Social Media in the Guitar Classroom

by Glen McCarthy | Jan 28, 2015 | Classroom, Education, News, Stories, Tips + Tricks, Uncategorized

Let’s face it, everyone loves social media – especially kids. You might be sick of social media, but the good news is that you can use it to enhance your classroom guitar program. Teachers are creating twitter and pinterest boards in their classrooms....

Gam-ify Your Classroom Guitar Program with Electives

by Glen McCarthy | Jan 7, 2015 | Classroom, Education, News, Principles, Stories, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks

I was reading a post on Edutopia about using principles from video games to engage students. I was struck by how much classroom guitar programs resemble video games. Douglas Kiang, the author of the article, points out that in video games we: – Fail early and...

Reflecting on the Success of Classroom Guitar

by Glen McCarthy | Jan 7, 2015 | Classroom, Education, Gear, Stories, Tips + Tricks, Uncategorized, Videos

“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” comes streaming across our school’s PA system after the last student has exited the building for Christmas break. That was one of my former principals jolly way of not only wishing us “Merry...

When Guitar Is Not Your First Instrument: 5 Teaching Tips

by Glen McCarthy | Dec 1, 2014 | Classroom, Education, News, Principles, Stories, Tips + Tricks, Uncategorized

Part of my responsibility as the Guitar Task Force Chair in Clark County is to pay attention to the challenges that guitar teachers are facing. Currently, 60% of our classroom guitar teachers do not play the guitar or did not play the guitar before teaching their...

An Interview with Suzanne D’Addario Brouder, Director of the D’Addario Foundation

by Glen McCarthy | Oct 10, 2014 | Classroom, Education, News, Stories, Tips + Tricks

An Interview with Suzanne D’Addario Brouder, Director of the D’Addario Foundation Teaching Guitar Workshops – What’s the mission of the D’Addario Foundation? Suzanne D’Addario Brouder – The primary mission of the D’Addario...

Teach: George Harrison

by Glen McCarthy | Jul 14, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Stories, Tips + Tricks, Uncategorized

Your students probably heard their first Beatles song before they were five years old. But do they know who’s behind the genius of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Here Comes the Sun”? Some of Harrison’s guitar flourishes are the most hummable parts of many...