by Guitar Center's highly-trained instrument experts, the curriculum for this multifaceted weekly series is set to provide aspiring musicians with the knowledge and skills they'll need in order to fully-utilize their instruments and maximize their creativity. The first program in the new mentorship series will feature free guitar lessons and will begin nationally on December 27 at all Guitar Center locations.

Through the launch of the new Music Mentor Series, Guitar Center is offering its customers, including budding acoustic and electric guitar players, the opportunity to participate in a series of free in-store guitar lessons. Each one-hour lesson will feature Guitar Center's expert staff members demonstrating introductory guitar techniques including proper playing position, tuning, basic strumming, chords and instrument care. The first set of lessons begins on Thursday, Dec. 27^th through Sunday, Dec. 30. All 240 Guitar Center stores will continue offering these introductory guitar lessons each Saturday throughout January 2013. The guitar lessons are all free to customers and aspiring guitar players who have purchased a new or used guitar at a Guitar Center store or GuitarCenter.com.

Interested participants are encouraged to register ahead of time at the Guitar Center Saturday Lessons homepage (http://www.guitarcenter.com/Saturday-Guitar-Class-g26677t0.gc) to secure a spot at their desired time and location. Each class will be limited to approximately 15 – 20 guests to ensure everyone gets the most out of their learning experience. Students are also welcome to repeat the class multiple times as they work to build a foundation for their craft.

"The Music Mentor Series is an unprecedented company-wide platform that gives our customers the ability to advance and enhance their musical pursuits, right in their own communities – an ideal that speaks to the heart of Guitar Center's commitment to helping people make music," says Jeff Hiller, VP of Product Promotions and Customer Experience at Guitar Center. "Our goal with the Guitar Lessons series is to inspire aspiring guitarists of all ages to get comfortable with their instruments and establish an empowering base-set of skills that will open up a new world of music-making for each student."

Perfect for those with musical New Year's resolutions, this January Guitar Center's Music Mentor Series will also feature their popular Recording Made Easy – DIY musician workshop classes – with additional courses in drumming, DJing, mic'ing techniques, family drum circles, ukulele lessons and more, being offered through similar series' on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the spring.

Guitar Center's Music Mentor Series – Free Guitar Lessons program Schedule*:

Thursday, Dec. 27 – 11:15 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 28 – 11:15 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29 – 11:15 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 30 – 11:15 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 5 – 10:15 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 12 – 10:15 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 19 – 10:15 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 26 – 10:15 a.m.

*all dates and times are applicable at all 240 Guitar Center retail locations – check the website for details – space is limited

About Guitar Center

Guitar Center is the world's largest retailer of guitars, amplifiers, drums, keyboards and pro-audio and recording equipment. Our retail store subsidiary presently operates 240 Guitar Center stores across the U.S. We are also the largest direct response retailer of musical instruments in the United States through our wholly owned subsidiary, Musician's Friend, Inc., and its catalog and Website. In addition, our Music & Arts division operates more than 100 stores specializing in band instruments for sale and rental, serving teachers, band directors, college professors and students. More information on Guitar Center can be found by visiting the Company's Website.

SOURCE Guitar Center