The type of guitar you choose is a personal choice, but should be playable in that it is not too big (for a child), and should be a good quality instrument that has new strings that are not too high off the neck, and able to keep a tune. You can learn on an acoustic or electric guitar. Electric guitar players will need an amplifier at home to practice with, but will not need to bring the amp with them to the lessons.

 

Very young children will need a small 3/4 size guitar. Acoustic is best for elementary school age children and can be nylon or steel string, but the nylon string will be easier on little fingers.

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Pre-teens, teenagers and adults can choose from folk size (sometimes called parlor guitars) or Dreadnought size steel string guitars or a nylon string that is about the size of a folk size guitar. You can learn on an electric guitar also. They take a little more work to learn to hold because the body of an electric guitar is thin and slippery, but if electric is what you, or your child are passionate about, then by all means, get the electric. You want to be excited to pick up the guitar and practice.

Recommended Beginning Materials

Method books to be selected from the following:

Guitar Basics 1 by Mike Christiansen

Children’s Guitar Methods by Mel Bay

Songbook for practicing beginning chords and melodies

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Recommended for All Students

Several approved songbooks or sheet music.

Listening Library

It is strongly recommended that all students have:

A music stand and a chair without arms at home, preferably in a quiet area of the house in which to practice.

Other necessary items:

Chromatic tuner (this can be an app on a cell phone, but many students wish to purchase a tuner they can keep in their guitar case)

Picks, medium strength for beginners, more advanced players can use hard picks. (Beginner students will begin learning to play with right hand fingers, but eventually will progress to learn to play with a pick as well.

Other suggested items:

extra strings, guitar manuscript paper, capo and guitar care products

Music Theory classes are taught using the Ultimate Music Theory methods. Each class will be set up to follow a certain level and the books to be used for that class will be a particular book from the program at the time of enrollment.

Items in addition to the method book that will be needed are Ultimate Music Theory whiteboard and ruler. Information on where to purchase these items will be provided with your information packet provided upon enrollment in the class.