Music to my Ears: Guitar & the Music Curriculum

'I will very truthfully say that I have learnt an enormous amount this past week about playing the guitar. This week I really feel I have learnt so much and very much intend to continue my learning going forward. I have enjoyed it very much and looked forward to every moment during the course.' (Marguerite)

'I wish to thank you Denis for your patience and your lovely comments after each assignment.  You have put a huge amount of work into this course, it is extremely thorough and you have provided us with a lovely selection of songs.' (Helen)

'I'm very grateful to Denis for running the course in such a clear and useful way. I have been tipping around guitar playing for past 2 years and have tried using applications and other online methods but have come on a huge amount thanks to Denis and the course.' (Eoin)

'All in all I just cannot fault this course, the pace, the structure and the content was absolutely exceptional.  I will be telling all of my colleagues about it.  Thank you so much.' (Sharon)

'I have to say that in my many years of doing teacher summer courses this has been one of my favourites. To pick up and learn the guitar, an instrument that I have wanted to play for many years, as part of the course is excellent. Such a fantastic idea for a course.' (Anna)

Here are the main points about our Level 1 course:

• Level 1 is aimed at 'complete beginners'. Participants will learn exactly how to hold the guitar, how to hold the plectrum and all of the basics from the very start!

• This level is also perfect for guitarists who know a handful of chords, but haven't picked it out of the attic in years!

• The course explores the first 8 essential guitar chords. These are practiced using a variety of strumming patterns, which are developed throughout the 5 modules

• The main focus of the course is to learn songs to play within the classroom and beyond!! Check out the lists of songs below for a more detailed look at the songs covered!

• Most songs will have a standard demo of how to play them, followed by examples of how to use these songs in the classroom to teach various musical elements!

Here are a few details about the Level 2 course:

• Level 2 is aimed at 'advancing beginners'. All of the previous chords will be explored! However, there will be new chords, new strums, new riffs and much more!

• Most songs will have a standard demo of how to play them, followed by a more advanced method!

• Participants will learn a variety of fun, new techniques such as palm muting and fingerstyle!

• There will be a big emphasis in the last module on working out songs on your own, getting you ready to really make huge strides in your guitar journey!

• If you're fairly rusty and haven't picked up the guitar in years, fear not! There's a refresher section before Module 1!

• Please note that this course mentions, but does not explicitly teach barre chords. They require a bit more time and effort!!

Level 1 includes:

He's got the whole world in his hands

Three Little Birds

Chasing Cars

I Have a Dream

Love me Do

Lean on Me

All these things that I’ve done 

Songbird

I’m yours 

Zombie

Viva la vida

Stand by me

Happy Birthday

Blinding lights

Dreams 

Oro sè do bheatha bhaile 

Huge list of nursery rhymes

Hill an Gully rider 

Level 2 includes:

Wagon Wheel

Stand by Me

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

One

Grace

Live Forever

Riptide

Fields of Athenry

Time of Your Life

All I Want is You

Wonderwall

Huge list of nursery rhymes 

Spancilhill

Everybody hurts

Perfect

Happy Birthday

Galway Girl

Fix You

Nancy Spain

We also have simple one string riffs such as Shape of You, Believer, Zombie, Pompeii and many more! By the end of the course, we hope that you will be able to enjoy and play many of the above songs!

Have you ever wanted to learn the basics of guitar? Do you need to brush up on your guitar knowledge? In this module you will:

• Explore each strand of the Music Curriculum & identify each of the musical elements 

• Consider the relationship between music & wellbeing, with a focus on learning/playing instruments

• Become familiar with the acoustic guitar and explore the opportunities for using it within the Music Curriculum

In this module, you will explore strategies and resources which allow children to respond to music in a variety of engaging and innovative ways. Level 1 guitarists will learn their first full songs, while Level 2 guitarists will explore a variety of new strumming patterns:

• Enhance your knowledge, skills and confidence in teaching ‘Listening and Responding’ 

• Explore a variety of innovative resources that provide opportunities for curricular integration with other subjects

• Learn a basic guitar strum, and a variety of major chords of guitar

This module will empower participants to become confident in the teaching of songs, instruments and the use of notation. Your guitar repertoire will also be expanded on through the use of minor chords and more popular songs:

• Enhance your knowledge, skills and confidence in teaching ‘Performing’

• Gain confidence in supporting pupils to utilise a variety of percussion and melodic instruments in the classroom

• Develop participants’ guitar skills by introducing the minor chords and apply a new strum to a wide range of songs

Module 4 explores the composing strand in detail and draws on the use of effective stimuli to inspire children to make and record music. In terms of guitar content, the final chords of the course are taught, as well as fingerstyle techniques for Level 2 participants:

• Enhance your knowledge, skills and confidence in teaching ‘Composing’

• Consider activities and resources to explore music composition and recording through graphic scores and/or notation

• Develop your guitar skills by learning the final chords of the course as well as new techniques such as fingerstyle

Digital technology and SSE can be used to enhance music teaching and learning at a whole school level.  This module consolidates your guitar journey so far, as well as providing you with more songs to use in the classroom. In this module you will:

• Consider how digital technology can be utilised to enhance each strand of the Music Curriculum

• Review, identify and plan strategies for the improvement of music across the primary school as part of SSE

• Explore strategies to 'work out' the strumming patterns of ANY song