TEACHING GUITAR WORKSHOPS
Classroom Guitar Blog
Power Chord Week
Busy times at South Middle School! It's been nearly a month since my last post....wow. We're on spring break this week, and it always seems like the rest of the year just flies from this point on. When we return to class next week, we have a mere two and a half...
Teaching Ukulele Workshops Anyone?
Newsleader.com reported that Samson Trinh of Glen Allen Elementary in Glen Allen, VA is teaching third graders to play the ukulele. It seems like ukes are a great entry-level instrument that can lead to bigger (six-stringed) things. Read the article here:...
Manage the Class: No Noodling While the Teacher is Talking
Teaching and giving instruction is ineffective if students are talking and/or playing when instruction is being given. As the Guitar Task Force Chair for the fifth largest school district in the U.S., I communicate regularly with our 62 guitar secondary guitar...
Bill Purse Tip 5
Bill Purse - Tip 5 Tip 5 - Certain strings break more frequently than others, so always have extra strings ready; single strings can be purchased inexpensively at any music store. On nylon guitars, the 4th string (D) usually breaks, and on electric or acoustic...
Bill Purse Tip 4
Bill Purse - Tip 4 Tip 4 - A small tool called a string winder is essential for changing strings on multiple guitars. A string winder is a small crank that you place on the tuning peg and allows you to rapidly raise or lower a guitar string’s pitch by cranking it...
Emergency Bass Player
For any number of reasons, over the years I have found myself in dire need of a bass player at the last minute. I know I run the risk of offending legitimate bass players everywhere, but with these few simple guidelines, a willing student with knowledge of chord...
What Do Performances Look Like?
What do performances look like? At Becker Middle School, I always did large ensemble performances. Combining my 6th grade classes, 7th grade classes, and 8th grade classes. This was an ensemble of 70-80 students playing at the same time. I would always have several...
Teach the Details
Take time (days if necessary) to teach classroom procedures, instrument care, classroom expectations, and class goals. How will bathroom breaks be handled? What happens when a guitar string breaks? What are the consequences for not having music or method book?...
Bill Purse Tip 3
Bill Purse - Tip 3 Tip 3 - When you buy strings for a beginning guitar class purchase very light gauge strings which will be easier on the students fingers. If your budget permits, you should change all the strings each semester. [social_button button="facebook"...
Beta Assessment Technique
This weekend I read a very good article from Scott Seifried on the www.guitaredunet.org website about assessments. In his article, Scott has lots of great ideas about testing in guitar class including using rubrics, a graduated grading scale, and having students...
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