Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 12/3/07 Section: News

Saline senior Bob Kendall teaches South Lyon senior Rob McNamara some basic lessons on the guitar. Kendall has fliers distributed throughout campus with his number, and performs the lessons out of a room in his apartment. [Click to enlarge]

Kendall has a total of six students. He gives a CD to students to help them learn the songs in the genre they choose. [Click to enlarge]

Guitar instructor Bob Kendall thinks everyone should express their creativity.

The Saline senior has played guitar for 10 years and began giving lessons a few months ago.

"Everyone has a creative side, like when you're younger and you like to color," Kendall said. "Well some adults no longer have an outlet for that side of themselves. Playing guitar is that way to engage in your creativity."

Kendall has five students - three are beginners and two are intermediate level players.

"Playing guitar can be frustrating," he said. "But once you get the hang of it, it gets easier."

He gives 40-minute lessons for $10. He said most lessons are 30 minutes and cost more money.

"I think people (especially students) should get more time for their money, and at a lower cost, he said.."

He said he hopes to have 20 students so he can quit his job and focus on his passion.

Okemos junior Cindi Banks has been playing guitar on and off for about five years and has been receiving lessons from Kendall for about two months.

"He has helped me out a lot. He is an amazing guitarist and teaches you what you want to learn," she said.

Kendall said he interviews his students first to get a feel for what they want to learn and what kind of music they like.

His lessons start off with the basics (if the student is a beginner) and then he makes a CD of all the songs they will be learning, based on the genre they like.

"I get my lesson plans from my own experiences with learning to play the guitar myself," Kendall said. "How I worked through the difficulties I had on my own and from my instructor."

Kendall's instructor was Alex Johnson, who founded the Ann Arbor Music Center. Kendall also played in a garage band, "Lucky Third Wheel," and an acoustic act, "P.S.," in high school.

Another one of Kendall's students, Iron Mountain freshman Libby March, enjoys her lessons.

"Kendall is also kind and encouraging, especially if you mess up," she said.


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