3 Reasons You Need A Guitar Curriculum

Are you a budding guitar teacher who wants to get more organised?

Are you struggling with finding the right resources to guide your student’s on their guitar learning journey? 

Do you need a streamlined learning pathway that you can take students through in order to produce consistent results while teaching them essential guitar-playing concepts?

If you’ve found yourself saying “yes” then getting a guitar curriculum that you can teach at your studio is going to be the solution!

In this article, we will explore three compelling reasons why you need to use an established guitar curriculum in your studio to give your students a clear learning pathway whilst simultaneously improving your own skills as a guitar teacher.

From structured learning to comprehensive content and progressive difficulty levels, a guitar curriculum can provide you with a systematic and effective approach to teaching the guitar.

Reason 1: Structured Learning

One of the most critical aspects of effective learning is structure. 

Without a clear roadmap, it's easy for your students to get lost or overwhelmed by the vast amount of information available. 

It’s also easy for you to overload them with content as you try to teach them something new every week without stopping to connect the dots or build upon previously learned topics.

A guitar curriculum offers a structured learning path that breaks down the learning process into manageable steps, guiding learners from basic to advanced concepts in a systematic manner.

A structured learning approach provides several benefits. It helps learners to build a strong foundation and gradually progress to more complex techniques.

 It also ensures that learners do not miss any crucial aspects of guitar playing, such as music theory, chords, scales, techniques, and styles. 

With a guitar curriculum, learners can have a clear sense of direction, which boosts their confidence and motivation to continue their guitar learning journey.

You’ll also find that as a teacher having a clear direction to follow makes it easy to identify and teach key concepts as well as help your students progress along a pathway without getting overwhelmed or feeling like lessons are thrown together randomly (which they often are).

For example, a well-designed guitar curriculum may start with basic concepts like holding the guitar and learning open chords. 

It then progresses to strumming patterns, fingerpicking techniques, and more advanced topics like music theory and improvisation. 

Such a structured approach ensures that learners grasp each concept thoroughly before moving on to the next, laying a solid foundation for their guitar-playing skills.

Reason 2: Comprehensive Guitar Lesson Content

Another critical aspect of using an established guitar curriculum is the likelihood that it will contain detailed and comprehensive lesson content. 

A comprehensive guitar curriculum will cover all necessary aspects of guitar playing, leaving no stone unturned within the given field.

There will likely be detailed lessons on various playing styles, techniques, music theory, and practical exercises that enable learners to gain a well-rounded understanding of the guitar and easy plans for guitar teachers to follow when explaining said topics and exercises to their students.

Any guitar curriculum worth its salt will be quite comprehensive and will ensure that learners do not miss any vital aspects of guitar playing. They will provide a holistic approach that covers both the technical and theoretical aspects of playing the guitar. 

Learners can gain a deep understanding of the instrument, its mechanics, and the different ways it can be played.

For instance, a comprehensive guitar curriculum may include lessons on fingerstyle, blues, rock, jazz, and classical guitar styles.

These lessons may cover topics such as scales, chords, fretboard navigation, music theory, and practical exercises to develop various techniques. 

A comprehensive guitar curriculum ensures that learners are exposed to a diverse range of content, allowing them to explore different styles and techniques, and ultimately develop their unique playing style.

It’s also likely that there will be accompanying guitar lesson plans for the teacher so that most of the thinking and preparation is done for you and all you need to do is walk students along the path.

Reason 3: Progressive Difficulty Levels

Learning the guitar is a journey that requires gradual progression from basic to advanced levels.

A well-designed guitar curriculum incorporates progressive difficulty levels that challenge learners to constantly improve their skills.
It provides a gradual learning path, starting with fundamental concepts and gradually increasing the complexity of the lessons as learners progress.

Progressive difficulty levels help learners to develop their skills incrementally, building upon the foundations they have laid. 

It prevents learners from getting overwhelmed with advanced concepts too soon, and ensures that they develop a solid understanding of each concept before moving on to the next level. 

This approach fosters a sense of accomplishment and motivates learners to push themselves to achieve higher levels of proficiency.

For example, a guitar curriculum may start with basic chord progressions and strumming patterns for beginners. 

As learners advance, it may introduce more complex chord inversions, scales, and arpeggios. 

Further along, it may cover advanced techniques like fingerstyle, tapping, and sweep picking. This progressive approach helps learners to continually improve their skills and advance their guitar-playing abilities.

Balancing Perplexity and Burstiness in a Guitar Curriculum

In the context of content creation, the concepts of perplexity and burstiness refer to the balance between providing diverse and challenging content, while also maintaining engagement and interest. 

A guitar curriculum that incorporates perplexity and burstiness can keep learners engaged, challenged, and motivated throughout their learning journey.

Perplexity in a guitar curriculum refers to the element of surprise and novelty. 

It involves introducing new and diverse concepts that challenge learners to think critically and adapt to different playing styles or techniques. 

Burstiness, on the other hand, refers to the occasional inclusion of challenging content that pushes learners out of their comfort zone and encourages them to stretch their capabilities.

