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GNF BOARD Member Highlighted by ACG Education
GNF BOARD Member Highlighted by ACG Education
Advances in ACG Education:
A Reflection from Jon Dotson
Advances in ACG Education:
A Reflection from Jon Dotson
2026-11-06 | In ACG Education | By Angelica Campbell
We’re often in wonder at the many beautiful relationships music has given us over the years and so grateful for our community of incredible music educators! Education is one of our most precious assets here at ACG and we love having an opportunity to spotlight some of the amazing people we have the privilege of working with.
Click here to learn more about ACG Education.
This week we had the opportunity to connect with one of our teaching partners out in St. Augustine, FL, Jonathan Dotson. Jon has had a long and fruitful relationship with the classical guitar world. He has experience as an international performer, was one of the founding members of the Texas Guitar Quartet, a graduate of some of the best guitar studios in the country including UT-Austin, and taught for 11 years at UT-RGV in Brownsville TX as well as lending a hand in the creation of Texas Southmost College’s music program before becoming the Director of Guitar at St. Johns County Center for the Arts at St. Augustine High School in Florida!
“I was a student here at St. Augustine HS from 1990-1994 and this was one of the only HS classical guitar programs in the nation at the time. I currently serve on the board of Guitar North Florida, a new nonprofit dedicated to building guitar programs in schools, and I am also a board member of the St. Augustine Music Festival, which is the largest free classical music festival in the nation. I have a very small private teaching studio, but I reserve most of my time for my SAHS students and am not doing much private teaching,” Jon shares.
Jon’s relationship with ACG goes back to his grad student days back in 2004. He helped in the early years of our private lessons program and was an active outreach performer for many years. We now connect with him regularly through our GuitarCurriculum resource!
Our core philosophy in ACG Education and what we teach through our curriculum (GuitarCurriculum.com) is simple: Expressive, beautiful music-making from the very first day. All of the materials and resources at GuitarCurriculum are designed to support that simple and critical goal. GuitarCurriculum will engage your students and make it easy for you to focus on making beautiful moments in every class and every concert. There are many ways we can help create this experience. We asked Jon to share a bit about how he curates his classroom environment and he shared,
“My classroom is a safe space for music learners. In the morning, before the bell, it is filled with students practicing, socializing around the instruments, organizing groups, or just hanging out before class. The Performing Arts teachers all have first period planning, so these aren’t homeroom students early for first period, just kids who would rather be in the guitar room than anywhere else. The same is true for lunch period and after school. I pride myself in my availability to the students and in the safe, judgement free creative space they enjoy in the guitar room.
Classroom management issues have been the single greatest challenge that I have experienced, and one for which I was woefully unprepared. My hubris as a first year teacher did not last long, to say the least! I did spend two years teaching k-5 music as a stopgap position when I first moved home, and those kids just ran all over me. I was TERRIBLE at it. One piece of advice that kept coming back at me was “The best classroom management is a good lesson plan”. I never got it, mainly because my expertise as an international concert artist was completely irrelevant to that situation and I had no idea what I was doing.
GuitarCurriculum’s method books were a complete game changer. Engagement has skyrocketed, students’ confidence is at an all time high, and so is mine. Lesson planning is much easier and the holistic lesson plans and literary sequences make for perfect 45 minute sessions that end with a successful performance. The kids rolled their eyes at first but the lessons are just so engaging that it reduces wandering minds and noodling. Now they’re coming in and grabbing the books on the way to the guitar rack. I started guitar 2 class at level 3 and advanced (guitar 3 & 4) at level 5 (book 2).
I kept coming back to the advice I kept getting from my teacher friends. I’m now very proud of the progress I have made as a classroom teacher.
Since receiving my class set of the Ensemble method books, every day is a controlled, carefully scaffolded, well sequenced lesson that the students are completely engaged in. My tendency to push students beyond their comfort level is no longer an issue. 100 percent of the students are engaged in every lesson, with few exceptions. I did not anticipate how the students not only need this structure, but they crave it. They actually enjoy the class much more overall than in my previous two years as a high school teacher. They make requests, they want to revisit previous units to play the songs again. There’s no eye rolling or requests for rock and pop (we do devote Wednesdays to chord study and pop tunes, but again, very carefully, and using the chord charts in the books so we don’t break procedure). Now that the procedures and routines are established, my guitar students come in, take their book from the shelf, get their instrument from the rack, and take their seat. The daily unit/assignment will be on the board. The students know what to do before I even take attendance. Once everyone is seated and attendance is taken, the magic words “standby, please” immediately quiet the room, and we begin the lesson. Total. Game. Changer.”
