The Guitar Program is a relatively new program, having started only five years ago. The school only carries classical nylon stringed guitars which are ideal for students since nylon strings are easy for fingers to play. Graham Middle School traditionally has two levels of guitar.
During the 2023-2024 year, we offer:
Guitar 1- This is an entry level class for beginners with little or no experience playing guitar or no prior experience playing an instrument or reading music. Students will learn the to perform basics of tone production, to read Guitar TAB, standard notational music, perform with right hand fingerpicking skills, left hand dexterity and to perform music together using chords, melodies, and ostinatos. Students will also write, create or improvise based on various genres or styles. The skills students learn in this class may be transferred to personal lifelong pursuit of electric bass, electric guitar, folk and acoustic steel string guitar, instruments which are not taught whole class at the beginning level. We recommend that beginning students purchase nylon stringed guitars to guide a successful transition to play naturally with ease. At Graham we use Nylon String classical guitars.
Guitar 2- 7th and 8th Grade Guitar Ensemble (Guitar II)
Prerequisite: Successful completion of Beginning Guitar I and/or teacher recommendation.
Do you know how to read music and can play guitar, piano or another instrument? If yes, this is the class for you! This course continues to build on performance techniques previously learned in Guitar I. The ensemble studies a variety of repertoire with an emphasis on music theory and ensemble performance. Students must have completed Guitar 1 and/or have the approval of the middle school guitar teacher. Students who have taken private lessons may email Ms. Chiao at schiao@mvwsd.org regarding placement information or teacher recommendations. The Intermediate Guitar Class provides students opportunities to perform challenging music, reading traditional notation, TAB, and to develop understanding the musical concepts of melody, harmony, rhythm and form and to develop a deeper appreciation for all styles of music and music as art on the guitar. Students perform at various community/school events, the Fall/Winter/Spring Concerts and any extra curricular concerts in the community. *Special note: 8th graders in Guitar Ensemble may attend a special trip we call "Tour." Information about this trip will be given at the beginning of the school year.
Why Play Guitar?
A student who learns guitar will:
Improve concentration and memory skills.
Have some stress relief.
Steal the spotlight at any party with a show-stopping song,
Show your hidden talent.
Improve right and left-hand coordination.
Improve sight-reading and listening skills.
Boost self-confidence by creating and improvising music.
Share and make music in different forms and genres.
Please see this website for 5 crucial benefits of playing guitar:
Courtesy of Liberty Park Music 16 Powerful Reasons Why You Should Play Guitar
What will a student learn from playing a Classical Nylon Stringed Guitar?
A successful guitar student exiting this program at any level will be able to do the following:
1. Identify and/or define basic terms related to classical guitar and music notation
2. Sit with proper guitar position:
Place left leg on footstool
Lay guitar across left thigh
Relax shoulders
Raise the head of the guitar to eye level
Face guitar straight up and down, not angled back
Lay right arm on the edge of the guitar, just in front of elbow
Position right hand just behind the sound hole
Curve and relax right hand fingers
Maintain straight and arched right wrist
Place left hand thumb up-and-down, not sideways, on back of neck
Straighten left wrist, not bowed in or out
Situate left hand so that knuckles are parallel to strings
3. Play with efficient, accurate right hand free strokes from the big knuckle
4. Play with consistent, robust tone
5. Place left hand fingers on tips and just behind frets (avoid buzz) and keep left hand fingernails short to avoid buzzing.
6. Connect musical phrases (legato)
7. Perform level-appropriate repertoire accurately
8. Observe and execute all dynamic/style indications
9. Sight-read with accurate rhythm, pitches, and dynamics
10. Exhibit proper, efficient rehearsal techniques
11. Display appropriate performance etiquette and concert audience ettiquette
12. Identify musical forms, styles, and periods
13. Select repertoire for themselves
Courtesy of Austin Classical Guitar