Intro to Guitar, taught by Nathan Reyna, is a fun and informative class that introduces students to the essential ideas and skills of playing the Guitar. The class covers open and closed chords, scales, finger-picking styles, using a capo to change keys, beginner licks and tricks, and basic music theory. Students will develop a mind-body connection to the Guitar as a form of self-expression by practicing and playing with all the possible forms of expression on the instrument. Most importantly, they will learn all the foundational concepts of Guitar so that they keep learning on their own and never need another guitar class again!

The course covers topics such as what makes the Guitar unique as an instrument; how to play expressively without it being hard or complex; the best keys to use for the Guitar; various techniques, beginner licks, chords, and scales; and how to play along with other performers.

Through collaborative lessons, hard-earned advice from 15 years of playing Guitar, hands-on activities, and a fun and supportive environment, students will build a strong foundation that allows them to express themselves and become the best guitar player they can be!

Benefits of Intro Guitar:

• Develops musical intuition – Encourages students to understand themselves and the Guitar so they can break or follow the rules as they see fit.

• Prepares for improvisation– Lays a foundation of scales, techniques, and concepts that make jam sessions fun instead of intimidating.

• Improves self-learning– Enables students to understand more advanced concepts as they seek them, with this strong introduction guiding them.

• Applies basic music theory – helps students understand the fundamentals of music, enabling them to learn their favorite songs.

• Boosts creativity– Provides easy starting points for writing and playing music on the Guitar to avoid getting "stuck".

Results of Intro Guitar:

• By the end of the course, students will gain confidence in their ability to understand and play their new instrument and be well-prepared for self-learning more advanced concepts and techniques in the future.

• Students will have a group song prepared for the year-end semester Showcase to show off what they've learned. They will complete at least one original composition that they can share with friends and family.

Textbook:

A textbook PDF written by Nathan Reyna will be provided at no additional cost.

Materials:

• A "Spider Capo," included in the cost of the class, will be provided to you on day one

• Journal and pencil

• A list of your aspirations and goals as a guitarist

• Your curiosity and openness :)

• Your Guitar

Pre-Requisites:

None.

Homework Requirements:

According to the Center's recommendation, it is advised to allocate 20 minutes for homework, 4 days a week. This duration is considered suitable for maintaining a balanced workload and allowing students to reinforce their learning outside of the classroom. By dedicating this amount of time to homework, students can effectively review and practice the concepts taught in class, resulting in a better understanding and retention of the material.