Foro Flamenco


Posts Since Last Visit | Advanced Search | Home | Register | Login

Today's Posts | Inbox | Profile | Our Rules | Contact Admin | Log Out



Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.





Where would you start with a bunch of seven-year olds?   You are logged in as Guest
Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
All Forums >>Discussions >>General >> Page: [1]
Login
Message<< Newer Topic  Older Topic >>
 
Argaith

Posts: 481
Joined: May 6 2009
From: Iran (living in London)

Where would you start with a bunch o... 
I have agreed to teach playing the guitar to my daughter and two of her classmates. They are around seven. Most probably if I was going to teach a grownup I would know where to start but as you would appreciate it is much trickier with the kids, especially that young.

My aim is to make them interested and make it fun for them so they enjoy the whole experience. I know that it would be wrong to start with some tedious finger exercises or perhaps even chords or songs that are beyond a kid’s patience.

They are at a tricky age; too old for nursery rhymes and too young for anything vaguely serious. My daughter is somehow familiar with some of the palos that I play (since she has heard them a million times each!); so she subconsciously hums them when she is playing . She is also familiar with some techniques like picado, strumming, etc but she is too young for disciplined routine exercises. I don’t know if her friends have ever tried playing any instrument or not. They seem to enjoy doing things as a group (i.e maths, etc) so the idea is to create a fun activity and very gently teach them something.

I know that some of you have taught young children, so I would appreciate your advice on this.

Thanks a lot.
A

_____________________________
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 7 2012 20:52:08
 
kudo

Posts: 2064
Joined: Sep. 3 2009
 

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
here is a good start: Sevillanas!! these kids are around that age:



_____________________________
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 7 2012 21:22:50
 
Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005
 

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
Solea is best to start with. Its close to classics..you can practice any technique.. also develop rasguado at a very low level. And you dont even have to pay too much attention to compas.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 7 2012 23:46:17
 
keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
argaith--i would bet the youngsters will pick up techniques a lot faster and easier than adults--kids have that ability which sometimes makes us adults really jealous. one idea is to play a few easier pieces for them and observe what seems to turn them on and then follow their lead.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 8 2012 1:06:21
 
Bulerias2005

 

Posts: 632
Joined: Jul. 10 2010
From: Minneapolis, MN

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
"...but she is too young for disciplined routine exercises".

You never know until you try... I was an extremely hyperactive 7-year-old when I picked up the guitar, but by some miracle I started out with basic technique exercises and the Carcassi method...

Also:

"I know that it would be wrong to start with some tedious finger exercises or perhaps even chords or songs that are beyond a kid’s patience."

I don't know if there's a better way to start than with finger exercises... so I try to make it fun by just making jokes related to the techniques... seems to be working so far!

_____________________________

Daniel Volovets
Jazz, Classical, Flamenco, & Latin-American Guitar
http://www.danielvolovets.com/
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 8 2012 1:24:48
 
kudo

Posts: 2064
Joined: Sep. 3 2009
 

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
the most important thing to teach is , whatever it is, it has to be done with a metronome, have their minds ticking like a metronome

_____________________________
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 8 2012 2:29:16
Guest

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
hI
I'd start with Aural based learning...and getting those i and m fingers to work in alternation...
then the thumb...
great fan of the suzuki method...good for young children..

so simple melodies...and chords using the treble strings...ie G , C and D7...Am and E7
simple struming...
more at length here
good luck
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=188671&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=guitar%2Clessons&tmode=&smode=&s=#188894

_____________________________
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 8 2012 3:18:00
 
machopicasso

 

Posts: 973
Joined: Nov. 27 2010
 

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
Are you teaching them guitar, in general, or flamenco guitar, in particular?

If the latter, then don't underestimate the fun children can have doing palmas, and as a resource for helping them to learn the importance of staying in compas.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 8 2012 8:29:17
 
Argaith

Posts: 481
Joined: May 6 2009
From: Iran (living in London)

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
Thanks for your comments all.

I pretty much know nothing other than Flamenco and these poor kids are doomed to learn Flamenco

Whatever I decide to start with, I am going to act as the metronome (doing palams).

I think I should see how we get on the first session.

Thanks again.
A

_____________________________
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 8 2012 15:12:33
 
machopicasso

 

Posts: 973
Joined: Nov. 27 2010
 

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
Do you have access to a cajon? That's a "success instrument" (i.e. one from which beginners can quickly get enjoyable results) and thus something else they might enjoy.

The more I think about it, the more difficult it sounds to teach flamenco guitar to seven year-olds. Good luck!
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 9 2012 9:12:15
 
Argaith

Posts: 481
Joined: May 6 2009
From: Iran (living in London)

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to machopicasso) 
quote:

Do you have access to a cajon?


I'm afraid no access to a cajon, not that I can play one anyway.
Like some of the folks here said, we should never underestimate the kids. My little girl already does better rasgeados than when I first started, but I do agree with you, I need a lot of luck ;)

_____________________________
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 9 2012 12:44:05
 
aloysius

Posts: 233
Joined: Apr. 7 2005
From: Adelaide, Australia

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to Argaith) 
I teach quite a few young kids - one thing that is useful at the very start is to get some small coloured stickers to stick on the fret board. Under the first string put one for F and one for G, the second one each for B and C, the third string one for A, the fourth string one each for E and F. They all need to be different colours. then you can start describing chords and melodies in terms of those colours. I've found this to work well for ages 5 - 7 depending on the student.

_____________________________

www.guitarsketches.com
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 10 2012 1:45:13
 
Argaith

Posts: 481
Joined: May 6 2009
From: Iran (living in London)

RE: Where would you start with a bun... (in reply to aloysius) 
Aloysius,

Thanks very much for your very good advice. This sounds to be a nice method.

Cheers,
A

_____________________________
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Apr. 10 2012 6:05:15
Page:   [1]
All Forums >>Discussions >>General >> Page: [1]
Jump to:

New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts


Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET

0.0625 secs.