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Location: GA USA | I'm strongly considering starting a free "Beginning Guitar for Children" class, right after the first of the year. Basic tuning, chords, fretboard, strumming stuff, to help kids who get a guitar for Christmas learn enough so that they will pick up their guitars more than once. I plan to put a notice up on Craigslist to start a class of up to 10 kids. Here's my question:
What ages? I figure I would go through something like 5th or 6th grade, but what should be the starting age?
I've never taught before, but it seems like a good community service. Any other advice?
Jas |
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Location: GA USA | By the way, Popcritic, my daughter (16) now wants to learn guitar. She and the wife saw August Rush the other day. Allie came home, cut her nails and learned a few chords off the internet. They both loved the movie (which starred Kaki's hands). |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | Jas - 6th grade or maybe a little older is probably a good upper limit. Nicky is in 5th grade. I think if you go too young, then you may have problems keeping them all on the same page.
Maybe 3rd or 4th through 8th?
That's a great community service! That may not be a bad idea to do through the church.
Good luck - it should be fun! |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | Ummm...Jas...am I too old? |
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Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by BegginJIM:
Ummm...Jas...am I too old? Ditto :D |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | Forget guitar - can you teach me to sing?? :eek: |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I'd go from 3rd grade to 8th grade. From my experience, it's too frustrating for the teacher when they're younger and the kids don't care, and 9th graders can find other sources. Though you can teach them if you want, in terms of guitar students they're just like everyone else, some even more dedicated.
Where will you be teaching? I recommend the local Parish or church. Less problems (in fact none in my experience) with insurance and logistics. |
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Location: GA USA | Thanks for the input. I plan to try it with absolute beginners and give them enough to play for enjoyment. If some want to progress further, I'd refer them to a qualified teacher. Somebody with as much experience as Nicky, I'd want taking from a real teacher, so I wouldn't mess them up.
Teaching at the church is what I had in mind. The people I talked to there were excited about it. Then, as a graduation, the whole group could perform together at the church in front of a live audience. Or in two half-groups or whatever works best.
Jim, you're a little old, but since you're a beginner we'll let you in. It will give you a headstart for Bealapalooza. |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | Originally posted by Captain_Lovehandles:
I plan to try it with absolute beginners Somebody with as much experience as Nicky, I'd want taking from a real teacher, so I wouldn't mess them up.
Jim, you're a little old, but since you're a beginner we'll let you in. It will give you a headstart for Bealapalooza. Finally, a willing teacher! I will try to be a willing student. And, yes, I am an absolute beginner. Jas, you have a tough road to get me ready for Bealapalooza.
:D :D :D ;) :D |
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Location: NJ | ". . Forget guitar - can you teach me to sing?? . ."
Anyone can sing (well, with the exception of that nice young gentleman in the aforeposted video covering NeilYoung . . and last I checked, Schroeder).
Especially if you already play guitar. |
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Location: SoCal | Not necessarily. I am a case in point..... |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | "Anyone can sing (well, with the exception of that nice young gentleman in the aforeposted video covering NeilYoung . . and last I checked, Schroeder)."
Neil Young, Tom Petty, Joe Cocker, Paul Simon... It's not how you sing, it's what you sing, And Why!
Give a man a fish, he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a Lifetime.
You teach a young'un to Play, he will Never forget you.
He/She will be thanking you while the accept their first Grammy! |
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Location: SoCal | Teach a man to fish and he'll drink beer for a lifetime...... |
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Location: NJ | . . after he finds a friend who owns a boat (and drinks beer) . . . |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | I'm going to have a beer... maybe it'll help me sing better. |
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Location: UK | I have the boat and the beer and the rod but if there is any living creature in that canal you certainly wouldnt want to put it in your mouth |
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Location: GA USA | Lemme know what you think of THIS. I've had the ad up for a couple of days and have 8 kids signed up already.
And HERE is the craigslist listing. I need to edit it since I had 3 added today.
I may be coming to you folks for lesson advice. |
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Location: CT | "Helpful: Ear plugs for family members."
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Location: Central Massachusetts | Cap'n, very cool of you to step up and try something like this! Let us know how it goes! Wish I was close enough to attend.. as a student ;) |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Assuming they are true beginners, I always start with something like "All the snakes in france ..." on the d and g strings. |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | Good for you Jas. I know that your skill and patience will provide the young ones with a great start.
Best of luck my friend. Keep us posted as to how you fair. |
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| Jas, that's a really great thing you're doing. Best of luck and do let us know how it goes. |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | Let me know when you're starting up the beginners Harmonica class... I'm in!
Good luck Jas... it's going to be great! |
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Location: GA USA | Harmonica would be too advanced for you clowns. But stay tuned for news on my kazoo class. |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | two words Jas, "Death - Metal" |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | A beginner class for children is a great idea Jas. Good luck on that. While I took the guitar seriously at a much later age, it was in the 7th grade when I actually started to fiddle with the instrument.
Grade-wise, I think about 6th grade will be about right. You may start them with simple chords ... the barre ones will come later. :) You're doing a good thing, and the kids are extremely lucky. |
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Location: GA USA | Classes start today at 10am. Two classes of 10 each. I expect to make plenty of mistakes and learn from this go-round. Anyway, thanks for the encouragement, guys and gals. |
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| All right, best of luck! They'll have a wonderful time. You will, too, you'll just be too nervous to realize it at the time. |
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Location: Simpsonville, SC | can I get tha condensed version on tha way to Gainesville? |
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Location: Marlton, NJ | Ya... the real class starts NEXT saturday! I know you'll have at least two eager students. |
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Teaching Guitar to Children