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Program of Study
First off, the students are encouraged to think. Their advancement and confidence with the instrument depend on it. Thomas Byers Guitar Studio stresses the importance of assessing, synthesizing, and realizing all the information they receive studying (this is not isolated to music). Thinking links the student from imagination to logic, art to scientific.
Thomas Byers Guitar Studio instructs in two arenas, popular and classical. Those on the popular track (anything from rock to jazz) will use William Leavitt’s “A modern method for guitar.” This book was written focusing on studio musicianship, i.e. being able to quickly and fluidly play anything you like. This book is accompanied by arranging and performing pop songs like The Beatles and eventually playing and improvising over Jazz Standards. Needless to say, the students will learn to read music, understand theory and apply both to pieces in guitar pop/jazz literature.
The second arena, classical, is quite different but also focuses on a well-rounded education. We use a hybrid method that combines the Lopez Ramos Method, a method using Julio Sagreras’ “Lecciones de Guitarra,” and Abel Carlevaro’s “La Escuela de la Guitarra,” an extensive and enlightening technical treatise. These will serve as the foundation for classical lessons. Music reading, proper technique and musicality will be focused on and applied to music literature.
Having briefly listed the overall methods used, keep in mind that students learn differently. Supplemental materials and teaching styles may differ depending on the students needs. However the lessons go, students can count on a quality guitar education at Thomas Byers Guitar Studios.