SGMA is not a course, with endless videos. It’s my private Music Academy, with live, interactive classes.
About S.G.M.A.
About S.G.M.A.
What is Sträusbaügh Guitar & Music Academy (SGMA)?
Well, it’s right there in the name:
Strausbaugh – That’s me. My name is on this school because it’s my personal teaching philosophy, my skillset, and my experience. This isn’t some gimmicky “secret system” or trendy “sweep picking academy.” It’s a real school, built on decades of work. The name matters.
Guitar and Music – A compound phrase. Because we learn guitar and music together. Always. You can’t separate them. Guitar is a musical instrument, and music lives on the guitar, ‘inside’ the fret numbers and the dots. That’s the whole core philosophy: use the guitar as the ultimate musical ‘Swiss Army knife’ to learn music, use music to help us understand and navigate the guitar as we begin to listen differently, hearing structures and musical logic in all the notes.
Academy – This is a real school. A private learning space. Live. Intentional. Structured. Rooted in deep education and powerful experience.
THE S.G.M.A. PHILOSOPHY
Guitar and music are inseparable.
You don’t learn one without the other. It’s like trying to become fluent in a language but refusing to learn what the words mean. It’s nonsense.
That’s why SGMA is built on this loop:
– You use the guitar to explore music.
– You use music to develop technical prowess on the guitar.
And from that, we offer two classes. Each one approaches the loop from a different angle.
Guitar and music are inseparable.
You don’t learn one without the other. It’s like trying to become fluent in a language but refusing to learn what the words mean. It’s nonsense.
That’s why SGMA is built on this loop:
– You use the guitar to explore music.
– You use music to develop technical prowess on the guitar.
And from that, we offer two classes. Each one approaches the loop from a different angle.
Explorers Club
This is the more guitar-forward experience. But the kind of “theory” we talk about here isn’t what you’re thinking. Explorers Club is more about what music theory sounds like when done really well—how it lays on the guitar. It’s listening. Tone. Musical phrasing. Tactical and artistic choices. Every session centers around an etude—a short, expressive, purpose-written piece of music. These aren’t exercises or licks. They’re musical roller coasters that make you better at playing, thinking, and feeling music on your instrument.
Foundations
This is the more ‘music-forward’ experience. But it’s not “theory” in any dry, abstract sense. We’re not talking about theory like a concept—we’re solving it, proving it, applying it in real time. The guitar becomes our lab. Our testing ground. We’re understanding movement, harmonic direction, and structure—on the instrument. You don’t memorize a bunch of dots—you start to understand your fretboard musically. That’s SGMA. Two classes. One core truth: Guitar and music are not separate. Learn them together, and you’ll learn them deeply.
Inner Sanctum
INNER SANCTUM is a private, two-month mentorship with Mike Strausbaugh—eight 75-minute sessions, completely one-on-one. It’s designed for serious players who want real transformation through direct, personalized instruction. Each mentorship includes a custom curriculum and a final project that ties it all together. This is personalized mentorship at its finest.
Inner Sanctum
INNER SANCTUM is a private, two-month mentorship with Mike Strausbaugh—eight 75-minute sessions, completely one-on-one. It’s designed for serious players who want real transformation through direct, personalized instruction. Each mentorship includes a custom curriculum and a final project that ties it all together. This is personalized mentorship at its finest.
Explorers Club
This is the more guitar-forward experience. But the kind of “theory” we talk about here isn’t what you’re thinking. Explorers Club is more about what music theory sounds like when done really well—how it lays on the guitar. It’s listening. Tone. Musical phrasing. Tactical and artistic choices. Every session centers around an etude—a short, expressive, purpose-written piece of music. These aren’t exercises or licks. They’re musical roller coasters that make you better at playing, thinking, and feeling music on your instrument.
Foundations
This is the more ‘music-forward’ experience. But it’s not “theory” in any dry, abstract sense. We’re not talking about theory like a concept—we’re solving it, proving it, applying it in real time. The guitar becomes our lab. Our testing ground. We’re understanding movement, harmonic direction, and structure—on the instrument. You don’t memorize a bunch of dots—you start to understand your fretboard musically. That’s SGMA. Two classes. One core truth: Guitar and music are not separate. Learn them together, and you’ll learn them deeply.
Learn to play music at home, at your own pace
SGMA makes learning to play an instrument fun and easy, no matter your skill level. Follow lesson plans created by real music teachers, learn fast with interactive tutorials, and stay motivated with goals and progress tracking. Our award-winning technology listens to you play and gives instant feedback on your accuracy and timing. You always know when you’re hitting the right notes.
Unique Curriculum
Real Human Experience!
Music first, guitar second
No videos. Ever.
Foundations Retreat:
The Essential Four
Hours
Book One: The Beginning
Foundation. Language. The birth of the musical hero.
This is where your journey begins, where we forge your fundamental tools and your skills.
We study the fretboard like a map. We explore melody, rhythm, and harmony like terrain. We train your technique, your eyes, your ears, your mind—bringing your musical instincts into sync.
