www.clicktolearnguitar.com
Here is a video of some questions I gave my student after our 5th lesson:
Monday, February 25, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Notes - Lesson 5
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Lesson 5
Our fifth lesson consisted of a more open approach. I did not plan anything, instead We went over previous information, talked some more about how the student was feeling and what her goals were. The lesson exercises went as follows:
Chord Exercise: Play each string of the chord in ascending order. Each correct string played is tagged. Once all the strings are tagged that is cue for the student to then play the entire chord. Correct performance of the entire chord is tagged.
*note: The chord exercise is meant to teach the student how each string should be played and heard to properly play the entire chord. If all strings are played correctly then the chord will be played correctly. Focusing on each string breaks the chord mechanics down to small steps to achieve a big success which is playing the entire chord correctly and easily.
Strumming Exercise: This exercise is meant to learn the mechanics of strumming. The strings should be strummed with an easy attack that is musical. Each correct strum is tagged. each chord is strummed 4 times. The fourth correct strum of the chord is tagged twice to signal a chord change.
*note: The double clicking of the fourth strum teaches the student where the end of a 4 bar measure would be. This is crucial when paying with others or reading music. Also, with all these exercises you can have the student call out the chord being played for their memory.
Chord Shape Exercise: This exercise improves the mechanics of moving from chord to chord. The teacher calls out a chord and the student simply put their fingers on the chord shape. Each correct chord shape is tagged. This exercise can be done by the teacher calling the chord, the student calling the chord or the student reading the chord.
Chord Reading Exercise: This exercise improves the student's reading skills. flash cards with chord names are set in a random order. The student does the strumming exercise using the order of the flash card chords. The student does not call out the chord, instead goes to the next chord. This improves the student's ability to read a chord progression and perform it.
Lesson 5
Our fifth lesson consisted of a more open approach. I did not plan anything, instead We went over previous information, talked some more about how the student was feeling and what her goals were. The lesson exercises went as follows:
Chord Exercise: Play each string of the chord in ascending order. Each correct string played is tagged. Once all the strings are tagged that is cue for the student to then play the entire chord. Correct performance of the entire chord is tagged.
*note: The chord exercise is meant to teach the student how each string should be played and heard to properly play the entire chord. If all strings are played correctly then the chord will be played correctly. Focusing on each string breaks the chord mechanics down to small steps to achieve a big success which is playing the entire chord correctly and easily.
Strumming Exercise: This exercise is meant to learn the mechanics of strumming. The strings should be strummed with an easy attack that is musical. Each correct strum is tagged. each chord is strummed 4 times. The fourth correct strum of the chord is tagged twice to signal a chord change.
*note: The double clicking of the fourth strum teaches the student where the end of a 4 bar measure would be. This is crucial when paying with others or reading music. Also, with all these exercises you can have the student call out the chord being played for their memory.
Chord Shape Exercise: This exercise improves the mechanics of moving from chord to chord. The teacher calls out a chord and the student simply put their fingers on the chord shape. Each correct chord shape is tagged. This exercise can be done by the teacher calling the chord, the student calling the chord or the student reading the chord.
Chord Reading Exercise: This exercise improves the student's reading skills. flash cards with chord names are set in a random order. The student does the strumming exercise using the order of the flash card chords. The student does not call out the chord, instead goes to the next chord. This improves the student's ability to read a chord progression and perform it.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Video - Chord Shape Exercise
www.clicktolearnguitar.com
This exercise is meant to increase the speed of moving form chord to chord. Combined with the chord and strumming exercise the student learns good technique along with speed.
Notes for exercise:
-Call chord
-Tag correct chord shape by student
This exercise is meant to increase the speed of moving form chord to chord. Combined with the chord and strumming exercise the student learns good technique along with speed.
Notes for exercise:
-Call chord
-Tag correct chord shape by student
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Notes - Lesson 4
www.clicktolearnguitar.com
- Review previous lesson
- Review Em chord
- Play each string - TAG correct play
- Play whole chord - TAG correct play
- Review Gmaj chord
- Play each string - TAG correct play
- Play whole chord - TAG correct play
- Review Cmaj chord
- Play each string - TAG correct play
- Play whole chord - TAG correct play
- Review Strumming Exercise
- Ask student what chord feel easiest to play and in what order they prefer to play them
- Have student call out chord and strum each chord 4 times.
