In this 6 week course, students will learn the basics of guitar through an overview of various styles.  

This course will be taught in a low-pressure atmosphere, where students feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. Students will have the chance to play individually and as a small group (2-5 students), and listen to demonstrations by the instructor.  Students will get to know each other by discussing their favorite music and songs they would like to learn. Styles and concepts covered are as follows:

Week 1: Introduction to guitar, playing guitar chords and strumming with a guitar pick (Song: "A Horse With No Name" by America)

Students will introduce themselves to one another, show their guitars and share about any favorite music, bands, any previous instruments played, etc. 

We will learn the basics of guitar, including how to hold the guitar, names of strings and parts of the guitar. We will also discuss how to use a guitar pick. 

Students will learn basic chords, E minor, A minor, C, and G.  The instructor will explain how to read chord diagrams and discuss strategies for getting the best sound from chords.  Students will learn basic strumming patterns (down/up strums) and apply them to a popular song, "A Horse With No Name" by America which uses forms of the E minor chord. 

Homework for week 2: practice strumming chords Em, Am, C, and G and playing "A Horse With No Name"

Week 2: Chords and strumming continued (Song: "Riptide" by Vance Joy)

Students will review the chord shapes discussed in week 1 and complete some simple chord strumming warmups. Then, we will move on to a new song, "Riptide" by Vance Joy which includes Am, C, and G and a bonus chord, Fmaj7!

Homework for week 2: Practice "Riptide" and try playing along with the song!

Week 3: Beginner tablature reading (song: "Day Tripper", the Beatles)

Students will learn to read basic guitar tablature, a popular form of notation where fret numbers (rather than notes) are used.  Students will be guided through how to use tablature to play a well-known riff from "Day Tripper" by the Beatles. Previous concepts such as hand positions, holding the pick will be reinforced. 

Homework for week 3: become comfortable with tablature by reading and practicing the opening riff to "Day Tripper"

Week 4: Tablature continued, power chords (Song: "Day Tripper," the Beatles continued)

Students will review the Day Tripper riff and continue to work on tablature.  A new type of chord called the power chord will be introduced. The power chord is different because it is the same shape but can be moved up and down the neck of the guitar. This chord is super important to many well known rock songs.  If time, we will also learn a bonus bridge section to "Day Tripper."

Homework for week 4: Practice "Day Tripper" in it's entirety

Week 5: Fingerstyle guitar, (Song: "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas)

Students will learn to use 4 fingers of their right hand (thumb, index, middle and ring fingers, denoted in classical guitar as "P, I, M, A" in order to play finger style, an alternative to using the pick.  They will apply previously learned chords to this finger style playing, and learn the introduction to "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas (reviewing the C and Am chords), following some exercises to practice finger style. 

Homework: Practice fingerstyle warmups and "Dust in the Wind"

Week 6: Wrap up, review, and performance strategies

As students are new to the instrument, it is recognized that some review will be necessary after only 1 month of playing guitar! During this week's class, we will review the following concepts as a group:
-Note reading on the treble clef
-Chord strumming
-Tablature
-Fingerstyle 

During this week, each student will have an opportunity to perform for the rest of the class.  The instructor will listen to each student's performance and give them positive feedback and constructive suggestions for what they can improve (feedback will also be emailed home for students and families to refer back to).  This is meant to be a positive experience and the instructor will create a supportive and friendly atmosphere for the performance!