Yes, an orchestra director can teach class guitar! Learn how and why to start a guitar program at your school. Guitar & orchestra program collaboration only makes a string program stronger! The session will include discussion of class guitar pedagogy, music, materials, equipment, and strategies for collaboration.
Why to start a guitar program
- popularity of the guitar
- affordability of a program
- potential for growth
- build total numbers in your music program
Benefits of guitar instruction
- Diversity
- New styles of music
- folk, pop/rock, classical, etc.
- non-traditional music student
- music appreciation
How to approach your administration
- Provide a list of whys (above)
- Include more students in the arts
- Affordable to fund – the cost of a class set of guitars costs less than two tubas!
How to recruit students
- Say the word “guitar”
- Hang posters around school. The students will come!
- May have to cap enrollment
Non-guitarist teaching guitar
- Not difficult to learn basics
- Easy to teach & motivate
- Fun to learn a new instrument
- Teaching Guitar Workshops
Equipment and Materials
- The right guitar! 1. Choose nylon-string, classical guitars. 2. Buy enough for each student in your class
- Books
- Essential Elements for Guitar
- Sheet Music
- Other materials
Getting Started Demo
- Rest position/playing position/RH and LH positions
- Posture
- Basic chords (rhythm)
- The Capo – easy to transpose tunes while using familiar chords
- Note reading (lead)
- Simple bass (see handout)
- Ensembles from a lead sheet
- 3 part ensemble scoring
Handouts
Guitar documents (PDF)
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