- TAG each correct strum
- Double tag the last strum of each chord to signal a chord change for student
- Incorporate Flashcard with strumming exercise
- Hold flash cards up intermittently
- Have student call out chord on flashcard and strum the whole chord
- TAG if chord called is correct and strum is correct
- Learn Dmaj chord
- Finger 1on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string, 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string and 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string..
- Play just the four top strings.
- Play each string - TAG correct playing
- Play whole chord
- Incorporate new chord with strumming exercise.
- Assess students ability to strum. If student is ready, incorporate a metronome to play with strum pattern.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Notes - Muscle Memory
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from the wikipedia article on muscle memory
Muscle memory starts with a visual cue. A classic example are chords while playing instruments such as the piano or guitar. The beginner must think and interpret these chords, but after repetition, the letters and symbols on the page become cues to the muscle movements. As the brain processes the information about the desired activity and motion such as a golf swing, one then commits to that motion thought as correct. Over time, the accuracy and skills in performing the swing or movement improve.
Muscle memory is the control center of the movement. In maximizing muscle memory to learn a new motion, practicing that same motion over a long enough period makes it become automatic. This learning process could take months, even years, to perfect, depending on the individual's dedication to practice, and their unique biochemical neuromuscular learning system to retain that practice.
In detail, inside the brain are neurons that produce impulses, which carry tiny electrical currents. These currents cross the synapses between neurons with chemical transporters called neurotransmitters to carry the communication. Neurotransmitters are the body’s communicative mechanisms and one of their many functions is to travel through the central nervous system and carry the signal from visual cue to the muscle for the contraction.
Although there are many types of neurotransmitters, the communicative ones primarily used in muscle memory are acetylcholine and serotonin.
Acetylcholine is the major neurotransmitter used in memory, focus, concentration, and muscle memory. It is the substance that transports messages from one nerve cell to another. Acetylcholine is critical to the process of creating and remembering the muscle contraction. It achieves this through motor neurons.
Serotonin is imperative in the muscle memory process. Serotonin has multiple physiological actions at neuromuscular junctions where communication crosses over. This includes facilitation of transmitter release from nerve terminals and an increase in the communication to muscle fibers.
When a motor neuron depolarizes, an electrical current is passed down the nerve fiber and the impulse causes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to be released to the muscle cell. Acetylcholine then binds with receptors on the muscle membrane to create the contraction. Over time, with acetylcholine the brain-muscle learns the chosen motion and induces its own form of memory. This process is also called neuromuscular facilitation. Once muscle memory is created and retained, there is no longer need to actively think about the movement and this frees up capacity for other activities.
from the wikipedia article on muscle memory
Muscle memory starts with a visual cue. A classic example are chords while playing instruments such as the piano or guitar. The beginner must think and interpret these chords, but after repetition, the letters and symbols on the page become cues to the muscle movements. As the brain processes the information about the desired activity and motion such as a golf swing, one then commits to that motion thought as correct. Over time, the accuracy and skills in performing the swing or movement improve.
Muscle memory is the control center of the movement. In maximizing muscle memory to learn a new motion, practicing that same motion over a long enough period makes it become automatic. This learning process could take months, even years, to perfect, depending on the individual's dedication to practice, and their unique biochemical neuromuscular learning system to retain that practice.
In detail, inside the brain are neurons that produce impulses, which carry tiny electrical currents. These currents cross the synapses between neurons with chemical transporters called neurotransmitters to carry the communication. Neurotransmitters are the body’s communicative mechanisms and one of their many functions is to travel through the central nervous system and carry the signal from visual cue to the muscle for the contraction.
Although there are many types of neurotransmitters, the communicative ones primarily used in muscle memory are acetylcholine and serotonin.
Acetylcholine is the major neurotransmitter used in memory, focus, concentration, and muscle memory. It is the substance that transports messages from one nerve cell to another. Acetylcholine is critical to the process of creating and remembering the muscle contraction. It achieves this through motor neurons.