This is where you begin to build fluency. Where you learn to think in Music—capital M.
It’s not about “getting good.” It’s about becoming ready.
Book Two: The Voice
Expression. Artistry. Exploration.
In Book Two, we step out into the world. We take everything we built in Book One and begin to reinforce, deepen, and test it in real-world music. This is where your roots grow deeper, even as your branches stretch outward. We explore classical, jazz, folk music from around the world, and cinematic traditions. Each piece is a new destination—a new way of seeing and hearing.
We don’t rush into new theory. Instead, we refine what we know while slowly expanding our skillset and musical vision. You’ll learn to make musical decisions by understanding the choices of some of the greatest musicians of all time. You’ll develop taste by experiencing what others have offered. You’ll discover your voice by playing through the voices of others.
This is outward exploration, but the roots continue to grow deeper.
Book Three: The Return
Creation. Identity. Coming Home.
You’ve trained and explored the world of music. Now, it’s time to return home. Book Three isn’t about learning more about others—it’s about discovering more about yourself. It’s about stepping forward, taking the lead, and putting your skills to the test. This is where everything fuses—your technique, your understanding, and your voice—into something new: your musical identity.
With the tools you’ve built, we begin to create. You’ll arrange, shape, compose, and reinterpret. But you’re never alone in this process. I’m right there with you—guiding and mentoring as you take the reins. The blank page no longer feels like a trap; it becomes a challenge you’re prepared to take on.
This is where your training and new way of thinking come together. You’re not guessing anymore; you’re making musical decisions. You’re not following a path—you’re blazing your own trail. You’ll leave this journey with the skillset and mindset to shape a sound that’s truly yours.
Always learning. Always growing. But finally—home.
Explorers Club
Merriam-Webster defines an etude as “a composition built on a technical motive and played for its artistic value.” At SGMA, we define an etude as a musical action movie trailer. A two-minute musical roller coaster ride.
Something that grabs you, challenges you, and lights you up. They aren’t just exercises—they’re stories. Mini-compositions with characters, arcs, and emotional weight. And they’re just a ton of fun to play. And when you approach them not just as a player, but as a musician—wanting to understand the who, what, when, where, and why (not just the how)—you begin to process the same piece of music through the mind, the eyes, the ears, the heart, and the hands.
This is when you start to care.
This is when you start to become a musician.
Explorers Club is a live, expressive masterclass built around these etudes and this philosophy.
Each month, you’ll receive a beautifully crafted transcription (original or adapted), at least three playalongs (more for multi-guitar etudes), and a live 90-minute teaching session. We go into phrasing and articulation, technique and interpretation.
It’s not a theory class—but we will discuss certain fundamentals that shape how you play what you play. This is a musical adventure. One that meets you wherever you are—beginner, intermediate, or advanced.
You don’t need to be “ready.” You just need to be curious.
Explorers Club
Etudes, artistry, and adventure—for every level of guitarist.
É·tude (noun): A short musical composition designed to provide practice material for mastering a particular technical skill(s). —Oxford English Dictionary
In other words, etudes are not random exercises or busy work. They’re short musical stories—with characters, settings, tension, and arcs. Think of them as two-minute sonic rollercoasters. When chosen and written well, they burst with musical flavor and help you grow without even realizing it.
Explorers Club is your guided etude masterclass experience. Each month, I choose a new etude, whether one of my originals, a classic piece, or a transcription.
We break it down piece by piece: technique, phrasing, and musical decisions. We explore what makes a piece of music truly musical—not just about fingers and frets.
We’ll dive into how it breathes, moves, and speaks, asking, “What does this music want?” You’ll get the tab, three play-alongs at varying speeds, and access to a live 90-minute masterclass with me.
This isn’t just for advanced players—Explorers Club is for everyone: beginner, intermediate, or advanced. Artistry starts from day one, and interpretation isn’t just for the experts. It’s something you grow into by learning how to listen, shape, and play music like it means something. That’s when it starts to open up.
Welcome to Explorers Club.
The Trilogy
The Full Semester: Your Musical Future Begins Here
Legendary music becomes a playground for exploration and growth, and the perfect vehicle for building your complete
Musical Skillset/Toolbox—a lab where we experiment, study, and develop into complete musicians.
You’ll also begin to see your
Guitar in ways you never imagined. It’s not just an instrument, it’s your musical
Swiss Army knife—a tool to help you create your full creative potential not only as a Guitarist, but a well-rounded
Musician.
Now, let’s write your musical future.
Happy Students
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GET IN TOUCH
Whether you’re interested in coaching or working with me as a speaker, I’d love to hear from you.
Ready to start your journey?
Your trusted musical sanctuary and home of expert guitar transcriptions.
Email: strausbaugh.GuitarandMusic@gmail.com
Phone: + 303-668-510
Address: 123 Music Lane, City, State, ZIP
CONTACT
Phone: + 303-668-510
Address: 123 Music Lane, City, State, ZIP
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