Connecting notes successfully in a melody means the difference between sounding like a typewriter and sounding like a singer with a beautiful voice. I often use the phrase “passing off the pinch” to help describe the principle of correct left hand movement that occurs between notes of a melody. The basic principle is simply […]
As an educator, I’ve both learned from experience and learned from research about the importance of empathy. Teachers and parents who empathize with their students and children can transform a negative dynamic to a constructive one.
Reflect on your language at home during guitar time and if you are an educator, during class. Phrases […]
Another spring concert has brought our KinderGuitar community together. Students ages 5-17, some veteran performers and some first-time performers, prepared solos, duets, trios, and even some quartets for an eager and excited audience of parents, siblings, friends, and family. Performers played folksong arrangements for multiple guitars, rounds, Spanish music, music from both the classical […]
Several weeks ago, I had a very talented student work on a difficult section of a piece she was preparing. We went through it slowly, broke it down into bite size pieces, sang it the way she wanted to play it, considered many, many fingerings for the left hand and right hand, kept at […]
Playing time should consist of a variety of activities. Depending on the amount of time spent playing each day or each week, young students and their parents should mutually agree to prepare for the upcoming lesson and to spend some time refining playing and improving skills. The positive correlation between increased time spent on […]
