Grace Guitar Ministries
Psalm 33 : 3-4 | Sing unto the Lord a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth.
Current Goal: $2,000
Please help Grace Guitar Ministries ship this beautiful new guitar to Salum in Tanzania.
Please help Grace Guitar Ministries ship this beautiful new guitar to Salum in Tanzania.
The quote for shipping to Tanzania
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This ministry has two goals:
1) To provide high quality classical guitar instruction to people in disadvantaged circumstances. 2) To spread the Gospel and encourage believers in their walk with Jesus Christ. |
About Grace Guitar Ministries
Instruction is provided online through videos, articles and Skype lessons. Students will also be provided with resources like instruments, books, strings, etc.
Bibles and Christian books will be distributed to students, who will be encouraged to spread them on to their friends and family. Bible studies will be done on a regular basis to help strengthen the students' knowledge of the Word and to train them up in discipleship. A stipend will also be provided to students in serious need, to help with everyday costs of living to ensure that time can be committed to growing in the Lord and studying music.
This mission will require your help. Please consider donating any of the following towards this ministry:
1) Money
- Enable the ministry to provide resources and funds to students
2) Materials (guitar books, Christian books, etc.)
- Please consider donating any used books you have that are unneeded.
3) Instruments
- Please consider donating any used instruments you have that are unneeded.
4) Teaching
- If you're a guitar teacher and wish to donate your time, I can assign you with students.
Bibles and Christian books will be distributed to students, who will be encouraged to spread them on to their friends and family. Bible studies will be done on a regular basis to help strengthen the students' knowledge of the Word and to train them up in discipleship. A stipend will also be provided to students in serious need, to help with everyday costs of living to ensure that time can be committed to growing in the Lord and studying music.
This mission will require your help. Please consider donating any of the following towards this ministry:
1) Money
- Enable the ministry to provide resources and funds to students
2) Materials (guitar books, Christian books, etc.)
- Please consider donating any used books you have that are unneeded.
3) Instruments
- Please consider donating any used instruments you have that are unneeded.
4) Teaching
- If you're a guitar teacher and wish to donate your time, I can assign you with students.
Please let me know if there is something specific you wish to donate towards.
You will receive records and information of your donations.
You will receive records and information of your donations.
Current Students
Kevin Otieno
From Kenya
From Kenya
My name is Kevin Otieno Odallo. I'm a born again Christian currently 21 yrs of age. I was born and raised in Kenya.
My interest in music developed from when I was in primary school. I would see other people in church playing instruments and admired being a musician, though I never got an opportunity to learn any music.
When I joined highschool at the age of 14, I developed great interest in guitar but I still had no opportunity to learn since I had no access to neither guitar nor a teacher.
I then graduated from highschool and luckily enough my elder brother who had also just started learning guitar gave me some insights from what he learned, and I started learning guitar and practicing from our local church.
I did not have a professional guitar or music teacher when I started learning, and I would use online materials to learn guitar. I then got the opportunity to play guitar at our local church a few months later.
I recently development further interest in classical music, and when I was browsing the internet for classical guitar material, I came across a web page offering free practice material a free Skype lesson. This was from Mr Daniel Nistico from Grace Guitar Ministries. This is how I met Grace Guitar Ministries.
I am now very grateful to Grace Guitar Ministries and all its supporters since I now receive classical guitar lessons from a professional classical guitar teacher and that means a lot to me. I am also happy to say that Grace Guitar Ministries is a great foundation for me and due to that will fulfill my dreams of being a great musician.
My interest in music developed from when I was in primary school. I would see other people in church playing instruments and admired being a musician, though I never got an opportunity to learn any music.
When I joined highschool at the age of 14, I developed great interest in guitar but I still had no opportunity to learn since I had no access to neither guitar nor a teacher.
I then graduated from highschool and luckily enough my elder brother who had also just started learning guitar gave me some insights from what he learned, and I started learning guitar and practicing from our local church.
I did not have a professional guitar or music teacher when I started learning, and I would use online materials to learn guitar. I then got the opportunity to play guitar at our local church a few months later.
I recently development further interest in classical music, and when I was browsing the internet for classical guitar material, I came across a web page offering free practice material a free Skype lesson. This was from Mr Daniel Nistico from Grace Guitar Ministries. This is how I met Grace Guitar Ministries.
I am now very grateful to Grace Guitar Ministries and all its supporters since I now receive classical guitar lessons from a professional classical guitar teacher and that means a lot to me. I am also happy to say that Grace Guitar Ministries is a great foundation for me and due to that will fulfill my dreams of being a great musician.
