Staff Report

LIVINGSTON – More than 20 University of West Alabama guitar students will showcase a semester’s worth of calluses and long practices in a concert Monday, Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. in Y-Hall auditorium on the UWA campus.

Under the direction of instructor John DeChiaro, the students will begin with solos and duets before playing the feature piece, “Hotel California,” as an ensemble of twenty-two musicians.

DeChiaro arranged “Hotel California” in four parts from the live version of the song performed by The Eagles on the band’s comeback tour.

“This is a song everyone knows, so it will be fun,” he said. “The arrangement is exactly like the live music, including the drum part broken down into rhythms that the students will tap on their guitars.”

UWA professor Dr. Joe Taylor, who heads the Livingston Press, will play the solo part. Camden, Ala. senior Joel Bonner is excited about playing the second guitar part.

“I’ve played the guitar for several years,” said Bonner. “This is my fourth concert. I’m really looking forward to it because it should be a lot of fun.”

According to DeChiaro, a combination of technical levels will be on display. Many of the musicians, who range from elementary school students to UWA faculty, started studying the guitar the semester.

“This concert is a great goal for the students to work towards,” DeChiaro said. “It’s pointless to study an instrument and do nothing with it.”

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DeChiaro also stressed the importance of the students playing as an ensemble.

“It’s just like playing in a band or singing in a choir. They have to learn to play parts that are not the melody,” DeChiaro said. “It helps with counting, sight reading, rhythms and more as they follow the conductor.”

The semester-ending concert is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will follow after the performance. For more information about the concert, please call John DeChiaro at (205) 652-3513.