Music On The Guitar: The way that I teach my students is to consider their learning and for each pupil to learn the ability to really think about the music as they learn it. A more precise explanation of the phrase “music on the guitar” is that the guitar is a vehicle for the student to learn their musical expression. How does all of the above approach work in a practical manner? The guitar lessons that I teach simply include the learning of a musical language regardless of whether the student is currently learning the formal aspects of reading at a given juncture.

In a guitar lesson a student may learn a few chords to play a song that they are excited about. The chosen song is more of a learning tool than a final goal. As the student and I work on the song we learn musical principles that are related to the student’s desire to improve their guitar performance of the song, so that the student may recognize the song that they are performing in a way that sounds more like the original recording. Since the student and myself both have the same goal of improving the student’s technique in their interpretation of the song they’re learning and my teaching become increasingly efficient and effective.

The outcome of the above mentioned experience with students is that the student achieves a greater degree of self confidence as they apply musical principles, the new principles function in a way that improves the sound of their chosen music. As the student’s confidence increases the student feels more comfortable with the musical tools that they’re learning to use, and the student becomes inspired to ask if they may begin learning to read music formally.

The student who chooses to learn to read music on their own with little influence from the teacher is usually one of the best readers. The student who chooses to learn reading music has expressed a desire and knows that they have a freedom of choice in their learning which enhances their commitment to their learning. As the student learns to read the music, the student then becomes increasingly literate in the musical arena.

My experience with my students is that they have become leaders in their musical groups and are the “go-to” players in any musical group that they are participating in for any reason.

Lawrence Paul

learnguitarsf.com

(415) 424-5575