by Glen McCarthy | Jan 12, 2014 | Classroom, Education, News, Stories, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks
Mute strumming is very effective for teaching various rhythmic strums. I don’t think we spend enough time working on right hand strumming because we are so concerned about left hand notes. Isolating the right hand helps the students advance in their ability to keep a...
by Glen McCarthy | Dec 29, 2013 | Classroom, Education, News, Principles, Stories, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks
The Pentatonic Scale allows students to really stretch out and have fun with the guitar. But how do you teach it? Try this: Preliminary ear training experiences: 1. If keyboards are available have the students noodle on the black notes, perhaps one on the bass and one...
by Glen McCarthy | Dec 22, 2013 | Classroom, Education, News, Principles, Stories, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks
I went to Wikipedia to see what they say and can’t improve on the following: “The capo is most commonly used to raise the pitch of a fretted instrument so that a player can perform a piece in a different key using the same fingerings they would use if played...
by Glen McCarthy | Dec 15, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks
Teachers worry about keeping a class interesting. But when you have a guitar class for a 90 minute block, you need great content! First, think about the possibilities using the National Standards as an outline. Think, “What will my students do today that includes:...
by Glen McCarthy | Dec 2, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Stories, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks
We’ve all been there. You’re trying to teach an important new concept to your guitar class….and little Jimmy can’t keep his hands off the guitar while you’re talking! Well…. it’s little Jimmy….along with Fred, Wanda, and Gladys. It’s a classroom epidemic! To be fair…I...
by Glen McCarthy | Oct 20, 2013 | Classroom, Education, Success Stories, Tips + Tricks
How can you help students with “wrong” pick holds and is it that important? Emphasize the “platform” formed by the first digit and movement from the elbow. I think it is important, but take baby steps to fix it because they may have learned that way from someone they...