Jeanette Stofleth of The Acoustics has been playing the guitar since the mid 1990's. Even though Jeanette is left handed she plays the guitar right handed. The first guitar Jeanette played was her fathers acoustic six string guitar which was strung traditional. Jeanette loved the sound of the acoustic guitar so much that she decided to buy a chord poster for her wall. Each week Jeanette would teach herself one or two chords from the poster in her room. 

For Jeanette's Birthday her parents surprised her with a BB King style black cut out acoustic/electric guitar.  Jeanette was so happy to have her own guitar and she can still remember the feeling of the sharp strings and the tinny sound the the would resonate from the s holes of her BB King replica as she played. Jeanette played guitar in her high school jazz band.

 It wasn't until after graduating high school that Jeanette bought her first acoustic/electric Seagull brand guitar. Jeanette liked the cut away and the deep resonate sounds of rhythm and picking and for years would write songs and perform with this guitar. 

The more Jeanette played the more she craved a a more resonate and ethereal sound. One day as Jeanette walked past a used music store she saw a very interesting guitar hanging up on the wall. She went in to see it up close. It was a Yamaha brand of guitar with 12 strings! Jeanette asked if she could try it out. The gentleman kindly agreed as he lifted the guitar down. 

From the first strum Jeanette was elated to hear the full and encompassing sound that she had longed to create. From that day on Jeanette has continued to play the 12 string guitar. With rich and wholesome round sounds the 12 string allows the player to experience music as if there are multiple instruments present. 

Playing guitar is a fulfilling activity for many musicians.  Because each guitar offers unique  atributes from sound to action to styles, it is fun to explore playing a selection of types in order to find the guitar that is best for you.

Instilling a Love of Music in Children

Jeanette Stofleth is a musician who sings and plays a variety of instruments. Along with her brother, River, Ms. Stofleth leads the Seattle band called The Acoustics. The siblings developed a love of music throughout their childhood. 

There are many simple ways to help children develop a lifelong love and appreciation for music. 

1. Sing songs with your kids. Action songs are always popular choices for young children. They love matching movements with the words of a song. Popular action songs include The Itsy Bitsy Spider, London Bridge, and Skidamarink. If you need ideas, check for CDs at your local library. 

2. Dance with your children. Kids often don’t need very much encouragement to get up and move when they hear a catchy beat. Why not grab their hands and join in? They will follow your example and develop an awareness of rhythm. 

3. Expose children to different genres and styles of music. Instead of always listening to the standard pop playing on the radio, you could add a little jazz to the rotation of music you play in the car. Or, you could turn on a little classical, folk music, or Broadway tunes. The library can be a good resource for a wide variety of music.

4. Attend live shows. Watching musicians perform helps children understand music on a deeper level. Not only do they hear music in a new way, they are also exposed to a variety of instruments. Many communities offer free summer concerts that are worthwhile. Also, some symphonies and orchestras perform child-friendly shows that are specifically designed to introduce children to the sounds of different instruments.

5. Allow your child to experiment musically. If possible, allow him or her to try out different instruments. Strumming on a guitar, blowing into a trumpet, or having fun on a piano can all lead to more serious study later.