One of the unique features contained in the Consonus Music classroom guitar curriculum is the availability of layered learning materials. I have demonstrated the use of layered learning at many workshops and have done webinars on the subject, but I think that it is so valuable I would like to briefly mention it here and remind classroom guitar teachers it can be one of the most valuable components our curriculum has to offer.

Sometimes layered learning is referred to as differentiated instruction. These terms refer to the process of teaching students, in the same class, skills at different levels so they can progress at different speeds and still play the same repertoire in class. Here are a couple of ways layered learning could be used to enhance your guitar classes. Suppose you are teaching the students how to play the simple C chord in lesson 3. You have students in your class who already know the simple C chord. Rather than have them just be bored, open lesson 3, and click on the layered learning section of that lesson. The layered learning section teaches more fingerings for the C chord. You can print off that page and give it to the more advanced students or have them go to the layered learning section of that lesson on their phone, computer or tablet and learn the more advanced forms of the C chord. All of the students in your class can now play the exercises and songs in that lesson using various fingerings of the C chord depending on their skill level. If you are teaching the students the basic strum pattern for 4/4 in lesson 11, you could have the more experienced students go to the layered learning section of lesson 11 and learn more advanced strum patterns. Again, the more advanced students can play the same exercises and songs in class, but use strum patterns that challenge them.

There are layered learning components available in every lesson for each skill being presented, including the lessons on note reading, accompaniment styles and more. There are even standard notation versions of the ensembles and solos written in tablature.

To put all of the layered learning material in the book would make the book way too thick and costly. The luxury of the web site makes it possible to add extra content. Incorporating blended learning is the answer to challenging more experienced students and not overwhelming the others. I hope you will take advantage of this feature. I’ve seen layered learning work and I’ve seen the success teachers are having utilizing it.