Saturday, November 8, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

A VERY SPECIAL CONCERT


    Some of my guitar class students are joining me at my Dad's rehab center for a concert in the morning.  We'll be playing about a dozen of our songs for the staff, residents, and my Mom & Dad.  It will be the very first time that my parents have ever seen me play the guitar in public.  I'm looking forward to it, although I'm sorta nervous about it.  =)



--HERE'S OUR SET LIST FOR TOMORROW--
                -- Chopsticks
                -- Tennessee Waltz
                -- Bass Boogie
                -- Crazy
                -- Warm & Fuzzy -- and -- Squirrel's World
                                {my original tunes}
                -- I'll Fly Away / Amazing Grace
                -- Oh, How He Loves You & Me / Jesus Loves Me
                -- You Are My Sunshine
                -- Edelweiss
 

Monday, August 18, 2014

Busker's Bash

     I'm playing at the 2nd Annual "Busker's Bash"  on Friday, Sept. 5th, along with Meryl Vogh on flute & keyboards and Justin Parker on cajon/ percussion.

  We will be playing some of my guitar and vocal originals, as well as cover tunes of The Beatles, Dan Fogelberg, the Everly Bros., and other folk and pop songs.

  There will also be many other musicians playing all over the downtown Salisbury area.  It should be a great time.  All of you come out and join us for some fantastic music and fun !



Thursday, August 14, 2014

Student Testimonials


   Some of my students have left testimonials about their experience with taking guitar lessons or classes.   You can go here to read their comments.


You will find these student comments on the front page or 
by clicking on the "Testimonials" TAB.   Thank You.


Saturday, August 9, 2014

Upcoming Gigs in Aug/ Sept

      
   I'm performing tomorrow night [ Sunday Aug 10 ] at 6pm at the Fulton Heights Neighborhood Association annual picnic. [unless delayed by rain]  It is a private party, but any of you residents of Fulton Heights, please come out & join us. I'm planning to play some original guitar instrumentals and songs, as well as a few cover tunes. Looking forward to it. 

     Also planning to play at Salisbury's 2nd Annual "Busker's Bash" downtown.  Every year, musicians gather downtown in front of local businesses to set up and perform for tips and just plain 'ole fun!    I played at the first one last year, and it was a real blast!   Looking forward to doing it again !



Monday, August 4, 2014

George Dennehy

  I'm always both intrigued and inspired by people who overcome obstacles to achieve their goals and dreams. 


  Recently, I was introduced through a TV show to a young man, George Dennehy, who has done just that- and it is a remarkable story.

  This 20-year-old was born without any arms, and yet, he is an amazing musician, who uses his feet to fret and strum chords.

  Please check him out.  I am sure that you also will be amazed and inspired by him.


                  Official Website


                        George playing "Iris" on the guitar


                    George playing "in concert" with the Goo Goo Dolls


                          George Dennehy's Official YouTube Channel


  

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Thumbtack

    I love a new business site that I've been introduced to called "THUMBTACK".  So far, I've found it to be an incredible resource.  You log in,  select your business or trade, and then create a free profile.  People that come to THUMBTACK looking for the service that you provide are directed to send you a request for a quote or more information.  After your reply, then they decide on whether to hire you or not.  It's a pretty simple, easy-to-use service.  I love it and recommend it to you!
____________________________________________________________________
 
Check out my profile link here for "guitar lessons & classes". 
Guitar Instruction

If you're a current (or past) student of mine, and you would like to write a short testimonial or review, you can do so by clicking here  http://tack.bz/16z9H
_____________________________________________________________________

Thanks a lot!
-- Bob 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

A New Project ?

   I teach guitar classes to senior adults at a local retirement center.  Most of my students are over 50 years of age, many of them are in their 60's.  I find that so many of them have physical or emotional hurdles to overcome to even learn to play the guitar as a beginner in the most elementary way.   

   Many of them encounter joint problems in their hands or fingers.  I even had one or two students who had parts of fingers missing from accidents.  There are also many of them who wish that they had started playing guitar earlier in their lives.  A couple of them have parents or siblings who play, and so some of them are starting to play to be able to either impress or to collaborate with their family members.  I've been told by several of my students that they feel that starting to play guitar so late in life decreases their chances of being successful.

