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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
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    • Beginning Guitar Complete
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Beginning Guitar Complete

June 19, 2014 by hobbitgp

Students expand their knowledge beginning with the introduction of basic skills including single note play, various strumming patterns as well as numerous open position chord forms. Students journey from reading tablature to standard notation.

Level 2 begins with open position chords and progress to movable power chords. Improvisation is introduced, based on movable pentatonic scales. Reading skills are further developed with eighth notes, syncopated rhythms, key signatures, flats, and standard notation on all six strings. Techniques expand with the introduction of hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides and syncopated strum patterns. Music theory is introduced in an innovative way, utilizing the cycle of 5ths and key related major & minor chords to provide the basis for transposition, song transcription, and composing original chord progressions.

L-1 Course Repertoire includes:
includes 9-duo, trio, and four part ensemble arrangements as well as numerous exercises, musical examples, solo pieces and lead sheets.
L-2 Course Repertoire Includes:
8 new original ensemble pieces in styles ranging from swing, funk, reggae, to klezmer. Ensembles are supplemented with numerous exercises, musical examples, solo pieces and lead sheets.
Sign up for a Free Trial to see entire workbook and video library!


What’s Included:

Workbook

Beginning Guitar Student Workbook – L-1 & L-2

Subscription

12-month subscription to the Consonus Online Learning Site with related online course content.

Every exercise, solo, and ensemble piece is presented in its own review and/or practice video, demonstrated by the author and utilizing rhythmic audio backing to develop student timing and ensemble playing skills.

Online content mirrors the Course Lesson Plans and Student Workbook. Non-lesson related videos cover topics such as stringing and care for the guitar.

Instructor development and teaching aids:

Full Lesson Plans

Videos suitable for classroom demonstration and instruction

Supplemental teacher training videos which will help you get  your class started right and progressing with topics including:

  • How to teach a blended learning course;
  • Layered learning techniques for differentiated learning;
  • Ensemble rehearsal techniques and more.

Optional teacher training workshops.

Attend a  CMI summer teacher training workshop taught by Mike Christiansen and CMI staff instructors. You’ll learn the same key concepts and techniques that Mike has developed and taught for over 30 years in his university guitar pedagogy courses.


Sample Ensembles!

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Filed Under: Blended, Courses

Mike Christiansen – Curriculum Author

Mike Christiansen classroom guitar and ukulele curriculum authorMike Christiansen, classroom guitar & ukulele curriculum author, is Professor Emeritus in the Music Department at Utah State University. Mike founded the guitar program at USU and was Director of Guitar Studies at USU for 39 years. Read More...

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What Teachers Think

"This classroom guitar system will make my job as a teacher so much easier."

Cami Jensen Utah Valley University

"I am an experienced guitar player, and yet CMI has provided me with a valuable resource in my beginning classroom guitar class. The sequence of concepts, structure of lessons, and choices of music are all well thought out, and the engaging blended learning platform allows me to provide more individual and small group support."

Richard Langham Chaparral Middle School

"As a brass player and band teacher who has been asked to teach classroom guitar this curriculum is a life saver. Using video instruction to demonstrate guitar techniques and musical examples allows me to put my focus on helping the student’s with their performance."

Paul Dewey Legacy Preparatory Academy

"I love how Consonus classroom guitar curriculum starts with tablature and incorporates chords from the beginning. The way the tablature incorporates aspects of standard notation, making that a little less scary when we get to it about halfway through the book."

Kelley Neudecker Fulton High School

"The Consonus Music Institute Classroom Guitar Curriculum guides the students to become better guitarists and musicians. It enables them to take responsibility for their learning."

Karen Straus Carrolton Christian Academy

"Consonus has the best 'pre-reading' guitar TAB approach for classroom guitar I have seen. Transitioning into standard notation is actually smooth. Kids quickly feel successful and motivated. I'm a fan."

Chris Frazer Pueblo Middle School

"The level of accomplishment of the class has certainly increased since I began using CMI's classroom guitar material."

Richard Langham Chaparral Middle School

"We really like the Consonus Music Institute product and … I anticipate using this classroom guitar curriculum for quite some time."

Dwight Dodd Bartlett High School

"I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed your classroom guitar curriculum and classroom ukulele curriculum here at Lakeview Academy. The kids stay engaged and have progressed much farther than I could have ever taken them on my own."

Ruth Young Lakeview Academy

"The developmental sequencing is the best of any published classroom guitar curriculum I've used. I love the emphasis on technique building."

David Jackman Alpine School District

"The classroom guitar course is very well organized and easy to comprehend. The students can work ahead as fast as they are ready with the help of the online resources."

Spencer Jensen Legacy Preparatory Academy

"I really like the way tablature is introduced in this classroom guitar curriculum. It looks more like real music. I think it sets up the students for success when learning how to read rhythms and standard notation."

Brian Parker Granite Park Junior High School

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