Programs for Kids (Levels 1 – 5)
Levels 1 – 4
Prerequisites: None
Preparatory guitar and musicianship foundations for kids. Focus on developing playing technique, rhythm skills, music literacy, music theory, and learning to play easy songs.
Level 4
Prerequisites: Level 4 or by audition
Girls learn to accompany themselves on the guitar while learning to sing. Includes vocal practice and guitar lessons. Girls learn to perform Disney songs, movie themed songs, and appropriate pop and folk songs.
Level 4
Prerequisites: Level 4 or by audition
Kids learn to play guitar with focus on eventually taking part in a worship ensemble and being able to play rhythm guitar with a band. There’s also an option to focus on singing and playing. The program is based on Christian worship music.
Level 4
Prerequisites: Level 4 or by audition
Ideal for kids who wish to explore the classical repertoire and see if learning classical guitar music could be an eventual goal. The program is based on simplified, but well known classical music of different periods that kids might recognise.
Level 5
Prerequisites: Level 4 or by audition
Learning popular acoustic songs, basic improvisation skills, reading music on the guitar, rhythm techniques, playing with others, performance practice and more. This is a prerequisite for level 6 programs.
Programs for Adult Beginners (Levels 1 – 5)
Levels 1 – 4
Prerequisites: None
For complete beginners or those who wish to fill in the gaps from previous teachers. Focus on developing playing technique, rhythm skills, music literacy, music theory, and learning to change chords smoothly in time.
Level 5
Prerequisites: Level 4 or by audition
Learning popular acoustic songs, basic improvisation skills, reading music on the guitar, rhythm techniques, playing with others, performance practice and more. This is a prerequisite for level 6 intermediate programs.
Intermediate Programs (Level 6-7)
Level 6
Prerequisites: Level 5 or by audition
A program based on progressive drills and exercises designed to set up your right hand (picking hand) with optimal technique for further fingerstyle development. Classical and modern repertoire is included to practice and consolidate your technical development. Essential training for any fingerstyle beginner.
Level 7
Prerequisites: Level 6 or by audition
Many beginners feel overwhelmed by the classical guitar. Our program is gentle and gradual. It’s designed for the adult beginner to develop sight-reading and technical foundation at a manageable but consistent pace. Part of the study is learning the fretboard and music theory so that later you can arrange and compose for the classical guitar.
Level 7
Prerequisites: Level 6 or by audition
This program focuses on developing your voice and fingerstyle accompaniment skills. Playing the fingerstyle guitar while singing requires more balance and coordination than singing and strumming. This program gradually builds your ability to play more complex patterns as you sing. You’ll also learn the basics of using your voice professionally. Solfege, warming up, vocal exercises and practice routine for guitar and voice repertoire and performance.
Advanced Programs (Level 8-9)
Level 8 – 9
Prerequisites: Level 7 or by audition
This program is about building your fingerstyle technique through the Classical Guitar repertoire. It’s vigorous and exciting in that it focuses on the songwriter and how the melodic and harmonic language of the classical guitar can be applied to modern songwriting and composition. In addition to developing technical ability on the instrument, the program sets a practical music theory foundation that includes fretboard fundamentals. Fretboard fundamentals are the study of triads, chord construction, voice-leading, chord progression, scales, improvisation and basic arrangement techniques.
Level 8
Prerequisites: Level 7 or by audition
Continues where Classical Guitar for Adult Beginners left off. Having a technical command of the instrument is essential to all fingerstyle guitarists, regardless of what style of music you’ll be playing later on. There’s no better and faster way to develop your left and right hand technique, than through time tested classical repertoire. As you make your way through progressively harder classical pieces, you’ll learn how to structure your practice to keep yourself motivated and efficient.
Level 9
Prerequisites: Level 8 or by audition
Continues where Classical Guitar: Technique left of. With excellent ground-work behind you, you’ll work for speed, accuracy and fluency. You’ll develop a light touch to make your fingerstyle playing sound and look elegant and professional. You’ll work on building a basic repertoire that will strengthen your technical foundation and give you a deeper understanding of how classical guitar techniques translate to modern music . You’ll see for yourself how this powerful skillset will give you an advantage over many other players who have not been through classical training.