  I began to play the guitar at age seventeen. I remember how tough it was to concentrate and focus, and how terrible the pain was in my fingers at night, when I went to bed after practicing my guitar that day.  It seemed that the calluses hurt forever, but actually it wasn't long until the pain went away, and it wasn't so bad after all.  But even after the physical pain left, there were so many mental bridges and walls that I had to cross over and break through in learning the guitar.  It seemed that every successful step that I took carried along with it another obstacle to overcome.  As I tell my students, there is a learning curve in which your guitar begins as your enemy, when playing is almost always a struggle, but eventually it gets to a point where your guitar becomes your lifelong companion and friend, and playing is a joy of your life.

   While I cannot entirely relate to all of my students' situations, I would like to write a book that not only tells my success story, but also seek to find others (especially in their age group) that have overcome obstacles to learn to play the guitar.  My favorite guitarist in the world, Phil Keaggy (www.philkeaggy.com) has a missing finger that he lost in an accident at age four.  He, like famous Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia, has played guitar all of their lives with missing fingers, and it has not seemed to bother them in the least.  However, I'm sure that they had to work at it and overcome some mental blocks to be able to get to this point.

   There is also a guitar player who is a paraplegic, he has lost both of his arms, so he plays the guitar with his feet (no joke!)  There are videos on YouTube showing him doing this, and while he cannot play in the same way as the above guitar players who are missing only one finger, he is quite still amazing to watch.

  I would like to write a self-help book that would incorporate stories and testimonies of people from all age groups and walks of life, who overcame problems and disabilities to be able to play the guitar.  I think that this would be a great encouragement to any guitar player, but especially beginning players.  Perhaps this could also include a companion video (DVD) which would feature these players in interviews and also show them playing the guitar.

  Thanks--Bob =)
 © 2014 Bob Wingate/GuiTarHeel Music

Friday, June 27, 2014

Audio & Video Soundtracks

   
   The latest addition to the GUITARHEEL site is a soundtrack for the song "Tennessee Waltz".  If this soundtrack receives good feedback from my guitar class students, I plan to begin including either audio or video soundtracks for each and every song that we play.

  Click on "Guitar Lessons" & then "Audio & Video" to access this new soundtrack lesson, or you can also find it at this link at my YouTube channel : http://youtu.be/5GTuhZfvaHw

  I also plan to begin introducing new guitar teaching videos that will supplement my in-class lessons, and will also be a means to introduce my site to students in other locations via the Internet.  It is my intention to build an entire system of both printed lessons (a guitar teaching workbook) & video lessons (DVD's) which will be incorporated on this website.

  Keep coming back to guitarheel.com for more exciting, new guitar teaching aids and materials.


Saturday, May 17, 2014

ODD & UNUSUAL GUITARS

 I found these on the Internet & they became part of my Guitar Class workbook. Guitars made out of strange materials or into unique objects & designs. 



--A snake guitar.
 --A foot guitar.
 --Guitar surfboard & boat.
 --5-necked & 5-pointed star guitars.
--Guitars made out of license plates & covered with fur.
 --Gumball machine.
 --A skeleton guitar.
--USA-shaped guitar.
--A beautifully engraved metallic guitar.    
 { maybe for playing metal music ? }

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Randy Stonehill in Salisbury


RANDY STONEHILL
"In Concert" /  Salisbury, NC
TONIGHT SAT, APRIL 19
______________________________________________________________________

   RANDY STONEHILL will be appearing "Live in Concert" TONIGHT-- Saturday, April 19 @ 7:30 pm! .. @ THE INN in Salisbury, located near the intersection of Hwy. #150 and Jake Alexander Blvd. at : 1012 Mooresville Road.   

  Randy is one of the legendary pioneers of Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), recording his first album, "Born Twice", in 1971 at the young age of 19, with funding from pop music legend Pat Boone.  In 1976, he recorded his first major release, "WELCOME TO PARADISE", on the Solid Rock label, an album that eventually was voted one of the Top 3 contemporary Christian albums of all time.  Randy has released over 25 albums spanning his career, and in 2010 was nominated and inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame.  