Salum Sayi
From Tanzania
From Tanzania
I was Born in a Christian family. Our parents raised us in a Godly manner (all thanks to them).We would not miss church, unless it was your duty keeping the animals (cows and goats)
I joined a Church Choir at my early teen. Our Church Choir used electric guitars, which were locally made.
I started learning a rhythm and Bass guitars. I remember the rhythm guitar had three strings and the bass one had 4 strings. That rhythm guitar caught my interest.
I left home for Secondary School. I had happiness mixed with worry because it was my first time traveling from my village to a distant town.
Though I grew up in a Christian family, I never thought religion was a personal issue. While in my secondary school, I received Jesus as my personal savior and got baptized.
Guitar was a forgotten story till when I was in my Advanced secondary School. There was friend who played an acoustic guitar. It revived my interest and decided to buying an acoustic guitar one day..
I bought my acoustic guitar while in college. My interest in music/guitar grew. I started self teaching through YouTube.
Through YouTube searching, I found classical guitar music which caught my interest much. I listened to music played by Anna Vidovic, Gohar V, John Williams, Rodrigo Rodriguez, and others.
I made my mind I will learn classical guitar, though it seems tough.
In our place it is not easy to get a classical guitar. I installed nylon strings on my acoustic guitar and started learning.
I thank God for making it possible to having online classes with Dr Daniel.
I am looking forward to serving the Lord and the Community through Classical Guitar.
I joined a Church Choir at my early teen. Our Church Choir used electric guitars, which were locally made.
I started learning a rhythm and Bass guitars. I remember the rhythm guitar had three strings and the bass one had 4 strings. That rhythm guitar caught my interest.
I left home for Secondary School. I had happiness mixed with worry because it was my first time traveling from my village to a distant town.
Though I grew up in a Christian family, I never thought religion was a personal issue. While in my secondary school, I received Jesus as my personal savior and got baptized.
Guitar was a forgotten story till when I was in my Advanced secondary School. There was friend who played an acoustic guitar. It revived my interest and decided to buying an acoustic guitar one day..
I bought my acoustic guitar while in college. My interest in music/guitar grew. I started self teaching through YouTube.
Through YouTube searching, I found classical guitar music which caught my interest much. I listened to music played by Anna Vidovic, Gohar V, John Williams, Rodrigo Rodriguez, and others.
I made my mind I will learn classical guitar, though it seems tough.
In our place it is not easy to get a classical guitar. I installed nylon strings on my acoustic guitar and started learning.
I thank God for making it possible to having online classes with Dr Daniel.
I am looking forward to serving the Lord and the Community through Classical Guitar.
Emmanuel Ndayishimye
From Rwanda
From Rwanda
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"To be brief, when I fully dedicated myself to learn classical guitar, God opened a Door for me:
I thank the Lord Jesus Christ who connected me with Dr. Daniel Nistico. I was like a helmsman in the middle of the sea, trying to find a shore in the north but without a compass. It was a miracle to me and I understood more that God knows what we need at the right moment even before we ask."
I thank the Lord Jesus Christ who connected me with Dr. Daniel Nistico. I was like a helmsman in the middle of the sea, trying to find a shore in the north but without a compass. It was a miracle to me and I understood more that God knows what we need at the right moment even before we ask."
My life in the world of classical guitar
How I started to learn and play guitar
How I started to learn and play guitar
My first impressions of the guitar was when I saw one of my friends at school that brought a guitar and played it for us.
That sound of the guitar struck in me so deeply and I became inspired to play it, but my heart was not moved so hard until someone lent my Aunt a guitar - she knew to play some chords. My Aunt showed me two chords in key of C (C major and F major); it was not a big deal for me to be able to hold the chords on the fretboard, otherwise I would already give up as some people I used to know did.
Thank God it was not that hard.
After my Aunt's departure I bought a guitar at a good price around 50$ USA dollars that I am still using today.
I was so arrogant to think that I could teach myself guitar; I got on YouTube and downloaded some lessons to try: I remember one particular lesson of “Amazing Grace” and how I tried it and found that it didn't sound like Amazing Grace in my ears, but “boring and darkness”. At that point, I learned that: “a baby can teach himself only one thing but to be a baby and not to be a man”.
So, at that time I went around to find someone who can teach me:
I was lucky because at that time I met an honest and humble guy who taught me how to play simple chords in C Major, A minor, G major, D major and then couples of bar chords. After that I continued to learn guitar through YouTube videos, which at least gave me some knowledge of the guitar and chords.
I ended up being so interested in classical music on guitar at that time, but I thought that it is so noble to approach it and that I first had to pass through pop, Blues, Jazz and then reach Home called “Classical Guitar Music”.
I was not afraid to learn anything on guitar, but the challenge was that I was self taught. I used YouTube video guitar lessons to teach myself. I found that after all that, I learned to play many songs but without understanding the concept of chord progressions.
