by Glen McCarthy | Jul 2, 2014 | Classroom, Education, News, Principles, Tips + Tricks, Uncategorized
It would be extremely handy to rent a time machine and drop in on live performances by Page and Hendrix, just in time for the solo. There’s really no better way for your students to learn the art of soloing than to see and hear the performance as it happens. But since...
by Glen McCarthy | Jun 24, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Principles, Tips + Tricks, Uncategorized
Inhale. Count to five. Exhale. Repeat. It’s performance time! Organizing an ensemble performance will require skills beyond your garden variety instructional/class management skills. You’ll need to prepare your students, your venue and your audience. But follow these...
by Glen McCarthy | Jun 24, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Gear, Principles, Tips + Tricks
With the introduction of Finale 2004 a new chord feature, the Fretboard Editor, was made available that greatly simplified creating custom guitar fretboards. As a Guitar Educator you can use this feature to design custom elements for your guitar classroom quizzes and...
by Glen McCarthy | Jun 18, 2014 | Classroom, Education, Gear, Principles, Tips + Tricks
Mistake #1: Not Developing your Calluses It doesn’t matter how much natural talent you may have; if you don’t practice consistently enough to develop your calluses, playing will never feel easier. (And pain, as we all know, is a natural deterrent.) Fix: Try to play...
by Glen McCarthy | Jun 18, 2014 | Classroom, Education, News, Principles, Tips + Tricks
While questioning my motives for using a practice sheet in class, I set out to see what other music teachers did when it came to requiring their students to practice at home. I spoke with the band director who was also trying “something new” when it came to weekly...