Serotonin is imperative in the muscle memory process. Serotonin has multiple physiological actions at neuromuscular junctions where communication crosses over. This includes facilitation of transmitter release from nerve terminals and an increase in the communication to muscle fibers.
When a motor neuron depolarizes, an electrical current is passed down the nerve fiber and the impulse causes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to be released to the muscle cell. Acetylcholine then binds with receptors on the muscle membrane to create the contraction. Over time, with acetylcholine the brain-muscle learns the chosen motion and induces its own form of memory. This process is also called neuromuscular facilitation. Once muscle memory is created and retained, there is no longer need to actively think about the movement and this frees up capacity for other activities.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Video - Lesson 3 Chord Exercise 2
www.clicktolearnguitar.com
Here is a second example of the chord exercise. The student calls the chord and frets the chord shape. The student then plays each string one at a time. Each correctly played string is a TAG. After all string are played the student plays the whole chord. A correctly played chord is a TAG.
Notice when the student does not play a note cleanly or does not fret the chord correctly there is no click sound. The student then reassesses and tries again, this time doing it correctly. The click then tags the correct performance.
This is 1 hr. 30 mins total over a 3 week period of playing.
Here is a second example of the chord exercise. The student calls the chord and frets the chord shape. The student then plays each string one at a time. Each correctly played string is a TAG. After all string are played the student plays the whole chord. A correctly played chord is a TAG.
Notice when the student does not play a note cleanly or does not fret the chord correctly there is no click sound. The student then reassesses and tries again, this time doing it correctly. The click then tags the correct performance.
This is 1 hr. 30 mins total over a 3 week period of playing.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Video - Lesson 3 Chord Exercise
www.clicktolearnguitar.com
Here is an example of the chord exercise for the Click to Learn Guitar method. The student frets the chord, plays each string, then plays the whole chord.
Chord Exercise:
Here is an example of the chord exercise for the Click to Learn Guitar method. The student frets the chord, plays each string, then plays the whole chord.
Chord Exercise:
- Have student fret the chord shape
- TAG correct fretting of chord shape
- Have student play each string
- TAG correct performance of each string - Student does not move to next string until they hear the click
- Have student play entire chord
Monday, February 4, 2008
Video - Lesson 3 strumming exercise - 02-03-08
www.clicktolearnguitar.com
Quick Note: The noise in the background is a howling dog. NOT A MURDER.
So far my student has had three lessons. This equates to 1 hr 30 mins of guitar playing. However, it has been 30 minutes a week as the lessons are every Sunday. She has not practiced once since she started so this represents what the student is able to do and comprehend after playing for 1hr 30mins over a three week period.
Strumming Excercise
Quick Note: The noise in the background is a howling dog. NOT A MURDER.
So far my student has had three lessons. This equates to 1 hr 30 mins of guitar playing. However, it has been 30 minutes a week as the lessons are every Sunday. She has not practiced once since she started so this represents what the student is able to do and comprehend after playing for 1hr 30mins over a three week period.
Strumming Excercise
- Ask student what chord feel easiest to play and in what order they prefer to play them
- Have student call out chord and strum each chord 4 times.
- TAG each correct strum
- Double tag the last strum of each chord to signal a chord change for student
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Notes: Lesson 3 Plan
www.clicktolearnguitar.com
Lesson 3
- Review previous lesson
- Review Em chord
- Play each string - TAG correct play
- Play whole chord - TAG correct play
- Review Gmaj chord
- Play each string - TAG correct play
- Play whole chord - TAG correct play
- Review Cmaj chord
- Play each string - TAG correct play
- Play whole chord - TAG correct play
- Review Strumming Exercise
- Ask student what chord feel easiest to play and in what order they prefer to play them
- Have student call out chord and strum each chord 4 times.
- TAG each correct strum
- Double tag the last strum of each chord to signal a chord change for student
- Incorporate Flashcard with strumming exercise
- Hold flash cards up intermittently
- Have student call out chord on flashcard and strum the whole chord
- TAG if chord called is correct and strum is correct
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