A guitar curriculum that incorporates perplexity and burstiness can prevent learners from getting bored or complacent. 

It keeps the learning process dynamic and exciting, motivating learners to explore new concepts, techniques, and styles. 

For example, a guitar curriculum may introduce different music genres, unconventional chord progressions, or unique playing techniques to challenge learners and broaden their musical horizons.

Engaging Content for Learners

If a guitar lesson curriculum is going to be effective then it needs to contain engaging content in order to keep your students motivated and interested over the long haul.

When students find their guitar lesson content enjoyable and relevant, they are more likely to be actively engaged and committed to their learning process. 

A guitar curriculum built upon engaging content can create a positive learning experience and foster a sense of accomplishment. As a result, using one of these curriculums in your studio will keep students engaged and learning with you for longer.

There are several techniques to create engaging content in a guitar curriculum. 

One approach is to include multimedia elements such as videos, audio clips, interactive lessons, and practice tracks to make the learning process interactive. 

This allows learners to see and hear the concepts in action and provides opportunities for hands-on practice and is a welcomed break from having to read notes off a sheet of paper.

In addition, incorporating opportunities for learners to apply the concepts in practical ways, such as through playing along with songs, improvisation exercises, or creating their own compositions, can make the content more engaging and relevant to their musical goals. 

Furthermore, using gamification elements, such as quizzes, challenges, and rewards, can also add an element of fun and competition, keeping learners motivated and engaged throughout the curriculum. 

These techniques help to create content that is enjoyable, informative, and memorable, making the learning process more engaging and effective.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a well-designed guitar curriculum can greatly benefit learners in their guitar learning journey.

They provide structure, guidance, and opportunities for student progression, ensuring that learners develop a solid foundation and advance their skills in a systematic manner.

A comprehensive guitar curriculum will also make your life easier by providing you with lesson plans and detailed content to take the need for in-depth planning and content creation out of the equation.

If you're serious about helping your students master the guitar and helping them reach their musical goals without having to do 10+ hours of additional lesson planning each week, then investing in a quality guitar curriculum is essential.

While there are many great guitar curriculums out there, Guitar Ninjas is the only guitar curriculum that provides fun and engaging lessons in a structured, gamified manner suitable to both group and private lessons.

So, whether you're a beginner teacher just starting out, or an experienced teacher looking to run your studio more efficiently and streamline your operations, the Guitar Ninjas Curriculum is the answer!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are some popular guitar curriculums to consider?

A: While we’re going to recommend our very own Guitar Ninjas curriculum, other great contemporary curriculums include the G4 Method and Justin Guitars Beginner Course. Most of the top-ranking youtube guitar teachers have great methods which are much better than the traditional major publication beginner books.

Q: Should I write my own guitar curriculum?

A: Writing your own guitar curriculum can be an option if you have extensive knowledge and experience in teaching guitar. However, creating a well-structured and comprehensive curriculum requires careful planning and a lot of time to write it. It may be more beneficial for beginners to start with an established guitar curriculum before considering writing their own.

Q: How much should a guitar curriculum cost?

A: The cost of a guitar curriculum can vary depending on the provider, the level of content, and the delivery format. Some curriculums may be available for free, while others may require a one-time purchase or a subscription fee. It's important to research and compares different options to find a curriculum that fits your budget and learning needs.

My recommendation when it comes to asking if you can afford a curriculum is to do a simple equation. Ask yourself how much is your time worth per hour, and how many hours a week will this curriculum save me in lesson preparation. If the money you save on lesson prep outweighs the price then it’s a good investment.

Q: How do I choose the right guitar curriculum for me?

A: When choosing a guitar curriculum, consider factors such as your skill level, the types of students you teach, preferred genres, and budget. Look for curriculums that offer a structured and progressive approach, engaging content, and align with your musical interests and goals. Reading reviews and testimonials from other learners can also be helpful in making an informed decision.

Q: Can I teach out of popular beginner methods?

A: While popular, most major publishers’ beginner methods don’t work that well for most beginners. They may provide a structured curriculum but the methods are overly broad, skip essential concepts and are rather academic in their approach. Their dated methods are usually out of touch with modern learning and educational needs.

As a teacher, it's important to carefully review and select materials that are up-to-date and align with the needs and preferences of your students. Supplementing with additional resources, such as online tutorials, instructional videos, or personalized lesson plans, can also enhance the effectiveness of your teaching and provide a more engaging and relevant learning experience for your students.

About The Author

Michael Gumley is the owner and head teacher at Melbourne Guitar Academy, Australia's #1 Guitar School where he employs 10 teachers and has over 400 students.

He is also the founder of Guitar Ninjas for which he has written over 12 books as part of the core curriculum and countless other lesson resources.

Michael's mission is to raise the standard of modern guitar education globally so that students the world over can experience a higher quality musical education. He aims to achieve this goal by empowering guitar teachers with the necessary skills, concepts and curriculum they need to level up their skills and become better teachers.

If you're looking for a guitar curriculum for your school, look no further than Guitar Ninjas