BTS guitar community planning for bigger things
The crew at BTS are growing a new group of musicians in Hamilton, by creating their own community of student guartarist.
Three friends who wanted to create a community, not a class, are teaching guitar from their central Hamilton building.
Music comes in all sounds and styles but for the crew at BTS nothing beats the feeling of inspiring the world about the sweet strum of a guitar.
BTS Guitar Community teaches guitar to all people of all ages. The business was started three years ago by childhood friends Sam Ranapiri, and Thach Tran and Brianna Tran.
They had the idea to bring people together to not only learn guitar but share their love of music. They wanted to “create a community not a class”, says Ranapiri.
But the true origins of BTS (Brianna, Thach, Sam) started 10 years ago when Thach taught both Sam and Brianna how to play the guitar. According to Sam he wasn’t the best student. “I didn’t want to be there at first, I only stuck with it ’cause my mum made me and it turned out pretty well.”
From their classes they started to get requests from their local church and school for lessons. “We started giving basic lessons to kids from St Columbus school and some adults from the church (St Columbus Church). They were happening in a small building next to the church with about 10 students, as Thach was still teaching me and Bri more advanced stuff.”
In 2015 they moved to a permanent location in the Hamilton CBD on Alexandra Street, where they now have just over 30 students and the demand for more to come.
“For now we’re happy with where we’re at but long term we want a bigger space, somewhere where people can come in and out of when they please and start to build into teaching at schools.
“Because in the long run this is a community we’re wanting to grow, not school.”
For more information on BTS visit their Facebook page
