BUILDING GUITARS
FOR VETERANS
& FIRST RESPONDERS
TEACHING THE ART OF BUILDING GUITARS FOR VETS & FIRST RESPONDERS.
‘Guitars for Vets’ is a guitar building initiative geared toward veterans and first responders who may be suffering from PTSD and MDD (major depressive disorder) to learn the art of guitar building.
Your donations will work toward directly sponsoring a military veteran or first-responder for enrolment in either our 3-Week Electric Guitar Building Course or our 5-Week Acoustic Guitar Building Course.
BUILD A GUITAR, GIVE A GUITAR.
The program benefits are two-fold; first, the veteran or first-responder immerses themselves in a positive and creative environment to learn the art of guitar building; and second, the veteran then has the option to help improve the wellbeing of a fellow-vet or first-responder by giving the gift of music by way of a guitar that they’ve created.
Being a veteran myself, I can speak first-hand to the far-reaching impact that depression can have, both on oneself and on those around us. Through one of our many guitar building courses, we can share the art of guitar making and in turn, provide guitars for vets and first responders.
HOW TO REGISTER
We ask that you review our School Policies before registering.
NOTE: Veterans wishing to receive the course discount must provide proof of service before registering (see FAQs below).
Once verified, we will send you a discount code to use for your online registration.
HOW TO DONATE
Your donations will help to sponsor a Canadian or US military veteran or first-responder in one of our on-site and hands-on, fully-immersive guitar building courses.
Guitar building (and woodworking in general) have proven effective therapy modalities to help treat symptoms of PTSD and MDD (major depressive disorders). You can learn more about this initiate and donate to the cause by clicking the button below:
Often, having a creative outlet in a neutral environment can help a person to regain focus, clarity of purpose and can serve to help quiet the mind from over-thinking and rumination as one applies and immerses themselves into a project such as guitar building.
Further, the act if giving, in and of itself is also of great benefit as it moves us from being inward focused to externally focused. ‘Guitars for Vets’ is essentially a guitar building course for veterans and first-responder, by a veteran. Even more, the guitars created by our students are then gifted to fellow veterans who may be suffering.
I’m offering all of my guitar building courses to Canadian and US veterans at a discounted rate of 15% in an effort to give back to those who have given so much.
PTSD or ‘Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder’ is an anxiety disorder that can result from a traumatic event. This can include:
- Natural disasters
- Car crashes
- Sexual or physical assaults
- Terrorist attacks
- Combat during wartime
MDD or ‘Major Depressive Disorder’ is a mood disorder that causes a loss of interest or a persistent feeling of sadness. Also called depression or clinical depression, MDD affects how one feels, thinks and behaves and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
A clinical diagnosis for PTSD or MDD will come from a qualified medical practitioner (family physician or psychiatrist) or a registered/licensed psychologist.
For more information, see this document.
If you suspect you may be suffering from PTSD or MDD and are a military veteran, contact veterans affairs case worker to discuss your options:
While woodworking as a treatment therapy has not been extensively researched, there are a number of observational studies showing that woodworking can be a beneficial modality to improve one’s quality of life, specifically those suffering with histories of trauma and / or depression.
The Department of Veterans Affairs states that, …”PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, such as combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. PTSD can develop at any point in someone’s life and it is caused by experiencing stressful and traumatic events once or over a period of time.”
For those experiencing PTSD, MDD or CPTSD (complex PTSD), the recovery process is rarely a simple one. To this point, it is not only important to find a physician who is supportive during the treatment period but to also find the right therapist(s) to provide your treatment.
With a diagnosis and treatment plan in place, having a positive and creative outlet to focus your attention can quiet the mind from rumination and help to harbour negative emotions and temper reactivity. “Guitar making for Veterans and First Responders” can serve as one such modality.
In view of PTDS AND MDD recovery, some of the proven benefits of guitar making (and woodworking in general) are an increase in self-esteem, in finding a purpose and in fostering a new sense of motivation.
The following are a few articles outlining how woodworking is helping to improve the lives of veterans and first responders suffering with PTSD and MDD:
- Sawinery Bog
- PEI Veteran Living with PTSD
- CBC.ca Article
- Edmonton Journal Article
- 5 Ways Woodworking has Positively Impacted US Military Veterans
If you are a Canadian Veteran, I recommend speaking with your case-worker about the ‘Vocational Rehab Program’.
