Views From The Course

Scenes From the Lessons

ONE TO ONE INSTRUCTION The lessons take place in an informal atmosphere simulating as far as possible the environment of a private lesson. Teaching is not directed to an on-screen student, but directly to the viewer. The early part of the lesson often includes anecdotes and legends of the guitar.

STARTING WITH THE BASICS
Students learn how to tune the guitar, since no prior knowledge is assumed. Also covered is the adjustment of the playing action of the guitar, since an incorrect setting can cause extra difficulties for the beginner.

LEARNING SIMPLE CHORDS The TV format is excellent for learning how to place the fingers for chords and how to relate this to commonly used chord symbols.

LEARNING THE NOTES The notes of music and how they relate to the guitar are taught in easy stages. As always no prior knowledge is assumed. After a few notes are memorized the viewer plays simple tunes with these along with the teacher

THE RUDIMENTS OF MUSIC
The musical staff, clefs and time values lose their mystery as they are explained by the teacher with clear diagrams. Any points missed during the lesson can be found in the Workbook, which also includes the relevant musical examples and technique illustrations.

ELEMENTARY HARMONY Although the lessons are mainly practical some time is given to explaining how chord are constructed. The mysteries of musical harmony are made simple with clear and graphic examples.

THE SPLIT SCREEN VIEW As the lessons progress students become familiar with this view, which shows the operation of both hands as well as the relevant musical notes. Progress through the music is marked with a pointer so the student never loses his place. Following a split screen run-through the music is shown full screen so that full concentration may be focused on the notes.

MORE ADVANCED TECHNIQUES
Progress through the course is gradual, allowing for step by step absorbtion of the musical notation and guitar techniques. Here a more advanced technique is demonstrated, the Half Bar

WATCHING THE PERFORMANCES At the conclusion of each lesson Frederick Noad performs a complete piece from the guitar repertoire, concentrating mainly on music that the viewer may aspire to play before too long. Detailed views of both hands are a characteristic of these sequences, so students may learn from observation of the techniques in action. These pieces are also available on separate CDs (FN47 & FN 48), together with the practice exercises and studies.

LEARNING THE SEVILLANA As a recreation from the formal instruction students learn some of the elements of Spanish Flamenco. Here the popular Sevillana is studied, first by learning the necessary chords.

THE RASGUEADO STRUM
The next step is to learn the exciting rhythmic strums associated with this dance. After clear demonstrations the students play along so as to become familiar with the technique.

A "CLASS OUTING" After learning the Sevillana the viewers are taken on a film trip to Seville in Andalusia where they see many examples of the dance in action at the time of the famous Feria.