Kid's Guitar Course, Book 1 (Book and Enhanced CD) (Kid's Courses!) (Paperback)

by R. Manus (Author), L.C. Harnsberger (Author) "Guitars come in different types and sizes..." (more)
Key Phrases: strum strum rest, sixth string

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Alfred's new Kid's Guitar Course is the easiest method ever that teaches children to play songs on the guitar right away. This 48-page full-color book comes with an enhanced CD that always lets you hear how the music should sound, and each lesson on every colorful page is explained in plain language that's easy to understand. Plus, you get to learn from three irresistable guitar experts-a clever classical dog, one cool jazz cat, and a friendly alligator who loves the blues. They keep your attention focused by pointing out what's important on each page and help you learn by making music fun! When the enhanced CD is played on a computer, additional tools are available, including a chord dictionary and a guitar tuner. You can see and hear the music, adjust the tempo of songs, and even record yourself playing with a band!

About the Author
Ron Manus is co-owner of both Alfred Publishing and its sister company, Daisy Rock Guitars. Ron joined Alfred Publishing in 1988 and today is the company's Vice President. Ron is one of Alfred Publishing's top-selling authors, having over 100 published titles to his credit including instructional items for guitar, bass, banjo, harmonica, ukulele, and drums. In addition to holding prominent positions with Alfred Publishing and Daisy Rock Guitars, he also enjoys playing guitar and singing in the rock-solid, no-nonsense, punk rock band sASSafrASS.

L. C. Harnsberger received his Bachelor of Music in Composition from the University of Southern California. It was there that he studied with well-respected composers and arrangers including Morton Lauridsen and William A. Schaefer. Since finishing school, he has been writing and arranging for numerous wind ensembles, orchestras, chamber ensembles and soloists. His published works for Alfred Publishing include music for band, full orchestra, solo piano and choral accompaniments. His most popular publication is the Essential Dictionary of Music which is a concise, pocket-sized reference guide of definitions, composers, theory and instrument ranges which is used by musicians of all levels.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Alfred Publishing Company (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882849891
• ISBN-13: 978-0882849898
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,215 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #2 in	Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Music > Instruction & Study
  #45 in	Books > Entertainment > Music > Instruments & Performers > Guitar

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

117 of 117 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book ever...so far, February 1, 2005

By	M. Silver - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a guitar teacher with a degree in jazz guitar. I teach 30 kids a week in age ranges from 1st grade through senior citizen. I am also an early childhood music teacher who teaches general music classes and percussion in pre-school through 5th grade.

I have tried several other books to various degrees of success using other materials and my knowledge of children of this age. This book is an effortless teach to children this age. I am convinced you don't even need to know how to play guitar to teach your own child with this book.

Teachers...if you have kids this age its a great find. Starts with chords and easy songs. Not too many pictures to cause distractions. Later it gets into reading on the first three strings with ease. I finished the book in something like 10 weeks with 4 students in 1st-3rd grades. All of them are playing beyond my expectations. I can't wait for another one from these people. Heard its coming out end of Jan. 05.

Good luck.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book out there for the 5-9 age group., July 27, 2006

By	Brian Busch (Mankato, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kid's Guitar Course, Book 2 (Book & Enhanced CD) (Kid's Courses!) (Paperback)

Up until now there has been a lack of guitar instruction books for children ages 5 to 9. Mel Bay's Children's Guitar Method is too difficult. Hal Leonard's Guitar Method is really for kids 12 and older as is Belwin's 21st Century Guitar Method. This book is perfect for the very young and I highly recommend using a 1/2 size guitar.

The book has: full color graphics (in book 1 only), adorably cute pictures of funny animals, full color photos of a hand fingering the notes or chord, the letter of the note written on top the note itself to help in sight reading, and plenty of helpful tips as you go along.

The enhanced CD is amazing and is a real innovation. It has software that plays a song at whatever tempo is easiest for you to play along with. The song or exercise you're working on can be sped up or slowed down. You can change instrumentation so its bass and drums only with you adding your guitar part. The one disappointment is the the software doesn't run on Mac OSX, only Mac OS9. It runs fine on a PC with a soundcard. All the book's examples are on the CD too.

The strums are all quarter notes with only one strum per beat, no hard 8th note down/up strumming like the Mel Bay's Children's Guitar Method that has you play syncopated rhythms throughout. The note reading is easy and the strums are incorporated into the note reading. The notes don't get any harder than simple quarter notes (in book 1).

And the flash cards you can purchase seperately are a great tool for judging how well the student is doing learning their notes. All around a perfectly conceived book for the 5 to 9 age bracket.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, February 14, 2006

By	Love to read (United States) - See all my reviews

This is a beautiful, colorful book that really draws your child in just because it looks so fun! I'm so happy that they made a beginning guitar book like this because I've found that usually only piano gets so much attention. I've played guitar since I was nine, and have a Masters degree in Music. Guitar is a wonderful instrument to learn. You can take it with you anywhere and you can accompany yourself singing. You can also learn classical guitar easily if you start young and people will love to listen. I think more kids should learn guitar at a young age. Hopefully this book makes that possible!
I started using it with my son. It moves in easy steps. It's an excellent book. Highly recommended.