Connecting with students in an impactful way don’t always need to happen stictly in the classroom, Jon shares more about how he creates engaging experiences with his students:
“I created a recording studio and rehearsal space in the back storage/locker room with a full PA, drum set, lots of amps, mics, etc, as well as a fully operational audio/video setup with Logic Pro and Final Cut pro, and students can earn the privilege to reserve time there with their projects. Some students are learning the software and tech as part of their curriculum. Others are using the space to make the connection between what they learn in the classroom and the pop/rock/whatever that inspired them to take guitar in the first place. This inspiring creative space allows students to transfer their knowledge to a more familiar and fun environment. During guitar classes, it’s also used for small ensembles, sectionals, or private lessons with one of our many volunteer guest teachers.
Another of my favorite ways to connect with my students is through performances outside of the school setting. I have always been a very busy working musician, and I am in a position to offer students the opportunity to perform in the community and launch their performing careers. I will host ‘open mic’ events for them in local art galleries or listening rooms, invite students to select performances and allow them to play during my breaks (through the sound system), and sometimes act as a sort of manager for new and upcoming ensembles, bands, etc. This is not limited to classical guitar, many of my students are in different types of ensembles and bands, and many of them are playing professionally already. My status in the community as a teacher and performer allows me to set things up for my students using my connections in the industry. This allows me to incorporate music industry and entrepreneurism into my teaching in a very palpable way. Sometimes, students are picked up by the venue. Super fun.”
We are so grateful for the teachers, like Jon, whom we get to work and interact with everyday. Every day, your dedication, creativity, and passion shape not just your students’ musical journeys, but their confidence and sense of community. We’re grateful for those who push themselves to learn alongside their students and produce successful, beautiful, and driven music in the classroom.
Thank you for another successful semester. Thank you for being on this journey with us.
Original article: Advances in ACG Education: A Reflection from Jon Dotson – Austin Classical Guitar
TJ Ryan, GNF President, is now a "Poster Child" for Creative Arts! Link to article
Long Live Classical Guitar in North Florida!
Top Ten Reasons You Should Help GNF!
Top Ten Reasons You Should Help GNF!
Guitar North Florida aims to inspire and support schools and communities in North Florida to establish and nurture quality guitar programs
through our Viva la Guitarra program.
# 10 Students who take guitar classes benefit from music education’s well-known positive effect on academic
achievement, which they often miss since guitar students are typically not band, orchestra, or choir students.*
# 9 Schools can significantly boost student academic achievements and positively influence student behaviors by
incorporating guitar classes into their curriculum.*
# 8 Our Neighborhood Communities benefit from guitar programs, which foster constructive and dynamic
relationships and bridge cultural divides, uniting people and creating positive life-transformations.*
# 7 College Music Programs benefit from a wider pool of applicants interested in pursuing music degrees.
# 6 Local Private Lesson Teachers gain more potential students from their communities, as classroom guitar
programs naturally inspire increased interest in private instruction.
# 5 Local Guitar Performers will likely see an increase in participation at events and concerts, thanks to more families
of the new guitar students taking part.
# 4 Student Guitarists who volunteer to perform recitals at school assemblies have more opportunities to develop their
stage presence and performance skills. (Imagine playing for an “all-school” assembly!)
# 3 Music Education Majors can acquire valuable hands-on teaching experience by volunteering as guitar instructors
in established classroom programs.
# 2 The Guitar Community grows economically stronger as more and more students are introduced to classical guitar
music, increasing interest in lessons, concert attendance, and ticket sales now and in the future.
# 1 Our Volunteers gain a deep sense of fulfillment, knowing their efforts contribute to a thriving guitar community that
benefits the culture and people of our communities for current and future generations.
*References:
#10 Ikner, Joseph. “Classroom Guitar: The New Frontier in Music Education.” Guitarfoundation.org,
www.guitarfoundation.org/general/custom.asp?page=EdIkner.
Habersat, Bob. “Start a Guitar Program - Yamaha Music.” Yamaha Music, 13 Mar. 2024, hub.yamaha.com/music-
educators/instruments/guitars-education/start-a-guitar-program/.
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# 9 Amoriello Jr., Thomas. “Guitar Class in 50 States: Coda - NAfME.” NAfME, 26 June 2020,
nafme.org/blog/guitar-class-in-50-states-coda/.
The Benefits of Music Education: An Overview of Current Neuroscience Research. The Royal Conservatory, Apr. 2014.
rcm_benefitsofmusiceducation_whitepaper.pdf.
“The Benefits of Music Education.” The Royal Conservatory. rcm_musiceducationbenefits_infographic.pdf
“ACG Education – Austin Classical Guitar.” Austinclassicalguitar.org, 2024, austinclassicalguitar.org/ acg_education/.
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# 8 O’Connor, Liam. “Strings of Influence: The Global Impact of Guitar Music – Vibe Vault.” Justaledcill.com, 22 Dec. 2024,
justaledcill.com/?p=22.
