Your Teacher

Bern has been playing the guitar for over 30 years and is passionate about teaching music. She studied music at the Potchefstroom Conservatorium of Music and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, and has taught the guitar privately and at public and private schools. She believes that learning music should be an integral part of everyone's education, and that it is never too late or too early to start learning music.

  WWC0436562E

 

Teaching Style

Classical: Classical guitar technique, how to read music, fingerpicking and chords taught in individual, half-hour lessons to beginners.
Chords & Fingerpicking: Chords, fingerpicking and strumming to accompany songs is taught in individual, half-hour lessons to beginners.

How long are lessons?

Lessons are half an hour long. Students attend one lesson per week.

What is taught?

Students wishing to learn the classical guitar are taught to read music and classical guitar technique, and also chords, fingerpicking, and how to read tablature. Basic music theory is also taught.

If students want to learn only chords and fingerpicking to accompany themselves (or someone else) singing, then music literacy (reading music) is not taught.

Objectives

With regular practising, a student will have acquired the foundations necessary for reading music and playing the classical guitar effectively.

It is expected that, after a year of lessons and regular practising, the student will:

• Be able to play and perform a variety of musical pieces;
• Be able to play the guitar while singing or to accompany a singer;
• Be able to read notes on all six strings beginning on the first position;
• Be able to read notes in various keys;
• Be able to sightread and play by memory;
• Understand rest and free strokes;
• Be able to play melodic lines using 'i' and 'm' finger combinations on all six strings;
• Be able to play basic chords and chord progressions including barre chords (if fingers are sufficiently strong);
• Be able to read tablature and chord diagrams;
• Be able to play basic arpeggio patterns with chords.

What equipment do I need?

A classical guitar is obviously the most important piece of equipment. Although guitars are inexpensive when compared to most other instruments, it may be best initially to hire a guitar, at least for the first few lessons. A guitar footstool (in the case of classical guitar) and a music stand are also important pieces of equipment.

(See also Hire or Buy and Equipment & Accessories pages.)

How do payments work?

The first three lessons are on a trial basis, paid in cash before each lesson. The student may want to hire a guitar initially, until she or he is certain that the instrument is the correct choice.

After the trial period, if the student would like to continue lessons, he/she will receive an enrolment form detailing various methods of payment. Payment is made in advance by direct debit, online payment or in cash, either per term (8 lessons per term) or on a monthly basis.