Footstools

[nafmeadmin]

How important are guitar footstools? I know that it’s good for the Classical guitar posture, but is there another reason I don’t know about why they’re used? Am I doing my students a disservice by not having any? And if they really are that important, does anyone have a reccommendation for a place to get 30+ of them?

[nafmeadmin]

Here’s a good video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgB0bTxSd3U

[nafmeadmin]

Footrests can be made out of scrap wood from shop class.
Here’s some other interesting types of guitar supports:

Ergoplay: http://bigmo.com/ergusu.html

Dynarette: http://www.vamu.se/

Gitano: http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/gitano-classical-guitar-support-1170.html

Footrest: http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/accessories-2/footrests-384/?zenid=95go9mgg89ggmr3ab7qs1h2h66

A-Frame: http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/A-Frame-Guitar-Support/1730472

Kantare TUKEVA: http://kantareguitars.com/in/index.php?section=36

Guitarest: http://www.deoromusic.com/deoromusic/Guitar_Support.html

Aria Guitar Support:
http://www.kirkpatrickguitar.com/showimages.php?submit=showimages&bigimage=671&newsearch=Y

[nafmeadmin]

Footrests allow the guitar’s fretboard to be closer to a player’s hand thus making it easier to play and easier to see your finger placement, but they are bad for the back because they can cause spine misalignment. For my students, I have them cross their right leg over their left leg and then they can place the guitar on the right leg. That is better for the back. I would say that they are not too important. If a student wants to learn how to play the classical guitar I would recommend that they get a guitar support and place it the guitar with the support attached on the left leg. For classroom guitar I don’t think they are necessary.

Glen McCarthy provided excellent resources for other types of guitar supports. (www.stringsbymail.com), by far has the greatest selection of guitar supports. Hope this helps! 🙂

[nafmeadmin]

I use extra instrument cases that are in my room-but only for students who can’t reach the floor comfortably-since I teach 6th graders. I have a few girls that are really tiny and need that leg up a little bit more.

[nafmeadmin]

Guitar supports such as the ergoplay allow BOTH very young guitar students and short of leg adults to perform with the same position they would use as adults. As we all know consistency of position (proximity of the guitar body on the chest cavity, angle of guitar neck, strings and frets for the left hand, angle of strings and proximity to the r.h) is essential to success Look at this picture as to how both the young (suzuki students) and the adults are able to attain the same efficient and healthy technique because of use of the guitar support. Ah, and I just mentioned ‘healthy’ technique. Our first credo must be as that of the physician “do no harm” (e.g. promoting habits of position and technique for lifelong, injury-free playing of music!). youth/community ensemble guitar pic: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=577492658935355&set=pb.225733440777947.-2207520000.1364060400&type=3&theater
and here: http://www.facebook.com/events/590548257622732/?ref=22

Dr. Robert Trent – Professor of Guitar Study, Radford University, Radford, VA
Director of the RU International Guitar Festival
ASTA-CAP committee of ASTA
Editor – Guitar Foundation of America journal, Soundboard Scholar

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