   He has toured the US and internationally many times, and recently has re-located to the Carolinas, and we are fortunate to be able to host him here in Salisbury for a concert event.  Hosting this event, in addition to INN operator Tom Millspaugh, is guest MC Dave Bumgarner from Christian station WBFJ-Radio in Winston-Salem.  Opening act for RANDY will be talented local artists Jeremy & Jessica Vess.  

We are very excited about this event & hope you will plan to be there with us!
 

Day 30 > 30 Days of Stonehill


• Day 30 • 30 Days of Stonehill
•  TONIGHT is The Show! • Get Your Tickets @ The Door!

Randy Stonehill
"Celebrate This Heartbeat" • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXiXy4CJ0Rw

RANDY STONEHILL "In Concert" @ The Inn • Tonight! • April 19 @ 7:30 pm
• Opening : Jeremy & Jessica Vess • 
________________________________________________
$10 Tickets @ Griffin's Guitars • or Call 704-213-1467 • 
or Call- Toll Free- iTickets @ 1-800-965-9324 •

Friday, April 18, 2014

Day 29 > 30 Days of Stonehill


Day 29 • 30 Days of Stonehill  
ONLY ONE DAY .. til The Show! •  Tickets available @ The Door

Randy Stonehill • "Cosmetic Fixation"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1eMWmTlis4

RANDY STONEHILL "In Concert" @ The Inn • This Saturday • April 19 @ 7:30 pm
• Opening : Jeremy & Jessica Vess • 
________________________________________________
$10 Tickets @ Griffin's Guitars • or Call 704-213-1467 • 
or Call- Toll Free- iTickets @ 1-800-965-9324 •

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Day 28 > 30 Days of Stonehill


• Day 28 • 30 Days of Stonehill
•  ONLY two (2) Days til The Show! • Get Your Tickets ! • Today is the Last Day to get your Advance Tickets !

Randy Stonehill • "Grandfather's Song" • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cqD-sA1-Ag


RANDY STONEHILL "In Concert" @ The Inn • This Saturday • April 19 @ 7:30 pm
• Opening : Jeremy & Jessica Vess • 
________________________________________________
$10 Tickets @ Griffin's Guitars • or Call 704-213-1467 • 
or Call- Toll Free- iTickets @ 1-800-965-9324 •
 

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Day 27 > 30 Days of Stonehill

• Day 27 • 30 Days of Stonehill
•  ONLY three (3) Days til The Show! • Get Your Tickets!

Randy Stonehill • "Hymn" • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZU3AqB2z3k



RANDY STONEHILL "In Concert" @ The Inn • This Saturday • April 19 @ 7:30 pm • Opening : Jeremy & Jessica Vess • 
________________________________________________
$10 Tickets @ Griffin's Guitars • or Call 704-213-1467 • 
or Call- Toll Free- iTickets @ 1-800-965-9324 •

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Randy Stonehill / Live in Concert / Salisbury NC / Saturday, April 19


   Christian singer/songwriter RANDY STONEHILL, who will be appearing "Live in Concert" this Saturday @ The INN in Salisbury, NC, will be interviewed on the "Crossroads" Radio Show on WBFJ- 101.3 FM (or 103.5 Greensboro area)  this Friday, April 18 @ 10 pm.  The show will last from 10 pm to Midnight, and is hosted by Dave Bumgarner and Maggie Lowe.

  RANDY will be featured at THE INN { located at 1012 Mooresville Rd, Salisbury } this Saturday, April 19, along with local music artists Jeremy & Jessica Vess, who will open the show @ 7:30 pm.   Then RANDY STONEHILL will take the stage for a two-hour concert.   RANDY is a gifted and talented songwriter, and a powerful and entertaining performer.  His music style is compared to James Taylor, and his insanely comedic wit to Robin Williams.  He has released 25 albums to date, and has toured the U.S. and internationally for many years.  In 2010, he was inducted into the CHRISTIAN MUSIC HALL OF FAME.  He has also recorded and performed with artists such as Phil Keaggy, Amy Grant, Larry Norman, Mark Heard, and others.

  Tickets are available at local guitar shop Griffin's Guitars, 107 S. Main Street, Salisbury, or by calling 704-213-1467, or Toll Free @ 1-800-965-9324.  There will be tickets at the door, but seating is limited.  Get your tickets / seats early.   


