Thinking About Starting a Guitar Program? Jayson Martinez, M. Mus; M. EdLd NAfME/NJMEA Guitar Education Chair jmarti37@webmail.essex.edu
As the guitar gains popularity in school settings, we tend to see more music teachers taking on the exciting task of offering a guitar class. Utilizing guitars in the classroom provides a powerful means for teaching music to young students. Not only does starting a guitar program improve engagement in the classroom, it is a great way to develop a transcendental music program. This article highlights several insights, resources, and tips from various guitar instructors around the country on how to start a successful guitar class in any school. A special thanks is extended to the NAfME Guitar Council for sharing there wisdom and knowledge. In sum, by following the recommendations and further investigating the upcoming sites and resources, your guitar program will flourish and become an essential asset in your school’s educational plan.
Overcoming the Financial Challenge One aspect of the guitar is the sheer versatility of the instrument. Students can use guitars to play both melodies and harmonies. However, the most significant challenge of starting a guitar program is financial. Depending on the school’s budget, guitars can be quite expensive. Further, in an ideal guitar program, each student will play his or her own instrument. Beyond purchasing guitars, there will also be additional costs for storage and accessories. Yet, there are a number of ways in which teachers can ease this financial burden. These include music fundraising events, community and business partnerships, music education grants, and fundraising websites. Regardless of the hefty price tag for starting a program, the educational and experiential benefits for children are well worth it. For further information, research the suggestions presented in the Guitar Foundations of America site guitarfoundation.org.
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Best Practices for Elementary Students Regarding teaching young students in a class setting, students can use either a 1/2 size nylon-string guitars, ukulele, or guitarele. These instruments are typically the best size for children and the nylon strings are not as painful on little fingers as steel strings. A very basic reason to use nylon strings is that it is less strenuous on beginners’ fingers. Also, it is easier for the classroom teacher to see the students’ fingers in order to make corrections when they are learning chords and notes. For further information, it is suggested to look into the guitarsintheclassroom.org site, for starters.
Classroom Setup, Procedures, and Storage The way in which a classroom is arranged is of vital importance for delivering the most effective instruction. Students should be able to easily access any necessary materials, sit comfortably, and view any instructional materials along with the instructor. For instance, some guitar colleagues prefer to arrange student chairs into three rows. Chairs in the same row are spaced by about four feet to allow room for students to feel comfortable moving around without banging into a neighboring guitar. Further, teachers can use the three rows for establishing effective procedures for guitar instru tion. Important procedures to consider include general care and safety for guitars, getting and putting away guitars, and what students do if they need to set guitars down for a moment. Other possible procedures to consider may be how students will perform for the class and how they can work with a partner or in small groups. Every music classroom is different, but one thing is certain: guitars will occupy a lot of space. There are many methods of storing guitars so be sure to peruse all available options before committing to a storage method. These storage methods include wall hangers, traditional guitar stands, multi-guitar stands, custom-built guitar 38
OCTOBER 2020
