Guitar in General Music Classes Deborah Barber, PhD Arkansas Tech University NAfME Learning Network Webinar August 15, 2013
Guitar in General Music Classes Incorpora7ng the guitar in general music instruc7on 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 os7na7, 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 panerns) bass (open strings to I, IV, V, etc.) Playing posi7on Managing the classroom Caring for the instruments
Tuning Pegs Frets Sound Hole Head Nut Neck PARTS OF THE GUITAR RoseNe Body Bridge
Bass Treble E A 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 Echo rhythm panerns 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 stores and online. supply
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 2 nd fret. C _ A _ C A A_ A _ G _ A G A _
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 emo7ons implied by minor and major tonali7es.
hnp://faculty.atu.edu/dbarber/guitar/ GEmPrac7ce.htm Leave first finger down for whole song. LiNle fingers can leave off red 3. Try to avoid that string. Four beats for G. Four beats for Em. Strum simple panern 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 ac7on on the board as it is composed. Give each character or plot point a group to compose for it. Write character or ac7on on a tented paper and place by the group to remind you and them what their part is. An op7on is to already have the cards ready with mul7ple characters, ac7ons, moods, places, etc. The class can choose which cards to use in their story. Take pictures of groups as they prac7ce to add importance. Happy Pony Storm Eagle Running
WHAT TO PLAY: CREATE Groups will need to prac7ce. 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 sec7on 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 illustra7ons in a PPT with music and narra7on in the background. Happy Pony Storm Eagle Running
Acoustic GUITARS 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.
Acoustic Classical TEACHER S GUITAR 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 Lej Right Note: p I m a wrinen 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.
Strings Tuning Humidity Dust Over the summer MAINTENANCE Develop a relationship with local guitar shops
Curricula If you want to teach more hnp://guitarcurriculum.com Aus7n 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 hnp://www.alfred.com/expressions/ methods_guitar.asp
ONLINE MATERIALS & INFO hnp://www.guitaredunet.org/ NewsleNer and teaching 7ps
Guitar in General Music Classes Deborah Barber, PhD Arkansas Tech University dbarber@atu.edu NAfME Learning Network Webinar August 15, 2013