by Glen McCarthy | Dec 29, 2013 | Classroom, Education, News, Principles, Stories, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks
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 one...
by Glen McCarthy | Dec 22, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
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....
by Glen McCarthy | Dec 22, 2013 | Classroom, Education, News, Principles, Stories, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks
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...
by Glen McCarthy | Dec 15, 2013 | Classroom, Education, News, Principles, Tips + Tricks
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 can...
by Glen McCarthy | Dec 15, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks
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:...
by Glen McCarthy | Dec 9, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Stories, Tips + Tricks
As Matt Gerry pointed out in an earlier post, there are many differing opinions when it comes to teaching TAB. It has been my experience that, when a guitar student arrives in one of my beginning classes knowing how to read a notation system, it is most likely TAB. I...
