Guitar Beginners
Course Overview
This beginner-friendly guitar course is perfect for anyone who has always wanted to play but never quite got started.
Whether you're picking up a guitar for the first time or revisiting after a long break, this course will guide you through the fundamentals in a relaxed and supportive environment.
You’ll learn:
• How easy it is to read music notation and chord charts
• How beautiful it is to improvise
• How funny and relaxing it is to play songs together
• How one note turns into two notes and two notes become 7 and how 7 notes become 7 chords…the universe is an amazing place!
By the end of the term, you'll be able to read music notation and play some simple and very beautiful pieces in ensemble. You will have a comprehensive understanding of how chords work and be able to play some great songs using the easiest chords.
Course Breakdown
In every session the following areas are revisited and expanded
1. Reading Music Notation (to play songs from sheet music)
2. The Chord Scale (to play songs from a chord chart)
3. The Pentatonic Scale (to improvise)
4. Correct technique (to make your life easy)
Each Week we will have a particular focus, however all of the above will be covered in each lesson.
Week 1: The A B C of Guitar. Where the notes are. You will play simply beautiful improvisations on the first day
Week 2: The B C D of Guitar. Now we have six notes to play with
Week 3: How to build chords from a single note
Week 4: Four Chords
Week 5: Repertoire song 1. Notes ready for Pachelbel
Week 6: Song 2 Stand by me
Week 7: Bar chords review
Week 8: Repertoire 3. Finale
Week 9: Play all our songs and all our chords and jam away in the morning light
Term Dates
Term 1 runs from Saturday 31 January to Saturday 28 March
Term 2 runs from Saturday 18 April to Saturday 20 June (10 week course)
Term 3 runs from Saturday 18 July to Saturday 12 September
Term 4 runs from Saturday 10 October to Saturday 5 December
Materials List
- An acoustic guitar with new strings and a guitar pick.
- A folder and music stand if you have one.
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Joseph Zarb
Joseph is an experienced music educator and performer, currently teaching guitar at Mercy College Chatswood and Lane Cove Public School, where he has taught for over 15 years. He is also a board member of the Lane Cove Music Education Co-op, having served as Chairman during its founding year.
From 1998 to 2008, Joseph taught Visual Arts and Music at high school level, including HSC Visual Arts, primarily at Delany College Granville.
As a performer, Joseph is active in several ensembles:
Marsala – World Music Without Borders (Singer, Guitarist, Band Leader)
Performing globally inspired music in over 16 languages for more than 30 years.The Cameron Jones Trio (Guitare Rythmique)
A Gypsy jazz group inspired by Django Reinhardt.The Three Rivers Ensemble (Guitar, Voice, Ney)
Performing traditional Turkish and Middle Eastern music.
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