Guitar Studies

The Continuing Education division of Garrett College will be offering a course, Class Guitar I, at the Northern Outreach Center in Grantsville beginning February 23 and will be ongoing on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in ten, half-hour individualized segments by appointment. This course will provide instruction of guitar fundamentals as well as music theory for beginning, intermediate, and advanced students. Beginning students will develop skills in reading musical notation and basic guitar technique playing melody and chords. Intermediate and advanced students will further develop their technique through scales and etudes and explore a variety of guitar literature as well as learn to improvise and compose their own works. Intermediate and advanced students will gain knowledge to analyze music, compose and transcribe their own works. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: recognize the parts of the guitar, tune the guitar, produce good tone, sight-read musical notation and symbols, playing melodies and chords and build a strong musical vocabulary. Prior to registration, the student will need to discuss his/her proficiency with the instructor. Students must have access to a guitar to practice assignments on a daily basis. Guitar can be electric, acoustic, or classical. Beginning and intermediate students are encouraged to use the Progressive Guitar Series Book 1 and 2. Advanced students are encouraged to use Mel Bay Series method books 3-7. The age range for the course is five years old and up. The course is being instructed by local musician Robert G. Wallace who earned an associates degree in secondary education from Allegany College of Maryland, as well as a bachelor degree in music education from Frostburg State University.