Cool hair, world-class skills
<p>Brad Richter, a classical guitarist, speaks to student in a guitar class on Wednesday at Post Falls High School. This is the eleventh year Richter has met with high school students in the area, helping them with guitar techniques and offering inspiration. </p>
<p>Classical guitarist Brad Richter helps Post Falls High School freshman Ryan Christensen adjust his strumming hand positioning during a special guitar class taught by Richter on Wednesday at Post Fall High School. </p>
POST FALLS — It's not every day you get instruction from an individual who literally wrote the book on what you're studying.
But, for more than a decade, that has been the case with students in the Post Falls School District who decide to pursue an education in playing the guitar. Due in large part to grant funding acquired by the nonprofit Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center, prolific classical guitarist Brad Richter has been providing training to the next generation of musicians.
"It's great to have a professional musician come in and see how he preforms and get firsthand professional instruction," said Matt Barkley, the band and guitar teacher at Post Falls High School. "He's the author of our curriculum, and to have him here with a hands-on approach is just really rewarding for the kids."
Throughout the week, Richter has been working side-by-side with Barkley. One student, Mykael Rosenthiel said Richter not only has "really cool hair," but has also helped him improve his guitar skills.
"It's definitely helpful to learn from a professional guitarist because he offers insight into positioning and playing style that only comes from someone from that field," said Emily Danforth, another student in the class.
Barkley added that working with Richter during the clinics for the last three years also helps his teaching.
"I can really watch what he is doing and see how he interacts with the kids," he said. "To see the process he goes through, the details he focuses on, and for us to kind of tag-team with it makes the kids better musicians in the long run."
Richter is the co-founder and executive director of Lead Guitar, a nonprofit organization that establishes guitar programs in schools with large populations of at-risk kids. In 2013, Lead Guitar became part of the University of Arizona, where Richter is now the director of arts outreach for the college of fine arts.
"Programs and residency opportunities such as what the JACC is offering allow 45 or so kids the chance to have access to the ancillary benefits of intensive instrumental music education," Richter said. "The benefits of which are high graduation rates, better test scores and improved college attendance."
Barkley echoed this sentiment, and said he has seen just how large of an impact learning music can have on a student's overall development.
"The discipline it takes to play a musical instrument gives them another tool they can use in other classes," Barkley said. "It's very challenging; they must focus and be detailed with their practice. That translates into their other course work and life as well."
Richter added that the course and his training allow students to take part in an activity the school offers, and take pride in what they accomplish while doing it.
"It gives Post Falls the chance to shine in the arts and music department," he said. "This is a great chance to involve the school and to accelerate the arts in the community."
Tonight at 7 p.m., Richter will be joined for a concert by longtime musical partner Viktor Uzur, a well-known cellist, at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center, located at 405 N. Williams St. in Post Falls. Proceeds from the show, which costs $25 for adults and $20 for students and veterans, goes entirely to the JACC and the organization's work promoting the arts in the area.