TEACHING GUITAR WORKSHOPS
Classroom Guitar Blog
Teaching the F Chord
Most guitar curriculum begins by teaching the natural notes that fall within the Key of C. It is hard to create ensembles in that key because the F chord is so prominent in the rhythm part. Try these variations of the F chord to help make the Key of C come to life....
Fingernail Shaping for Tone
We've stumbled on a little piece of business that may cause some of your students' eyes to widen: nail shaping. Yes, that's what helps you achieve optimal tone when playing finger-style. (And remember: finger-style playing isn't just for acoustic guitars.) Don't...
Keep Your Students Engaged with Popular Music
When you feel like you've just delivered the lesson to end all lessons and you're met with blank stares -- some not even directly at you -- it's hard not to take it personally. The same music that got you hooked on music is not necessarily the same music that will...
Introducing Rhythm with Mute Strumming
Mute strumming is very effective for teaching various rhythmic strums. I don’t think we spend enough time working on right hand strumming because we are so concerned about left hand notes. Isolating the right hand helps the students advance in their ability to keep...
How Do You Scaffold a Song for a Beginning Ensemble?
Many beginning ensemble pieces in the repertoire will assign one or two strings to a part. For instance, part one may be on E and B strings, part 2 on B and G strings and part 3 may get down to the D string. The best way to make sure that students are comfortable...
How do you teach the pentatonic scale?
The Pentatonic Scale allows students to really stretch out and have fun with the guitar. But how do you teach it? Try this: Preliminary ear training experiences: 1. If keyboards are available have the students noodle on the black notes, perhaps one on the bass and...
Teaching Tuning – Part II
Most students learn to play before they learn to tune; however laying the fundamentals for learning to tune can be done from day one. Most of the GAMA books have a play-along, demo CD included with the book. At the start of these CD there is usually a tuning track....
Why use a capo?
I went to Wikipedia to see what they say and can’t improve on the following: “The capo is most commonly used to raise the pitch of a fretted instrument so that a player can perform a piece in a different key using the same fingerings they would use if played "open"...
Help the Class Bond with Ensemble Playing
There is a bonding experience that occurs once the class engages in playing as an ensemble. The class transforms from 30+ students playing exercises to a team of guitarists playing ensemble music. I find that this is so important that I wrote some easy duets that...
Oh No! I Have to Schedule a 90 Minute Block!!!
Teachers worry about keeping a class interesting. But when you have a guitar class for a 90 minute block, you need great content! First, think about the possibilities using the National Standards as an outline. Think, “What will my students do today that includes:...
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