• Login
  • Register
  • Support
    • Getting Started – Teachers
    • Getting Started – Teacher Tools
    • Getting Started – Students
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Consonus Music Institute

Professional Development & Curriculum for Classroom Guitar

Professional Development and Curriculum for Classroom Guitar
  • Blended Learning for Guitar
    • What is Blended Learning
    • What is Layered Learning
  • Professional Development
    • Workshops
    • Building a Classroom Guitar Program
    • Webinars
    • Blog
  • View Our Courseware
    • Beginning Guitar Complete
    • Intermediate Guitar Level 1
    • Intermediate Guitar Level 2
    • Guitar Ensemble Collection
    • Basic Ukulele
  • Purchase Courseware

Singin’ the Blues

October 6, 2015 by Mike Christiansen Leave a Comment

Singing the Blues for Classroom Guitar

In this week’s expert tip Mike Christiansen explains how to come up with great lyrics for the blues.  Learn to write melodies and rhythmic phrasing that will have you singing the blues like you came straight from the delta.  Post your own blues lyrics in the comments below!

Filed Under: Blog, Guitar, Playing Tips, Teacher Training

Tablature Vs. Standard Notation

September 24, 2015 by Mike Christiansen 1 Comment

Classroom Guitar - Tab vs Standard Notation

In classroom guitar it’s important to understand the benefits of tablature and how to use it in your guitar curriculum as a tool to transition to standard notation.  Some of the great benefits of tablature include learning rhythmic values, get comfortable with notes in a given position, play songs in an alternate tuning and more. Read the Rest…

Filed Under: Blog, Guitar, Teacher Training

Major Pentatonics Classroom Guitar

September 16, 2015 by Mike Christiansen Leave a Comment

In this blog post Mike talks about Major Pentatonics for Classroom Guitar.  This is a great sounding scale that is easy to play and works well over nearly any major chord progression.  This scale is extremely popular and used all the time even by the pros.  Another great scale is the Minor Pentatonic Scale, which is Read the Rest…

Filed Under: Blog, Guitar, Playing Tips, Teacher Training Tagged With: major pentatonic, scales

Classroom Guitar: Sequence Every Skill

August 18, 2015 by Mike Christiansen

Every skill taught in classroom guitar has an associated sequence that  it should be taught with. By using the correct sequence there’s a natural progression that allows more advanced skills to build on  prior skills in the sequence. Whether it’s chords, reading, accompaniment patterns, or any other skill, understanding sequencing will save both teachers and Read the Rest…

Filed Under: Blog, Guitar, Playing Tips, Teacher Training

The Muted Strum

August 4, 2015 by Mike Christiansen

Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference. In the world of guitar accompaniment techniques good time and rhythmic feel can make you sound like a pro when playing even the simplest strumming patterns. One of the easiest ways to develop that feel is by adding  muted strums to your playing. It’s the percussive pop Read the Rest…

Filed Under: Guitar, Our Latest Blog Posts, Playing Tips, Uncategorized

Skills Development – Fingerstyle Connecting Runs

July 29, 2015 by Mike Christiansen

Fingerstyle connecting runs are the glue that turns simple fingerpicked chord patterns into professional sounding accompaniment.  With a few simple rules you’ll be able to incorporate this technique into your own playing. Watch this free video lesson to learn how and download the pdf below.

Filed Under: Blog, Guitar, Playing Tips

Skill Development – Bass Run Fills

July 17, 2015 by Mike Christiansen

Using bass run fills to connect common chord progressions is a great way to add interest to your own playing, or when you’re accompanying your class. Watch this free video lesson from Mike Christiansen and Consonus to learn how. Be sure to download the included PDF.

Filed Under: Playing Tips

Guitar Pedagogy for the Non-Guitarist Music Educator

May 19, 2015 by Mike Christiansen Leave a Comment

Many music educators, without having a guitar performance background, become their school’s guitar instructor by default. If this is you rest assured that it’s possible to teach a high quality guitar curriculum while, at the same time, developing your own playing and pedagogy skills. In this webinar presented by guitar pedagogy authority Mike Christiansen and Read the Rest…

Filed Under: Blog, Webinars

Class Assessment: What Do They Think?

April 15, 2015 by Mike Christiansen Leave a Comment

Classroom Guitar Assesment Ideas

I recently observed a middle school guitar class using one of the best forms of assessment possible, and to top it off, it also implemented one of the best student attention getters possible. The teacher had the classroom equipped with microphones mounted high on the wall above the guitar class. They were plugged into a Read the Rest…

Filed Under: Blog, Guitar, Teacher Training

Building a District Guitar Program

April 7, 2015 by Mike Christiansen 1 Comment

Classroom guitar is emerging as the top strategy to increase equitable music participation in school districts around the country. The guitar’s popularity, relative affordability, functionality as solo, ensemble and harmonic instrument, its role in many cultures, and quick learning curve are winning many advocates among district music coordinators. However, building a successful guitar program won’t Read the Rest…

Filed Under: Webinars

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next Page »

Try Blended Learning for Guitar!

Combining traditional teaching methods with music technology, in the classroom and at home, is what blended learning is all about. Register for your own 60-day free trial. See course workbooks,view lesson clips & practice tracks, and more.

Find out why with your own 60-day free trial.

Start My FREE 60-day Trial Now!

Close
  • Login
  • Register
  • Forgot?

Have an account?

Log in and start learning!

Student Registration Only

*
*
*
*
*
*

By continuing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Lose something?

Enter your username to reset your password.

All Material © 2009 - 2023 Consonus Music Institute (CMI)   | info@consonusmusic.org | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Get in Touch