LIVE AT THE STIEFEL WITH

Beginning Guitar

Class Name:

Beginning Guitar

This class is for anyone who is new to the guitar. We’ll explore everything from how to hold the guitar all the way up to playing your first songs. If you’re just picking up a guitar for the first time this is a great place to start! Our guitar classes are multi-generational. Parents and grandparents can even sign up to learn guitar alongside your kids! Materials will be available online.

Instructor:

Brian Pekarek

Schedule:

Enrollment for the spring semester is currently closed

Class Size:

4 Minimum; 25 Maximum

Age Range:

8 to adult

Materials Required:

·        Guitar:  Preferably an acoustic or classical guitar, but an electric guitar will work, as well.  If the student only has an electric they will not be able to plug into an amplifier during group lessons and will be very quiet during class. Guitar needs to have relatively new strings and be able to hold a tune.  Questions about guitar and string quality can be directed to the instructor or S.M. Hanson / Midwest music stores.  The Stiefel does have 5 guitars that can be checked out during the workshop if you do not own your own.  They are first come first serve and a waiver must be signed making the student responsible for any damage. If you’d like to check availability - please email the instructor atjesse.smith@usd305.com

·        Flat Picks:  3 to 4 medium gauge flat picks

·        Music:  All music, including accompaniment tracks, will be available to students online. If the student does not have internet access, please inquire about having physical copies made for the student.

Course Objectives

·        How to properly hold the guitar

·        Proper fretting technique

·        Various right hand picking techniques, including: reststroke, free stroke, and using a pick

·        How notes are laid out across the fretboard

·        Basic rhythms, including: whole notes, half notes, quarternotes and sixteenth notes.

·        How to read both standard notation and tablature

·        How to perform both with a group and individually