Guitar Center in Algonquin now offering lessons

For years, customers have been purchasing their guitars, ukuleles, keyboards and more musical needs at the Guitar Center at 195 S. Randall Road in Algonquin.

Inevitably, after new customers got their new instrument they would often ask Guitar Center employees if they knew of a good spot to take lessons.

Now, responding to that need for professional music instructors, Guitar Center in Algonquin is offering in-house lessons with store employees.

In October, they opened five soundproof booths within the store, as well as a rehearsal spot for bands.

The store now has four people on staff that teach lessons on drums, ukulele, bass, voice, and, of course, guitar, store manager Jonathan Urban said.

"We have four amazing instructors," he said. "I think we've wanted this for a long time in our store for our customers. It's great to have this now."

Urban said signing up for the lessons works similar to a gym membership. He said customers pay monthly for either half-hour or hourlong lessons. The lessons and payments continue until the customers decide to stop taking them.

Guitar Center already has 100 students enrolled.

The instructors and students hold recitals at another Randall Road business - Daily Projects Cafe, 124 S. Randall, just across the street from Guitar Center. The coffee shop has a large space where the musicians can set up and showcase their talents.

"It's a great way for the kids and their parents and the families of all of the students to come out and see the program," Urban said. "We set up and rock out for a few hours. The community loves it. The people coming in love it, too."

St. Paddy's Day fun:

You can get your Irish on several times this week at the Claddagh Irish Pub, 1702 Randall Road in Geneva.

On Wednesday, March 14, the bar will offer engraving on Guinness glasses.

Thursday's trivia theme will be "So you Think You're Irish."

On Friday, there will be live music. Sprig O' Mint, complete with a fiddle player, will perform from 7 to 10 p.m.

Irish dancers from the Rebecca McCarthy School of Dance will perform during the band's breaks, starting at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, St. Patrick's Day events begin at 9 a.m. when the restaurant opens for kegs and eggs.

From 11 a.m. to noon, the Batavia High School String Theory Group will perform. From noon to 3 p.m., the Celtic Sounds Band performs. February Sky will perform from 4 to 7 p.m.

Intermixed with the live music, the Rebecca McCarthy School of Dancers will perform at 5 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. From 8 p.m. to midnight, The Bare Hambones will play.

For details, call The Claddagh at (630) 208-0337.