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Guitar in General Music Classes
Deborah Barber, PhD
Arkansas Tech University
NAfME Learning Network Webinar
August 15, 2013
Guitar in General Music Classes
Incorporating the guitar
in general music instruction
along with recorders and keyboards
can be easier than you think.
And SO COOL!
•Teaching students to play short tunes on
recorder is one of the things we music
teachers do very well.
•We are also very good at teaching
ostinati, bordun, and melodies on barred
and keyboard instruments.
•Once these pieces are learned on other
instruments transference to guitar is
fun and not as hard as you might think.
•And don’t forget the cool factor
of the guitar.
OVERVIEW
• What to play
– single string ( G, A, B, etc.)
– chords (EZ chords, strumming patterns)
– bass (open strings to I, IV, V, etc.)
• Playing position
• Managing the classroom
• Caring for the instruments
Tuning Pegs
Head
PARTS
Nut
OF
Frets
THE
Neck
GUITAR
Sound Hole
Rosette
Bridge
Body
Bass
E A
Treble
D G B E
Fret/Finger
1
2
3
WHERE TO START
•
•
•
•
Sound before sign
Imitation/Echoing rhythm patterns
Students sing note names as they play
Teach AmSLan signs for note names
WHAT TO PLAY: SINGLE STRINGS
• Anything students play on recorder can be
played on guitar
WHAT TO PLAY: SINGLE STRINGS
• Treble strings first
• Students play quarter notes on open string as you
walk around the room
Treble Strings
• Echo rhythm patterns on
open string
• You can use a keyboard or
GarageBand to loop an
E minor chord for
accompaniment
WHAT TO PLAY: SINGLE STRINGS
• B A G songs learned on recorder. “Hot Cross Buns”
• B and G are open strings.
• Yellow dot helps students
locate second fret A
• I bought a roll of dots.
• Available at office
supply
stores and online.
WHAT TO PLAY: SINGLE STRINGS
B A G C “Indian Chant”
from Ed Sueta
First finger is responsible
for the 1st fret.
Second finger is used
for the 2nd fret.
C _ A _ C A A_
A_G_ AGA_
REMEMBER…
• Students first learned the song
on the recorder.
• Students now transfer knowledge of
the tune, note names, and rhythm to a
new system of making music – the
guitar.
• “I know the first note is C ,
so where is it on the guitar?”
WHAT TO PLAY: CHORDS
• Favorite chords for many beginning
guitarists are Em and G.
• Good chance to show emotions implied by
minor and major
tonalities.
• http://faculty.atu.edu/dbarber/guitar/GEm
Practice.htm
• Leave first finger down for whole song.
• Little fingers can leave off red 3. Try to
avoid that string.
• Four beats for G.
• Four beats for Em.
• Strum simple pattern
• Add more complex.
• Drum during a cappella
WHAT TO PLAY: CHORDS
• Write songs with these chords
• Picks? A lot of trouble.
• Students may bring them.
WHAT TO PLAY: BASS
Roots of chords (Names of chords)
–
–
–
–
For rounds
Simple songs
Sol (G) Mi (E)
Ostinati
Improvise patterns for stories or poems
“Smooth” by Santana A D E open strings
“Justice’s Groove” by Stanley Clarke D A G
“Next to Me” by Emeli Sandé A B C
“Promenade” from Last of the Mohicans D C F
WHAT TO PLAY: CREATE
• Encourage students to write a story with you. Outline the
action on the board as it is composed.
• Give each character or plot point a group to compose for it.
• Write character or action on a tented paper and place by
the group to remind you and them what their part is.
• An option is to already have the cards ready with multiple
characters, actions, moods, places, etc.
• The class can choose which cards to use in
Happy
their story.
Take pictures of groups as they practice to add importance.
Pony
Storm
Eagle
Running
WHAT TO PLAY: CREATE
• Groups will need to practice. How will their part start?
What volume? Will volume remain the same? Etc.
• You or a student can read or tell the story. (mic)
• Point to each section as their music is needed.
• Record the final version before class ends.
• EXTRA: Students can illustrate the story at home and
bring artwork to be added to the music.
• EXTRA: Use illustrations in a PPT with music
and narration in the background.
Pony
Storm
Eagle
Happy
Running
GUITARS
•
•
•
•
•
Acoustic
Classical: Nylon strings preferred
Smaller guitars, OK
One bass guitar (more is OK, too)
PTA/PTO, TriM could facilitate donation
campaign of money or used guitars
• Steel strings for a timbre change and, in a
pinch, for class
• Do not put nylon strings on a steel stringtype guitar
STUDENTS AS TEACHERS
Students help partners.
If they do no help they do not get a turn until they do.
TEACHER’S GUITAR
• Acoustic Classical
• Use strap so you can move about the room
• Always care for your instrument. Students
will emulate.
WHEN TO BEGIN GUITAR
• We began in February or March
• Songs had been played on keyboards,
mallets, and recorder. Classroom routines
have been established
• In a 9 week rotation, play keyboards, then
recorder, then play same songs on guitar.
TUNING
• I tune every guitar. This is a skill developed
over time.
• Warm up exercises on open strings help you
listen for intonation troubles.
• We do not tune keyboards, so why guitar in
early lessons?
• Middle school students learn to use a digital
tuner.
DIGITAL TUNERS
This is my current tuner.
I like that it is blue.
Easy to find 
Less than $9 on Amazon.
Snark
HOW TO SIT
• Grades 1-3. Sit on the floor. Crisscross. Guitar
rests on the floor, curve of body on the right
knee. This puts the neck closer to the student
and their little, short arms.
• Choral Risers – guitar
•
on left knee
• Chairs – sit forward,
•
guitar on left knee
• Desks – no!
THREE TYPES
• Single string
• Chords
• Bass
RIGHT HAND
• For single string work: Little ones rest their
thumb on the side of the
neck where the rosette
intersects the neck.
• As students develop
technique
thumb rests on D or G string.
• Fingers make a bright sound
• Thumb makes a softer sound
FINGERS
Left
Note: p I m a
Right
written on music refers to the right hand fingers and thumb.
Management
• Name guitars after famous guitarists
(Andrés, Bonnie, Chuck, Django, Eddie, etc.)
• First lesson: students are assigned a guitar
• Grades 1-3: one guitar for two players
• Students are trained to carry the guitar
vertically and not horizontally. Both hands.
• Putting guitars away: the teacher (later
students) calls the guitar name and one student
brings the guitar to the cabinet or stand. Then
next guitar. Put guitar name on stand or cabinet
space.
STORAGE
•
•
•
•
Cabinet
Stands
Hanging
Cases
LEFTIES
• The left hand is the most difficult to master
for beginning guitarists.
• If you are already good with your left hand
why swap?
• There are no left-handed pianos.
MAINTENANCE
•
•
•
•
•
•
Strings
Tuning
Humidity
Dust
Over the summer
Develop a relationship with local guitar
shops
Curricula
If you want to teach more…
• http://guitarcurriculum.com Austin Classical
Guitar Society Fun ensemble playing from day
one. Proper technique and sequenced
curriculum. Photo copy or project PDFs. New
elementary lessons.
• Guitar Expressions from Alfred
http://www.alfred.com/expressions/methods_gu
itar.asp
ONLINE MATERIALS & INFO
• http://www.guitaredunet.org/
Newsletter and teaching tips
Guitar in General Music Classes
Deborah Barber, PhD
Arkansas Tech University
[email protected]
NAfME Learning Network Webinar
August 15, 2013