Typical Programs

   

 

5 to 7 year olds.

 

Outcomes

 

·      Be introduced to reading music (pitch)

·      Be able to play simple melodies

 

Objectives/indicators

 

·      Learns to recognise notes G, A, B, C and D, E, F and G on a staff line in treble clef.

·      Learns to recognise and interpret written rhythms

·      Will interpret written music using notes G, A, B, C and D on strings 3, 2 and 1, and be able to play simple melodies with a satisfactory degree of skill and musicality.

 

Method/activities

 

• Plays games and exercises that drill interpreting notation, starting with one note, then two notes etc, using the Kodaly method of musical instruction.

·      Games and exercises that drill reading and playing rhythms, such as body percussion games.

·      Games and exercises that drill coordinating plucking the strings and changing from note to note using correct technique eg correct left hand fingering, plucking and/or picking technique

·      Given set works and exercises to be practised at home daily.

·      Work through New Dimensions In Classical Guitar For Children by Sonia Michelson

 

 

Beginner 8 to 11 year olds.

 

New Term Outcomes

 

·      Know how to play and read the notes in the open position

·      Be able to play some simple melodies and some common chords

·      Develop technical skills - left hand finger coordination and accuracy, right hand finger-picking technique.

 

Objectives/indicators

 

·      Knows where to place fingers on the fret-board by looking at written music notation

·      Can play melodies with a satisfactory standard of musicality, such as keeping in time, the melody continuing without pauses, clear sounding notes

 

Method/activities

 

·      Games and exercises that drill note reading

·      Games and exercises that drill placing fingers on the correct string and fret to written note stimuli

·      Use the above knowledge and skills to put together melodies for practice at home.

·      Exercises that develop good technique.

·      Strumming exercises of chords.

·      Using Children's Fingerpicking Guitar Method by Simon Costa, will learn to read music and play simple melodies.

• Play some famous songs. 

 

Bass Guitar

 

First Term Outcomes

 

Be able to read and play all notes in the open position on electric bass

 

Objectives/indicators

 

·      Recognises notes from music notation and can place left hand fingers on the correct strings and frets.

·      Can play simple bass lines using known notes with a degree of proficiency.

 

Method/activities

 

·      Work through Fasttracks Bass a Hal Leonard publication.

·      Rhythm card games and activities.

·      Games that drill note recognition.

• Play bass lines to famous songs.

 

Second Term Outcomes

 

Be able to read all of the notes in the open position from standard music notation

• Know where those notes are on the bass

·      Be able to play bass lines in a variety of musical styles

 

Objectives/indicators

 

·      Recognises all of the notes in the open position including sharps and flats, from standard music notation (bass clef)

·      Can coordinate placing fingers correctly on the fret-board to written notation stimuli.

·      Plays with a satisfactory interpretation of style or genre.

 

Method/activities

 

·      Work through Easy Pop Melodies for Bass,  by Hal Leonard, which contains written bass lines for some famous songs, that can be accompanied by the CD that comes with the book, introducing new notes as we come to them.

·      Sight reading games and drills

·      Sight reading bass lines to songs.

·      Plays bass lines to songs of different styles of rock, pop, reggae and jazz.