Iușcă, Dorina Geta. “Neuro-Psychological Benefits of Music Education.” Review of Artistic Education, vol. 23, no. 1, 1 Apr. 2022,
sciendo.com/article/10.2478/rae-2022-0001.
Guitar Pro Tab Files Sharing and Online Player.” GProTab.net, gprotab.net/en/blog/strumming-across-borders-the-role-of-guitar-in-
cultural-diplomacy-and-global-connection.
GUITAR NEWS: Keystone Heights Guitar Program Makes Front Page News
GUITAR NEWS: Keystone Heights Guitar Program Makes Front Page News
By TJ Ryan
Advocating for More High School Guitar Programs
Advocating for More High School Guitar Programs
Playing the guitar has had a profound impact on my life! While I am currently a college music student with the hope of one day becoming a guitar performer and teacher, I started the Guitar North Florida organization to encourage music teachers and others in the school community to establish more guitar programs in high schools.
I attended two different high schools in Clay County, located in North Florida, and neither school had a guitar program, which put me at a huge disadvantage when auditioning for music colleges. I knew of no high school within Clay County that offered a guitar program as part of its music department. To overcome this adversity, I decided to take a gap year after high school to improve my guitar skills and to learn more about careers for guitarists. During that year, I became a volunteer assistant guitar teacher at a high school in a neighboring county, which has over 140 students in its guitar program and has been in existence for over 30 years.
Wow! I learned what a difference a school guitar program can offer prospective students! I began researching what it takes to begin a high school guitar program and discovered tons of information from high school teachers, scholarly researchers, and professional organizations.
I then decided to construct a website and start a non-profit organization
to provide the inspiration, education, and connections
so others would find it easier to become advocates in their schools
to start more high school guitar programs.
How did I become a college guitar student without having participated in a high school program? After attempting to teach myself through online videos, I started private guitar lessons during my junior year in high school. I was fortunate that my family could afford them, as well as give me their generous support of time and encouragement.
Most students who would like to play guitar are not as fortunate as I was.
At Guitar North Florida, we are aiming to make guitars accessible to all students in North Florida, regardless of background.
Although I am a college guitar student, not all guitar students will want to pursue a degree in music like me, or even to go to college. They will still benefit from a high school guitar program. Many students may pursue a music degree in college with an outside field degree, such as medicine, law, or business, just to name a few. If a student does not wish to pursue guitar in college, they will likely keep guitar playing throughout their life and become a hobbyist and guitar enthusiast.
Playing the guitar has provided me with many opportunities and exciting experiences, including meeting seven Grammy Award-winning guitarists in the past year. I also attended the 2025 convention of the Guitar Foundation of America, which includes the premier classical guitar competition in the world. I am fortunate that the guitar has opened many doors of possibilities for my future.
It is my hope that Guitar North Florida will open similar doors for other students of the guitar in their futures.
By TJ Ryan
My Experience as a Volunteer Teacher
My Experience as a Volunteer Teacher
My life has been greatly influenced by playing the guitar. I am more focused, confident, disciplined, and compassionate. I have opportunities to travel and connect with other guitarists across the world. I did not have the benefit of participating in a high school guitar program, as my high school experience with the guitar consisted of only private lessons. While I had advantages that many other high schoolers do not have, when applying for music colleges, I was at a disadvantage, having not participated in a structured guitar program.
Fortunately for me, after high school, I took a gap year and became a volunteer assistant guitar teacher at the St. Johns County Center for the Arts (SJCCA) at St. Augustine High School under the direction of Dr. Jonathon Dotson. I learned there about the many benefits of a structured guitar program.
SJCCA offered six periods of guitar classes, one of which focused on Bluegrass music, and included two fiddle players, a bassist, and a banjo player, in addition to the guitarists. Guitar One was for beginners, and Guitar Four was for the more advanced students, with Guitar Two and Three for the intermediate students. They also had a class called Guitar Ensemble, which was an audition-based class with students who were seeking higher levels of instruction and perhaps preparing for college auditions.
Throughout the year, Dr. Dotson had invited many professional guitarists from several different genres, including finger stylists, jazz guitarists, classical soloists, and even a guitar duo, to perform for his students, often giving masterclasses to the better students. Each of his classes had concert performances at least once per semester. Some of his students competed in competitions, including the Florida All-State Guitar Ensemble. The students would often hang out in the guitar room during their lunchtime for extra practice and to get some additional tips from Dr. Dotson.
On days I volunteered, I often gave private lessons and worked with individual sections of a class. I had fun and the students had fun, too! The camaraderie of playing guitar with other student guitarists was very enjoyable and rewarding. The whole experience has opened my eyes to the potential career opportunity of teaching high school guitar myself one day.
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