Guitar Ensemble Method

[nafmeadmin]

I’m teaching guitar in both seventh and eighth grade general music this year. I’ve never taught guitar before. I have some materials from the previous GM teacher, however I’d like to expand on what she has done and create a guitar ensemble with beginning players. Does anyone have any recommendations for beginning methods/guitar ensembles?

[nafmeadmin]

Check out these sites. The ones with * I know have free downloadable literature. All of these sites are great resources. The following publishers (marked with +); Alfred, Class Guitar Resources, FJH, Hal Leonard, and Mel Bay all have great methods.
* http://www.guitardownunder.com
* http://www.derek-hasted.co.uk
* http://www.classicalguitarschool.net/en/
+ http://jerrysnyder.com
http://www.guitarfoundation.org
http://www.gspguitar.com
http://www.productionsdoz.com
+ http://classguitar.com
http://www.dobermaneditions.com/
+ http://www.halleonard.com/guitarBass.jsp
+ http://www.fjhmusic.com/guitar.htm
* + http://guitarsessions.com/
http://www.delcamp.net/
http://www.thomaskoenigs.de/
* http://www.forrestguitarensembles.co.uk/
http://www.classicalguitarcanada.ca/
http://www.leesollory.co.uk/
* http://www.freeguitarensemblemusic.com/
http://guitarensemblemusic.com/
http://suzukiassociation.org/guitar/
* http://www.funkybearmusic.com/
+ http://www.melbay.com
http://www.clearnote.net
http://www.daddario.com
+ http://www.alfred.com/

[nafmeadmin]

I learned a ‘quick and dirty’ ensemble technique at a MENC Guitar Workshop (hie thee there, and quickly – you’ll be glad you did). Have part of your class strum the chords of the song. Another group plays the bass note of the chord on an open string (if appropriate) or single string, using a different rhythm than the strummers. A third group (or you, as the teacher) can play the melody.
I have an electric bass in my classroom on which I allow one student to play the bass line, and an electric guitar to augment the strumming group.
It’s even effective to have just chords and melody.

[nafmeadmin]

I love, love, love the First Year Guitar book in the Hands-On Training method by Nancy Lee Marsters. It’s not available (I don’t think) from any of the traditional book or music retailers, but if you google you should be able to find her website. It was introduced to me at a NAMM Teaching Guitar workshop a few years ago. I start my 7th graders on it, and there is enough material for the book to extend through some pretty advanced technique stuff all the way through 8th grade. I just supplement it with more pop/rock/folk music. There are also some trio and ensemble books from the same series that can supplement the method book. I can’t recommend it highly enough – explains things clearly, hits all the elements of music that we as teachers want our kids to learn, but is still accessible and fun that the students like it too.

[nafmeadmin]

Hello all. Glen McCarthy here, your September guitar forum host. The website for Class Guitar Resources – “CGR” (Nancy Lee Marsters) is:
http://www.classguitar.com/index2.html
I agree with battene702, CGR materials are excellent.

[nafmeadmin]

I have found another site for guitar ensemble music: http://www.writtenforguitar.com

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