Message from the Chair

Greetings!

Welcome to Teaching Guitar Workshops, the home of guitar education, a place where music teachers of all disciplines and grade levels can learn - in a very short time - the nuts and bolts of teaching guitar in the classroom.

You have come to this site for any number of reasons. Perhaps you learned of our workshops from a colleague or an MENC publication. Perhaps you were linked from another web site. Perhaps you need help because your students or school administrators have asked you to teach guitar in your school. Maybe you are already teaching guitar and need fresh ideas.

We can be that resource for you. We are the MENC Guitar Education Team, made up of teachers like you, and just like you, we are diversified in our training and experiences. At our summer workshops we are carefully paired to give participants a wide variety of ideas and strategies.

Throughout the fifteen year existence of this program we have watched interest in guitars in schools grow exponentially as music teachers learn the amazing attributes of the instrument. Playing the guitar evokes a passion in young people that can last a lifetime. We must enhance that passion by giving students a comprehensive knowledge of the instrument. Best of all, taught thoughtfully and sequentially, guitar classes meet the rigors of ALL of the National Standards in Music Education head on!

Below, we share comments from evaluations from previous workshops:

"This workshop has opened my eyes to the versatility of the guitar and made me a better musician."

"After several years of teaching elementary stings, I have become excited about teaching again. Even if I am not able to establish more than an afternoon after school guitar class, many of the techniques I learned here are transferable to my string classes. The fresh outlook has re-inspired me."

"The workshop exceeded my expectations! I was dreading my new assignment, but now I feel like I will definitely survive my first year teaching guitar – and might even like it! The materials given to us are fabulous. Thank you! The instructors were fantastic-expert and approachable."

We invite you to join us in our workshops and prepare for new adventures in music with guitars.

Glen McCarthy
Chair, Teaching Guitar Workshops