I have 2 main approaches to teaching.
1. Young beginners start out in the Hal Leonard guitar method, which involves learning to read standard notation along side technical development. Less immediate gratification here, but this method leads to a superior musician in the long run. Students who practice regularly will be sight reading popular songs in short order. Often, these players get their start in church or school music groups.
2." Later" teens, experienced players, learn practical theory and techniques as they learn to play songs by Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, ZZ TOP, Santana, to name a few. They learn all they need to know to function in a garage band, cover band or original group. All the songs I teach reinforce theoretical points (scales used, keys, chord progressions etc). Note reading is not required here. |