That sound of the guitar struck in me so deeply and I became inspired to play it, but my heart was not moved so hard until someone lent my Aunt a guitar - she knew to play some chords. My Aunt showed me two chords in key of C (C major and F major); it was not a big deal for me to be able to hold the chords on the fretboard, otherwise I would already give up as some people I used to know did.
Thank God it was not that hard.
After my Aunt's departure I bought a guitar at a good price around 50$ USA dollars that I am still using today.
I was so arrogant to think that I could teach myself guitar; I got on YouTube and downloaded some lessons to try: I remember one particular lesson of “Amazing Grace” and how I tried it and found that it didn't sound like Amazing Grace in my ears, but “boring and darkness”. At that point, I learned that: “a baby can teach himself only one thing but to be a baby and not to be a man”.
So, at that time I went around to find someone who can teach me:
I was lucky because at that time I met an honest and humble guy who taught me how to play simple chords in C Major, A minor, G major, D major and then couples of bar chords. After that I continued to learn guitar through YouTube videos, which at least gave me some knowledge of the guitar and chords.
I ended up being so interested in classical music on guitar at that time, but I thought that it is so noble to approach it and that I first had to pass through pop, Blues, Jazz and then reach Home called “Classical Guitar Music”.
I was not afraid to learn anything on guitar, but the challenge was that I was self taught. I used YouTube video guitar lessons to teach myself. I found that after all that, I learned to play many songs but without understanding the concept of chord progressions.
The Structure of my lovely guitar
“Like a sojourner, the kind of shoes you wear make a voyage easier or harder, so is my passion on guitar”.
The guitar that I used to play and to learn (and that I'm still using) is very challenging, from the wood, strings, tuning and holding of chords:
The lower E and A strings are from a bass guitar (if I am not mistaken) because the sizes of them are thicker than any from an acoustic guitar; but they are strong enough to tune them close to the standard tuning.
The D string, G string, B string and Low E string can match with the normal acoustic steel string guitar, but the lower E and A strings can't quite match up.
About tuning - I use clamps to turn the tuning pegs; sometimes also a rigid thin piece of steel or a screwdriver to turn the tuners.
The body is made of plywood, the fretboard is made of a chapped timber and the frets are divided by tiny rigid steel plates that were inserted into the fretboard.
Recently I found out that I have to insert a tiny piece of paper on top of the saddle to reduce noise and to increase the friction of the saddle with the strings. It is clear that who made this guitar was an amateur guitar maker and no professional guitar maker exists in my country:
“Like a sojourner, the kind of shoes you wear make a voyage easier or harder, so is my passion on guitar”.
The guitar that I used to play and to learn (and that I'm still using) is very challenging, from the wood, strings, tuning and holding of chords:
The lower E and A strings are from a bass guitar (if I am not mistaken) because the sizes of them are thicker than any from an acoustic guitar; but they are strong enough to tune them close to the standard tuning.
The D string, G string, B string and Low E string can match with the normal acoustic steel string guitar, but the lower E and A strings can't quite match up.
About tuning - I use clamps to turn the tuning pegs; sometimes also a rigid thin piece of steel or a screwdriver to turn the tuners.
The body is made of plywood, the fretboard is made of a chapped timber and the frets are divided by tiny rigid steel plates that were inserted into the fretboard.
Recently I found out that I have to insert a tiny piece of paper on top of the saddle to reduce noise and to increase the friction of the saddle with the strings. It is clear that who made this guitar was an amateur guitar maker and no professional guitar maker exists in my country:
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You can understand how it is challenging and tough to play my guitar; but I have adapted to do so:
It means my fingers became tough enough and the tips of them hard enough that I have no stress to play on the guitar and I have always fun on it!
To be brief, when I fully dedicated myself to learn classical guitar, God opened a Door for me:
I thank the Lord Jesus Christ who connected me with Dr. Daniel Nistico.
I was like a helmsman in the middle of the sea, trying to find a shore in the north but without a compass:
It was a miracle to me and I understood more that God knows what we need at the right moment even before we ask.
Dr. Daniel did not only give me the compass freely but also he sailed me to the real Art of Classical Guitar.
I hope there are more than seven thousand like him in the world.
It means my fingers became tough enough and the tips of them hard enough that I have no stress to play on the guitar and I have always fun on it!
To be brief, when I fully dedicated myself to learn classical guitar, God opened a Door for me:
I thank the Lord Jesus Christ who connected me with Dr. Daniel Nistico.
I was like a helmsman in the middle of the sea, trying to find a shore in the north but without a compass:
It was a miracle to me and I understood more that God knows what we need at the right moment even before we ask.
