Guitar Intermediate

This course is designed for people who are able to read music notation at a basic level and know some chords. 

Here is where we start to really enjoy what it is like to play in ensemble. Playing music in various parts, adding chords and improvising. This is where we get to play and play and play and really solidify and expand our skills.

You’ll learn:

• How to read music in various positions on the guitar

• How to play pieces in 3 and 4 parts

• How to improvise at a more sophisticated level

• How chords, various chord voicings and arpeggios are used

• How to read chord charts and play along with songs

By the end of the term, you'll feel more and more confident about reading and playing music from notation and chord charts. And you will just feel fantastic from one term of laughing and playing together.

Course Breakdown

Week 1: Rhythm concepts. Strumming patterns Right hand techniques. Reading notations

Week 2: Developing Improvisation

Week 3: The Chord Scale (from the E string)

Week 4: Focus: In “Focus” I ask students to nominate a song to learn. I prepare materials for three of these songs and then group students who would like to learn to play that song. This continues for part of each session until the end of term (At the moment we are doing Hotel California, Vincent and the main theme from the Ghibli Studio Film Laputa the Castle in The Sky)

Week 5: Song Shoot The Moon

Week 6: Right hand picking techique

Week 7 and 8: March Antico

Week 9: Warm-up, rehearsal and little performance with video recording.

This outline provides an overview of what may be covered during the course; however, changes may occur based on various factors and the needs of the class.

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.