by Glen McCarthy | Aug 16, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
Each year, more and more music teachers who were hired to teach Band, Choir and Orchestra are being asked to teach guitar. It is common for many music teachers to know little or nothing about playing or teaching guitar. Here is a list of skills which will be very...
by Glen McCarthy | Aug 12, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Gear, Tips + Tricks
Footstools and Posture The posture and placement of the guitar can make a significant impact on guitar performance. In fact, many students’ perception regarding the difficulty of guitar performance can be attributed to an over-stretched arm reaching for the...
by Glen McCarthy | Aug 12, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
Question: Music education training is about proper modeling of playing/singing- how do we teach guitar confidently (and in good conscience), if we are very much beginners and not demonstrating good technique/accurate playing? Answer: Hopefully, you have learned a lot...
by Glen McCarthy | Aug 12, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
Teaching Students to Improvise I am comfortable with teaching students how to improvise, but I have no idea how to provide the accompanying chord progressions. Here are a few ideas. 1. Fortunately, CDs and mp3 players (iphones, ipods, etc.) were made for...
by Glen McCarthy | Aug 12, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
How Do You Set Up the Right Hand for Fingerstyle Playing? 1. Let the right hand fall to the side and create a “C” shape with the fingers keeping the thumb on the outside the the i finger. 2. Turn the back of the hand toward the teacher. 3. Bring the right hand up at...
by Glen McCarthy | Aug 7, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
What would you do on day 1 with beginners (of any age)? You can start off by playing bass on strings 4,5,6. Find any song in A that they might know (start with a blues, that’s always a good bet!) and put the chord progression on the board so that the students...
