by Glen McCarthy | Mar 17, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Stories
You have decided to start a guitar program in your school, but your administrators look at you like your from Mars when you tell them you want a classroom full of guitar players. No one said this was going to be easy; fortunately one of the greatest things about the...
by Glen McCarthy | Mar 3, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Gear, Principles, Tips + Tricks
Hey, remember the metronome? Sure, it helps everybody learn to obey rhythm (one of the musts of playing any musical instrument – especially in an ensemble), but you’ll probably reach for an alternative that works great for guitar class: a drum machine. Not sure which...
by Glen McCarthy | Feb 24, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
If used properly, reaching your students via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and YouTube can boost your lessons. Kids are connected 24/7, and for most, social media is their preferred mode of contact. Follow these 8 rules of...
by Glen McCarthy | Feb 24, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks
Concert field trips are supposed to be a highlight of any music class experience. The reality is often vastly different. But this, guitar educators, is avoidable! Below are 7 ways to set the stage, engage and make the experience memorable. 1. Build anticipation Img...
by Glen McCarthy | Feb 16, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Gear, Principles, Tips + Tricks
I actually see two questions here: 1.) How much do student guitars cost? 2.) How much do quality student guitars cost? The answer to question #1 is: you can find a guitar for $30-50. That’s great! Here comes the BUT, or the answer to question #2: Sometimes you...
by Glen McCarthy | Feb 16, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Gear, Principles, Tips + Tricks
So in part three of my segments on capos, I wanted to give you some tips for using capos in class (or in any situation really). There are a couple different ways I use to figure out how to use my capo properly. I like to call them the hard way and the easy way. THE...