According the the Veterans Affairs website:
You should apply for rehabilitation services if you:
- Served in the Canadian Armed Forces, and
- Have a barrier to re-establishment which is a health issue (temporary or permanent) related to your service that prevents your full participation at work or home or in the community
To learn more about the Veterans Affairs Canada Vocational Rehabilitation Program, click here.
The guitar building courses for veterans are exactly the same as the other courses we offer. However, I am extending a 15% discount on all courses to veterans and first responders.
Being a veteran myself and suffering from both a major depressive disorder as well chronic pain due to a debilitating back injury, I am acutely aware of how guitar building has helped me to refocus and find motivation and purpose. The discount is just my small way of giving back to my fellow veterans. Being able to offer some light amidst the darkness for those also suffering is my true reward.
As much as I’d like to help everyone, the simple fact remains that I have a family and need to make a living.
In addition to the 15% discount on all course costs for military veterans and first responders, I will do everything I can to help point you to the right resources, options and support networks.
No. You are welcome to keep your guitar, however, we encourage our students from the ‘Guitars for Vets’ (aka ‘Guitar Building for Vets’) course to consider helping to support other veterans and first-responders who may be suffering by giving them a creative outlet.
If you’re taking a short program such as our 7-Day Electric Guitar Building Course, or our 14-Day Acoustic Guitar Building Course, you could choose to gift your instrument and then take that knowledge to keep building.
If you’re taking a longer program such as our 3-month, 6-month or 1-year masters program, you will be making several guitars over the course. You could choose to gift one or all of your instruments.
Rehabilitation services can improve your health and help you adjust to life at home, in your community or at work. Depending on your circumstances and needs, it may include treatment and therapies to overcome or cope with a service-related illness or injury.
A very succinct document to help you get started can be found here:
Find more information on the ‘Canadian Veterans Vocational Rehabilitation Services’, here:
If your a Canadian / US Veteran or first responder and would like to sign up for a course (see full course list), contact me through the contact form and we can discuss how to get started.
Once your veteran status is verified, we can secure your course deposit and get your spot secured for the next course!
STEPS FOR VERIFICATION:
US and Canadian military including reserve, active duty and retired/discharged military personnel will need to provide proof of status to receive course discount.
Step 1: Review accepted document list detail below.
Step 2: Provide proof of status as noted below.
- US Military – please provide one of the following documents:
-DD Form 214: Certificate of Release or Discharge (U.S. Active Duty)
-DD Form 256: Honourable Discharge Certificate (U.S. Guard and Reserve)
-DD Form 257: General Discharge Certificate (U.S. Guard and Reserve) - Canadian Military – please provide one of the following documents:
-NDI 75 or CFOne Card replacing the NDI 75 (Effective Jan 1, 2016)
-CAF 75 (Record of Service ID Card)
Step 3: Take a photo or scan proof of status and submit to us via email.
If your a Canadian / US Veteran or first responder and simply want to sign up for a course (see full course list), contact me through the contact form and we can discuss how to get started.
Once your veteran status is verified, we can secure your course deposit and get your spot secured for the next course!
STEPS FOR VERIFICATION:
US and Canadian military including reserve, active duty and retired/discharged military personnel will need to provide proof of status to receive course discount.
Step 1: Review accepted document list detail below.
Step 2: Provide proof of status as noted below.
- US Military – please provide one of the following documents:
-DD Form 214: Certificate of Release or Discharge (U.S. Active Duty)
-DD Form 256: Honourable Discharge Certificate (U.S. Guard and Reserve)
-DD Form 257: General Discharge Certificate (U.S. Guard and Reserve) - Canadian Military – please provide one of the following documents:
-NDI 75 or CFOne Card replacing the NDI 75 (Effective Jan 1, 2016)
-CAF 75 (Record of Service ID Card)
Step 3: Take a photo or scan proof of status and submit to us via email.
Of course. For all other inquiries, feel free to send me a note through the contact form.
I recommend speaking with your vocational rehabilitation case-worker and sharing with them this program and website.
‘Guitars for vets’ is an initiative to help our veterans and first-responders to learn the art of guitar making in our workshop located in Summerland, BC Canada. Building guitars for vets, by vets is a unique experience that is reciprocal and helps veterans, help veterans.