Thursday, February 27, 2014

Would You Like to Play the Guitar?

Would You Like to Play the Guitar?
(Pat Donahue)
would u like to play the guitar
carry money home in a jar
from a coffeehouse or a bar
or would u rather get a job ?
a job is a thing that makes u get out of bed
u work every day until you're dead
your back is aching and your mind is numb
and you just can't wait until the weekends come
but if u don't want to starve or beg or rob
you'll probably have to get a job

would u like to play the guitar
drive for miles and miles in your car
and pretend that you're a big star
or would u rather book the gig?

the agent's the guy that gets his 20%
what he says ain't exactly what he meant
he'll clean u out in ways u never thought, cuz he's good @business & he knows you're not
and he'll stew if you ever make it big
cuz he's the one that booked the gig

would u like to play the guitar
for a living hardy har har
i'll admit it's kinda bizarre
or would u rather be the wife ?

the wife's the one who has to rescue your butt
i'm either a saint or else i'm nuts
i get impatient and i get annoyed
cuz i'm the one who must remain employed
and btw, if you wanna wreck your life
become a guitar player's wife

cuz all the monkeys aren't in the zoo
they can be trained to play the guitar too
and do a whole lot better than you
and even if you don't get far 
you could be worse off than u are
at least you're playing your guitar

 HEAR THIS SONG :





Friday, February 21, 2014

Guitar Teaching Videos

COMING SOON!
Beginning Guitar Video Lessons

I recently filmed some guitar teaching videos, and will begin to post them on this site soon.  The GuiTarHeel site will also be remodeled a bit, with easier-to-navigate tools.
My new videos will include Guitar Lessons on topics like :
  • How to Hold &  Play the Guitar
  • Learning the Strings of the Guitar
  • Learning our First Guitar Chords
  • Fingerboard Exercises : The "Spider" Scale
  • Strumming Patterns & Techniques
    
   These videos are designed to be used as follow-up lessons for my Guitar Class students.  They may eventually be utilized as a separate Guitar Teaching Video, or website.

  The videos will be downloaded and posted to the GuiTarHeel website, and will probably also be posted on YouTube.  Hopefully, after posting these first few videos are posted, then more will be added soon.  Eventually, I hope to start posting new videos every week.


Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Open Mic @ The Inn

Saturday, Feb. 22
Open Mic @ The Inn
  I will be returning to The Inn this weekend to perform some of my songs.
My performance will include original songs and guitar instrumentals, 
as well as other material.  

BOB WINGATE 
__________________________ 
   
    I've had the privilege to play many times at the club that my friend Tom Millspaugh operates, called THE INN.  To me and to many other of my friends, THE INN is "Salisbury's Best Kept Secret."  I have heard and experienced so many great musicians and bands there.  Acoustic.  Electric.   Rock.   Blues.  Folk.   Country.   Hip Hop.  Every imaginable genre and style of music.  And so many, many talented people.  If you've lived in Salisbury since 2006, then you've missed out if you haven't been to THE INN.   It is truly "The Place to Be on Saturday Nights."  And of course- it's a place where God and his Son Jesus are exalted and praised.  That's actually more important than the music itself.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Phil Keaggy "Looping" Show

    
   Legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy just did a guest appearance on Steve Krenz's "Live Lessons" show on Tuesday, January 28, broadcast "Live" from Gruhn Guitars in Nashville.



It was a great show.. and now here's a Link for you to watch too.. Enjoy !







Friday, January 17, 2014

Guitar Gigs

  Just wanted to let ya know & encourage you to "go check out" the GUITAR GIGS page on this GuiTarHeel site.   GUITAR GIGS will update you on a lot of the area performances, especially from great guitar players & pickers.   Our Guitar Class has gone as a group to many of these performances in the past;  check back frequently to find out what "gigs" are coming up soon in this area.. and then go with us!

  Just a few of the past guitar performances that we have attended and enjoyed :

  • Pat Terry (singer/songwriter from Atlanta, GA) 

   Click on the ABOVE LINKS to the web sites of these great guitarists ; they all have many guitar videos on YouTube where you can enjoy their music. 

   So- keep coming back to GUITAR GIGS to learn more about upcoming concerts!