Guitar



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Guitar Program

guitars.jpgAt Carleston Elementary School, we have a Suzuki-inspired guitar classroom. Our guitar material comes from New Dimensions in Classical Guitar for Children by Sonia Michelson and Suzuki Guitar School, Volume 1. We learn on classical guitars and are seated in the classical playing position (with foot stools) because these facilitate playing more than any other playing position or type of guitar. 

Suzuki Guitar is a teaching philosophy coupled with an established graded high-quality musical repertoire. The principal teaching philosophy centers on students learning music in the same way we all learn our first language: immersion! Because Suzuki Guitar is linguistic in nature, particularly at the earliest stages, it has been found that students can begin learning this second, musical language shortly after they have begun acquisition of their first, spoken language. Most students can begin learning Suzuki Guitar as early as age three or four. YouTube Video: The Sound of Success Links to an external site.

Did you know that...

  • Guitar education is rooted in social justice by emphasizing access, equity, and rigor for populations who may not have had access to or interest in music education in schools in the past.
  • High-quality classical guitar programs are beginning in schools all around the US
  • Guitar classes draw and retain diverse students to the fine arts
  • A class set of 30 guitars can be acquired for less than the cost of one tuba
  • A quality guitar ensemble is a powerful, versatile ambassador for the arts in your community

To Private Guitar Teachers

If you are teaching a Carleston Elementary student private guitar lessons and want to reinforce what we are doing in class, here are some books that I recommend using:

  • Suzuki Guitar School, Vol 1: Guitar Part & CD. Alfred Music. - Best used if you have had training as a Suzuki teacher. If you are not a  If you are interested in becoming a Suzuki Guitar Teacher, our local master teacher is Andrea Cannon Links to an external site..
  • New Dimensions in Classical Guitar for Children. Sonia Michelson. Mel Bay. This is a great book with a wonderful selection of "pre-Twinkle" piece and moves at a pace like most private teachers are used to.  Michelson fuses Suzuki and Kodály concepts (which involve singing.  If you are unfamiliar with Kodály, this book may feel foreign to you. Note: In the recordings, the author has a capo on III to put the songs into a singable range for children
  • Enjoy Playing Guitar Tutor Book 1. Debbie Cracknell. Oxford University Press. If you have limited experience with classical guitar, this book is one of the best available.  Note: sometimes the author uses English names for note values (quavers & crotchets) instead of American names (quarter notes and eighth nodes).

Regardless of the method that you use, having the student listen to the accompanying CD or online audio is crucial to their success.

Our Core Guitar Repertoire

Kindergarten-2nd Grade
(from Michelson)

  • Cuckoo   
  • One, Two, Tie My Shoe     
  • See-Saw     
  • Star Light, Star Bright     
  • Snail, Snail      
  • Mill Wheel     
  • Rain, Rain
  • Ring Around the Rosy
  • Strawberry Shortcake

3rd Grade
(blended Michelson & Suzuki)

  • Cuckoo
  • One, Two, Tie My Shoe
  • Rain, Rain
  •  Ring Around the Rosy
  •  Hot Cross Buns
  •  Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
    • Var A
    • Var B
    • Var C
    • Var D
    • Var E
    • Theme
  • Lightly Row
  • Go Tell Aunt Rhody
  • Song of the Wind

4th Grade
(from Suzuki)

  • Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
    • Var A
    • Var B
    • Var C
    • Var D
    • Var E
    • Theme
  • Lightly Row
  • Go Tell Aunt Rhody
  • Song of the Wind
  • May Song
  • Allegretto
  • Perpetual Motion
  • Rigadoon
  • Are You Sleeping, Brother John?
  • French Folk Song
  • Tanz (Furmann)
  • Tanz (Bach)
  • With Steady Hands
  • Meadow Minuet

 2020 4th Grade Concert Guitar Tunes Download 2020 4th Grade Concert Guitar Tunes