Blue Guitar makes guitar teachers' lives easier
Guitar classrooms offer unique challenges to teachers
Short course time
While band, chorus, and orchestra programs are typically multi-year programs, many students only take guitar class as a semester or yearlong course.
Unappealing format
Guitar classes are often criticized as being either too unstructured ("hum and strum" class) or too rigid. Students want to learn popular styles of music and chords.
Difficult accompaniment
Many method books come with an accompaniment cd, but they are difficult to incorporate into the lesson without awkward pauses.
Too fast for beginners
The backing tracks from many method books are at tempos that are simply too fast for beginners.
Music stand issues
Using method books also requires the use of music stands in the classroom, which block the teacher's view of the student's playing as well as the sound being projected by the students’ guitars.
Classroom management
Let's face it, music stands are a great place for students to hide a mobile device as well!
Blue Guitar overcomes these challenges
Technical Foundation
Blue Guitar teaches a solid classical guitar technical foundation (although the word "classical" is never used) that is complimented with chordal and diverse styles of guitar-based musics including blues, flamenco, bluegrass, reggae, bachata and rock.
Teacher friendly
Members simply login, click full screen in the browser, and easily navigate the site. Teachers can follow the suggested sequence, or jump around based on other considerations.
Classroom friendly
The online format allows the teacher to project the curriculum onto a screen or interactive whiteboard, which becomes the class's "collective music stand." This allows the teacher to circulate around the room, monitor the students' hands, fingers, and posture, as well as hear the guitars without obstruction.
Easy accompaniment
Videos and backing tracks are embedded and easily accessed for maximum ease. With a simple click, the students have instant accompaniment. This makes the transition from learning to performing seamless and enhances your classroom management.
I'm ready to subscribe!
No more music stands...cool, digital format that will engage my students...helpful backing tracks and videos...90 lessons!
Pricing Plans
Ok, folks. We are trusting you. If you are a teacher, please purchase the Classroom or All Access subscription. If you are a student, please feel free to purchase the Personal subscription for home practice.
Honor system in place. We haven't hired a lawyer for contracts, terms and conditions, etc. in the hopes that everyone will play nice. Please don't mess this up and force us to make everyone sign a legal document to join our community.
CLASSROOM SUBSCRIPTION
- Online, on-demand access to over 90 comprehensive guitar lessons
- Two skill levels of curriculum
- Level 1 (Beginner)
- Level 2 (Intermediate)
- Level 3 (Advanced - coming soon)
- Training in all areas of proper technique and musicianship
- Reading standard notation in 1st position
- 4-part ensemble pieces
- I, IV, V, and vi chords in 5 keys
- Introductions to 6 styles of music
- Blues
- Flamenco
- Reggae
- Bluegrass
- Bachata
- Rock
- Integrated multi-media files
- Video tutorials
- Backing audio tracks
- Personal email Q/A with Dr. Rob Pethel, the curriculum developer
- Assessment Rubrics for Student Evaluations and Grading
- This subscription is ONLY to be used by the TEACHER IN A CLASSROOM SETTING. The login credentials should not be shared with students.
HOMESCHOOL/
PERSONAL SUBSCRIPTION (MONTHLY)
- Online, on-demand access to over 90 comprehensive guitar lessons
- Two skill levels of curriculum
- Level 1 (Beginner)
- Level 2 (Intermediate)
- Level 3 (Advanced - coming soon)
- Training in all areas of proper technique and musicianship
- Reading standard notation in 1st position
- 4-part ensemble pieces
- I, IV, V, and vi chords in 5 keys
- Introductions to 6 styles of music
- Blues
- Flamenco
- Reggae
- Bluegrass
- Bachata
- Rock
- Integrated multi-media files
- Video tutorials
- Backing audio tracks
- This subscription is for HOMESCHOOLERS AND INDIVIDUALS ONLY. This should not be used by teachers in a classroom setting.