by Glen McCarthy | Apr 26, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks, Uncategorized
If you teach an academic class or know someone who does, you may have heard the term “flipped class.” If not, here it is in a nutshell: in a traditional class, the teacher delivers a lecture or lesson and then assigns homework to reinforce the lesson. In a flipped...
by Glen McCarthy | Apr 26, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Gear, News, Tips + Tricks, Uncategorized
Some days it’s hard to be a music teacher. Class got cut short; your students were in space; you left your lesson plan at home. In times like these you need a little something to make you smile and remind you why you’re here in the first place: you really, really like...
by Glen McCarthy | Apr 20, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Stories, Tips + Tricks, Uncategorized
If you haven’t heard of Bert Jansch, you’re not alone. But many musicians of legendary status call Jansch an inspiration. This finger picking master has influenced the likes of Paul Simon, Jimmy Page, Neil Young and Fleet Foxes, just to name a few. Introduce your...
by Glen McCarthy | Apr 20, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Stories, Tips + Tricks
One great way to celebrate the guitar and its universal impact on pop culture is through film. You can dust off the DVD player, cue up the Roku or look for clips online. However you experience these great soundtracks, have your class listen in for the type of guitar...
by Glen McCarthy | Apr 6, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
Since its invention the guitar has been a vital part of Spanish-speaking cultures. Today’s Spanish-speaking guitar students have a world of music to explore, and it’s up to you to draw up the map. Here are six ideas to bring Spain into your guitar class. 1. Get back...
by Glen McCarthy | Mar 31, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
Improvisation is a fun, freeing way to be musical and guitar is well-suited to the task! But sometimes students become ice sculptures when asked to improvise. They might have some performance anxiety or feel like they’re bound to a certain style. One way to inspire...