Abstract
There is a broad range of guitar teaching manuals and methodologies available to students that contain outdated or ineffective materials that dissuade and discourage the beginner student. My goal is to construct a practical pedagogy focusing on guitar performance, technique, reading, music theory, and improvisation that encourages and aids in student growth.
After consulting and teaching from well-established guitar manuals published by the most popular music publishers for many years, my research through the implementation of these manuals yielded poor results for the majority of students. Through experimentation and conducting fieldwork with students, the issues of these methodologies were identified.
The focus of established guitar teaching manuals is too narrowly based on reading skills and lacks concentration in music theory, creativity, and popular song material. In challenging students with creative exercises along with technical skill training, the result of an engaged and competent musician is achieved.