Dr. Daniel did not only give me the compass freely but also he sailed me to the real Art of Classical Guitar.
I hope there are more than seven thousand like him in the world.
The Art of Classical Guitar in my country
Classic music in general is not popular in my country; people who can hear classical music are often those who go to worship in Catholic Churches and in Seventh Day Adventist Churches because of their Hymn Books, some choirs and their related church music philosophies.
The one person I knew who was involved in classical music is someone who fused some types of western classic music with our traditional tone of voices, accentuation and one kind of rhythm that fits well with classic music:
Unfortunately this man was killed during the Genocide of Tutsi in my country that started from April 7, 1994 and ended July 4, 1994.
The lack of classic musicians and the influence of pop/rock music made classical guitar have no place in my country. Among the top guitarists I know in my country, none I ever heard play anything related to classical guitar music: their skills are based on blues and jazz music.
There is only one high school of music that teaches guitar, piano, drum set, vocals, music production and maybe blues and jazz music. But I suspect that pure classical music has no place; maybe a little on piano but a big NO on guitar! This influences the young people to follow in these footsteps: I cannot blame young people, for many of them meet challenges like mine or even worse than mine and classical guitar music is a “fairy tale” for many. And they have no other choice of musical taste other than Blues and Jazz.
I believe that if the younger generation have a chance of being exposed to classical music (and classic guitar music particularly), they will fall in love with the Art of classical guitar music.
Emmanuel Ndayishimye
A fellow classic guitar learner
From Kigali, Rwanda
Classic music in general is not popular in my country; people who can hear classical music are often those who go to worship in Catholic Churches and in Seventh Day Adventist Churches because of their Hymn Books, some choirs and their related church music philosophies.
The one person I knew who was involved in classical music is someone who fused some types of western classic music with our traditional tone of voices, accentuation and one kind of rhythm that fits well with classic music:
Unfortunately this man was killed during the Genocide of Tutsi in my country that started from April 7, 1994 and ended July 4, 1994.
The lack of classic musicians and the influence of pop/rock music made classical guitar have no place in my country. Among the top guitarists I know in my country, none I ever heard play anything related to classical guitar music: their skills are based on blues and jazz music.
There is only one high school of music that teaches guitar, piano, drum set, vocals, music production and maybe blues and jazz music. But I suspect that pure classical music has no place; maybe a little on piano but a big NO on guitar! This influences the young people to follow in these footsteps: I cannot blame young people, for many of them meet challenges like mine or even worse than mine and classical guitar music is a “fairy tale” for many. And they have no other choice of musical taste other than Blues and Jazz.
I believe that if the younger generation have a chance of being exposed to classical music (and classic guitar music particularly), they will fall in love with the Art of classical guitar music.
Emmanuel Ndayishimye
A fellow classic guitar learner
From Kigali, Rwanda
Excerpts from a lesson
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Taiwo Adegoke
From Nigera
From Nigera
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I first saw Taiwo on Facebook, where he was posting videos full of joyful playing. Soon after seeing these videos, I felt moved to contact Taiwo and offer him free instruction. Taiwo is an extremely dedicated guitarist, who has seven of his own students (see photo above). He also loves the Lord and I believe Taiwo has been anointed by God to bring hope and peace to the people of his country through music.
Watch this inspiring documentary below to learn more about Taiwo and how the Lord has blessed him so far.
Watch this inspiring documentary below to learn more about Taiwo and how the Lord has blessed him so far.
Before receiving a donated Ramirez guitar, Taiwo was playing on a steel string guitar that he converted into a classical one! How's that for not letting limits stop you from pursuing your dreams!! Here is a video of Taiwo playing on this converted guitar:
Here is one where Taiwo is playing on his beautiful Ramirez guitar - I'm sure you'll know the tune!:
The internet speed is quite poor for Taiwo, so we can't have Skype lessons. But Taiwo doesn't let that stop him from receiving instruction. We correspond on Facebook and email, where Taiwo and I can exchange materials.
Here is a video that I made especially for Taiwo on a beautiful piece called 'Grey Sky' by Bert Alink:
Here is a video that I made especially for Taiwo on a beautiful piece called 'Grey Sky' by Bert Alink:
As well as videos, I can create documents and send these to Taiwo. Here is one I created on Carcassi's Etude 01, op. 60.
Taiwo's students are also pretty darn good guitarists! Here is David O. Timothy playing a medley of well loved guitar pieces. See if you can recognize them:
Taiwo is a very passionate and dedicated teacher. He wishes to improve his musical analysis and frequently sends me his work. Here you can watch Taiwo analyze a Bach Prelude (BWV 999). Listen to the clarity of Taiwo's explanation - it is inspiring for my teaching to hear him!