Want to learn how to write a hit song, promote yourself in the music industry, jam out or just listen to great music? If yes, The Guitar Shoppe’s free monthly workshops can help turn these musical dreams into a reality.

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“Whether you are a player, want to be a player or just love music, you’ll enjoy it,” said owner Mark McKenzie. “It’s friendly, it’s casual, it’s organic. We generally do something most every Tuesday night, and all of the events are designed to be community-building events and a gathering for musicians.”

The first Tuesday of every month there is an electric jam session open to all skill levels.

“We have a wide variety of players - some are just starting, some have been playing all their lives,” McKenzie explained.

The second Tuesday of each month features varying workshops.

McKenzie said the shoppe offers different artist workshops, and there are manufacturer-sponsored events from time to time where they will demonstrate technical things on products like recording gear, amplifiers or certain guitar product lines.

Songwriter’s night is also once a month.

“It focuses sometimes on creativity and how to actually get ideas down,” McKenzie said. “It also goes into the business aspect of things like how to promote yourself.”

Adam Hood, a singer-songwriter from Opelika who has toured with numerous artists including Pat Green, Miranda Lambert and Willie Nelson, often makes appearances at The Guitar Shoppe’s workshops.

“Adam Hood has led the past three songwriter’s workshops we’ve had, and Tony Brook joined him on the last one to share songs and advice.”

Another popular event is the bluegrass jam.

“It’s really turned out to be one of the biggest ones,” McKenzie noted. “There are a lot of people who play bluegrass around here, and it’s one of my personal favorite things to do. I have my heart in that one.”

Currently, The Guitar Shoppe is working on a series of workshops for worship leaders.

“The workshop will focus on praise and worship music, how to put together programs and also how to be a leader in that situation,” McKenzie said
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There are also showcases that feature The Guitar Shoppe's Auburn School of Music students. The program currently has about 150 students who take everything from guitar, bass, piano, drums, vocals and theater.

“The student showcase is awesome because you will see kids and adults that six months ago never picked up an instrument, and now they are performing,” McKenzie reflected. “It’s gratifying to see people really excel and learn.”

Seeing students learn to play music is not the only thing McKenzie enjoys about his job.

“I love for people to realize how much talent there is in this community,” McKenzie explained. “It amazes me when people come in that you’ve never seen or heard of, and they’re just awesome players.”

McKenzie welcomes anyone who has a passion for music to attend the monthly musical gatherings.

“It’s a great thing to keep yourself motivated or if you just enjoy hearing music.”

For more information about The Guitar Shoppe’s music workshops, visit www.auburnguitar.com or www.facebook.com/auburnguitar.