Camp Friendship Guitar Program
We offer two guitar sessions, one for returning students and one for new students. Guitar classes last for 45 minutes. Every student will be loaned a guitar for the class and, if possible, we will allow the students to take guitars home beginning in week 2. Guitar is not an easy instrument so please ensure that your child is interested in this class.
NEW STUDENTS
Week 1 – Basic Guitar
Parts of the guitar, how to hold it, basic posture, plucking open strings, strumming.
Week 2 – First Chords: Em and Am
Two easy, similar-shaped chords. Easy switching between them. Many songs can use just the two chords.
Week 3 – Rhythm & Strumming Basics
Down-strums, basic strumming patterns, keeping a steady beat. Fun win: strum along to a metronome or backing track like a "band."
Week 4 – Adding More Chords
Depending on what the class enjoys listening to, we can add a D chord, G chord, or a C chord to learn different songs
Week 5 – Strumming a chord
Strumming while holding a chord. Dedicating a week in class and time at home to make that easier helps a lot.
Week 6 – Reading Basic Chord Charts
In order to make learning more songs easier, the children will get a list of the chords that they know how to play that shows the chart, and the letter names of the chords in a song. They will reference the list to learn how to play the song.
Week 7 – Complex Rhythms
Students will start to learn more complicated strumming patterns rather than just solid notes.
Week 8 – Writing Lyrics
Students will learn the verse/chorus structure and will be given a chord progression. They will write lyrics off of the chord progression to make a simple song.
Week 9 – Developing the Song
Students will work at their song for another week and be able to make it more complicated and add more chords.
Week 10 – Adding a Bridge
Students will add a bridge to their song, and learn more chords to add to the song.
Week 11 – Rhythm Variations & Dynamics
Playing softer/louder, palm muting, adding "feel" to strumming. This can be applied to their song or any songs they want to learn.
Week 12 – Finishing the Original Song
Work out the final sections of the song and present it to the class.
Week 13 – Free Day
Students will be able to learn a song of their choosing and play what they want for the day.
RETURNING STUDENTS
Week 1 – Review and Setting Goals
Quick review of what everyone remembers (chords, strumming, any songs). Set individual goals for the session.
Week 2 – Barre Chords Intro
The big hurdle — F major and the barre shape. Short, focused reps (barre chords take patience).
Week 3 – Barre Chords Part 2 + Movable Shapes
Show how one barre shape slides up the neck to make different chords.
Week 4 – Intro Scales
Major scale shape, where it lives on the neck.
Week 5 - Making a Chord Progression
Students will learn how to make a chord progression when given the notes of a scale.
Week 6 – Scales Part 2
Students will learn the minor scale and adjust a major scale progression to be minor.
Week 7 – Fingerstyle Patterns
Students will learn how to fingerpick and arpeggiate chords.
Week 8 – Capo & Transposing
How a capo works, why songs get moved to different keys.
Week 9 – Songwriting: Chord Progressions & Theory
Students will learn about common progressions and numeric notation
Week 10 – Songwriting: Melody & Lyrics Over Their Progression
Add melody and lyrics to last week's progression.
Week 11 – Changing the Feel
Students will change the key or tempo or rhythm of a song to change the feel
Week 12 – Songwriting
Students will use what they learned to make a song
Week 13 – Polish & Performance Prep
Finalize their original song and perform it to the class.