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Posts: 247
Location: Seacoast NH | Bought my 3 year old son this little "Lauren" brand kid's guitar to fool around on. I was actually fairly impressed. It holds a tune, and you can actually play on it (I tuned it to open D so he can bang around a little easier) I noticed after I played a passable version of "Little Martha" on it. I looked more closely at the tag -- Kaman Music Corporation. His very first Ovation! I'm so proud...  |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | One of my students from years ago had one. Kid's size classical. I was impressed with it then, and she brought it in a few weeks ago for a re-string and the darned thing has held up wonderfully. No warps or twists or lifting bridge or anything. |
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Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | Good to know. If I EVER get the funding for it I would love to get a fleet of beginner guitars to use in my elementary music classroom for my 4th and 5th graders. I'm the only elementary music teacher I've ever met who MAJORED in guitar, but I've never worked for a school that would give me the funding to get a set of guitars for my classroom. Most grants I've seen will only give a few hundred dollars and that simply won't cover the cost for a set of guitars. So, if anyone knows of a funding source, let me know!!! |
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Location: Flahdaw | MeredithI - 2013-04-05 3:43 PM So, if anyone knows of a funding source, let me know!!!
Try the federal government. They're funding everything else.... |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | They would need to have their own guitars at home to practice on anyway, wouldn't they? Even if you set aside and hour a day in the classroom for them to practice, what about weekends, vacations, and those times when you just feel like playing?
At the school here, they have instruments in the bandroom for all the kids to try, but if they really get into it, they want their own. That's where I come in. I have inexpensive starter guitars and I also have donated several guitars to kids with promise but no funds. And then there are the "customers" who have come in (a surprising number over the years) who have given me guitars to fix and asked me to donate them to kids. (I LOVE this town!) |
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Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | No, they would not need a guitar at home unless they want to go to the next level on the instrument. The objective of elementary general music is not really to create musicians. The point is to give children an opportunity to be expressive and creative with music and to have experiences with music that will make them better listeners as well as more informed consumers of music who will appreciate and more fully enjoy music later in life. As a music educator I strive to inspire a love for music, a knowledge about the language of music, an understanding of the mechanics of music, and an appreciation for the hard work of musicians. By involving children in music they learn a number of things about life too, like the rewards of hard work, how to listen, and how to work with others to achieve a common goal. Another objective is to help students awaken and discover their talents. Many of my students may have no opportunites to make music unless I give it to them. I have identified two enormously talented boys in the last few years whose parent would never have realized the enormous aptitude their children had in music. Consequently I can counsel the parents to help their children explore their potential with private lessons or other opportunities to make music in the community. I have also been able to help children manage inappropriate behavior with music. If any of my students go on to pursue music further by buying their own instrument, joining the band in middle school, getting involved in music at their church, taking private lessons, etc., that's a bonus. I need to get off my music education soap box. Once I get going on this topic I could go on all night. Suffice to say that I believe in the profound value of my job as an elementary music teacher and I love my job! All day long I sing, dance, play my guitar, listen to music, play instruments, and inspire children AND I get paid to do it! It's a great gig! |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Meredith, I wish you were teaching where my kids go to school. The place is hanging on by a thread financially, though they still have a music program, sort of. The teacher comes in only one day a week for 6 grades worth of students.
Keep doing what you do. Too many kids simply don't have access to music instruction anymore.
Lauren Guitars huh. Looks like I have another search parameter for Craigs List.... |
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November 2011
Posts: 741
Location: Fort Worth, TX | MeredithI - 2013-04-05 7:57 PM
No, they would not need a guitar at home unless they want to go to the next level on the instrument. The objective of elementary general music is not really to create musicians. The point is to give children an opportunity to be expressive and creative with music and to have experiences with music that will make them better listeners as well as more informed consumers of music who will appreciate and more fully enjoy music later in life. As a music educator I strive to inspire a love for music, a knowledge about the language of music, an understanding of the mechanics of music, and an appreciation for the hard work of musicians. By involving children in music they learn a number of things about life too, like the rewards of hard work, how to listen, and how to work with others to achieve a common goal. Another objective is to help students awaken and discover their talents. Many of my students may have no opportunites to make music unless I give it to them. I have identified two enormously talented boys in the last few years whose parent would never have realized the enormous aptitude their children had in music. Consequently I can counsel the parents to help their children explore their potential with private lessons or other opportunities to make music in the community. I have also been able to help children manage inappropriate behavior with music. If any of my students go on to pursue music further by buying their own instrument, joining the band in middle school, getting involved in music at their church, taking private lessons, etc., that's a bonus. I need to get off my music education soap box. Once I get going on this topic I could go on all night. Suffice to say that I believe in the profound value of my job as an elementary music teacher and I love my job! All day long I sing, dance, play my guitar, listen to music, play instruments, and inspire children AND I get paid to do it! It's a great gig!
This is the testimony of an excellent, dedicated teacher! My wife has been teaching the babies in Kindergarten for 32 years now and could retire at any time but loves her job too much. She begins their school years and teachers like you further the process along. I remember my grade school music teacher and the influence he had on me. Soon as my inheritance arrives I'm gonna buy you a truckload of guitars! |
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November 2012
Posts: 135
Location: New Bern, NC | Wow, Dave! Thanks so much for the vote of confidence!! It's nice to be appreciated. You know I'll use those guitars, so send 'em on!!!! "This is the testimony of an excellent, dedicated teacher! My wife has been teaching the babies in Kindergarten for 32 years now and could retire at any time but loves her job too much. She begins their school years and teachers like you further the process along. I remember my grade school music teacher and the influence he had on me. Soon as my inheritance arrives I'm gonna buy you a truckload of guitars!"
Edited by MeredithI 2013-04-07 12:33 PM
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December 2005
Posts: 247
Location: Seacoast NH | Good luck in your pursuit of student guitars Meredith. Those Lauren brand ones might be a good option if you get some funds available, I don't think it was more than $50 (but when you need 20 of them it sure adds up I suppose).
I still remember my elementary school music classes 30 something years ago with Mr. Brough fondly, we always had a blast. I heard a few years ago he had passed away, and I was surprised at how sad that made me feel...so don't think your contributions go unrecognized! |
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Lauren Guitars
