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

PARTS OF

THE GUITAR

Head Tuning Pegs

Nut

Frets

Neck

Sound Hole

Rosette

Bridge

Body

B A G

1 2 3

Fret/Finger

D E E Bass Treble

WHERE TO START

• Sound before sign

• Imitation/Echoing rhythm patterns

• Students sing note names as they play

• Teach AmSLan signs for note names

• Anything students play on recorder can be played on guitar

WHAT TO PLAY: SINGLE STRINGS

WHAT TO PLAY: SINGLE STRINGS

• Treble strings first

• Students play quarter notes on open string as you walk around the room

• Echo rhythm patterns on open string

• You can use a keyboard or GarageBand to loop an E minor chord for accompaniment

Treble Strings

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.

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 _ A G A _

WHAT TO PLAY: SINGLE STRINGS

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/GEmPractice.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

• Write songs with these chords

• Picks? A lot of trouble.

• Students may bring them.

WHAT TO PLAY: CHORDS

• 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: BASS

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

their story.

Take pictures of groups as they practice to add importance.

Pony Eagle Storm Running

Happy

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 Eagle Storm Running

Happy

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 string-type 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 Right

Note: p I m a 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_guitar.asp

ONLINE MATERIALS & INFO

• http://www.guitaredunet.org/

Newsletter and teaching tips

Guitar in General Music Classes

Deborah Barber, PhD

Arkansas Tech University

dbarber@atu.edu

NAfME Learning Network Webinar

August 15, 2013