Higher Education and the Young Guitarist, Pt. III - Popular Guitar Studies

       Here is a link to the third article in the series Higher Education and the Young Guitarist - Popular Guitar Studies
which I co-authored for Tempo - the magazine for the New Jersey Music Educators Association.

     This series of articles offers music educators with a limited background in guitar information about studying the instrument at the university level. In this current article we tackle by discussing  "music trade schools" - with particular attention paid to Musician's Institute in Los Angeles, CA. The article is on pages 44 - 45.

                        

Right or Left - Which Way to Go?

        Soon after my previous post Building a Foundation, Pt. II (seating position) student begin lessons. In my phone conversation with her father prior to the lesson he mentioned the fact that she was left-handed and wanted to know if this would be a problem. This reminded me of the handful of left-handed players I had taught over the years and how I approached teaching them.
        Whenever I have taken on a new student who is left-handed with no prior playing experience my approach is always the same – have them play right handed. This is because two hands are needed to play the guitar and by playing right-handed there is the opportunity to play a multitude of guitars. To play the guitar both hands are employed regardless of which is dominant, and each will develop technical facility specific to the job it will be doing (picking, fingering, etc.). This being the case, it makes sense for a “lefty” to learn to play right-handed because the vast majority of guitars are built for right-handed players. Those who choose or have teachers choose to have them play lefty become limited in the instruments available to them. Whereas, in order to play lefty an instrument may need to be custom made, specially ordered, professionally set-up or just difficult to find.
         In the past I have had experienced left-handed players as students and of course it makes no sense to try to “convert” them – that is the way they have learned. However, be aware that teaching lefties can be a bit tricky – especially if you are going to adjust chord diagrams or even tablature. Teaching materials are geared toward right-handed players so you will need to make a judgment call as to whether or not you will “flip” the materials for them. However, in the end you are teaching a student how to play the guitar – lefty or righty your approach is still the same.
         Next month I’ll get back on track with what to cover in our first lesson in Building A Foundation, Pt. III.

Building a Foundation, Pt. II - Seating Position

        The seating position is a basic concept many guitar teachers overlook, but how one sits with the instrument can be an essential part of a player’s development. Of all the styles of guitar playing classical guitarists have the most uniform position in which they hold their instrument. One of the reasons for this is that classical guitarists, as opposed to other styles, have a significant pedagogic tradition (the art or science of teaching). These players recognize that the proper seating position can help: develop technique, easily balance the instrument and give the ability to survey the guitar when playing.

          A traditional classical seating position involves sitting close to the edge of an armless chair and elevating the left leg with a footstool while holding the guitar. 

When the guitar is held correctly it will come in contact with the body at four points: (1) on the side of the guitar where it is placed over the left leg (2) the lower bout as it “rests” against inner thigh of the right leg (3) the back of the guitar as it touches the chest of the player (4) on the top/side of lower bout when the right forearm is in playing position. This playing position enables the guitar neck to be angled upward much like when one is standing and playing allowing more freedom of movement in the fretting hand - the footstool is an important part of the seated position.
         The classical seating position works for any style of guitar playing, it also helps support a “structured” approach to learning for young students.Whereas, each time a student sits down to practice they know how to sit, rather than sitting in a different position each time - it helps create cohesiveness for practice sessions.  I have all my students use this seating position until they have developed a proficient technical facility and then allow them sit in a manner which they like. If your students are not sitting this way already, have them try it. It may seem a bit strange for them at first, but in the end it will prove most beneficial.