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14 session plans for 1.5 hour evening sessions are detailed below:

 

 

Session	Topic	Learning Outcome	Aims	Materials
1	Introduction Tuning the guitar Strings and Frets E and A chords How to Read TAB Melody for 1 chord Learning Questionnaire	By the end of the session students will be able to tune a guitar, know what the strings and frets are called, be able to play the E chord and be able to read simple TAB	Students may have covered topics already, others not. Revision/practice or consolidation for those that have more previous learning. Play TAB melody o students accompanying each other with the E chord.   Ask students one to one with learning questionnaires, and make own notes through observation.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Learning Plans for each student.   Worksheets: Tuning, Strings and Frets, Chords. The E chord, How to Read TAB, TAB melody
2	E and A chords, E minor and A minor Song Mull of Kintyre Strumming Rhythms	By the end of the session students will be able to play the chords E, A, E minor and A minor., and be able to read and strum along to a TAB/Chord version of Mull of Kintyre	Chords are more difficult for many students, so if Mull of Kintyre is too difficult, just use one chord or the TAB melody for eg. People with smaller hands etc. Demonstrate Major and Minor.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets Chords Songsheets Strumming Rhythms
3	New Chord: D Chord Changes Rhythms Folk Melodies	By the end of the session, students will be able to strum the guitar rhythmically, and attempt rhythmic chord changes. The students will also be able to read a TAB folk melody	Use strum patterns for 4, 3 and 12 count bars. Refer to previous lesson. Chord changes are often difficult for beginners. Folk melodies are rhythmic but one note at a time for beginners. Revise TAB re session 1.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets: D Chord Rhythm Sheets Chord Fingerings Folk Melodies, Rakes of Mallow
4	More Chords: E7 B7 and A7 8 Bar Blues Improvising on the top 2 strings and Song: Love Me Tender	By the end of the session, students will be able to play the chords E7, B7 and A7, and be able to play through the song first verse of Love Me Tender using the worksheet. They will also know what a guitar solo is.	Take it in turns to improvise using worksheet to E7 chord. Ask students to listen to the sounds and repeat notes. Ask Students to request a song for next week, and choose one suitable for beginners.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets: 7th Chords 4 note improvising 8 bar blues Love Me Tender
5	More Chords: C and G Song of Students Choice eg Knockin on Heaven’s Door. Right hand techniques, plectrum and fingerstyle. (strumming rhythms)``	By the end of the session students will be able to play a version of the G and C chords. Students will also be able to play a plectrum up and down stroke and thumb and finger up and down strokes	Use less strings for easier versions of the chords eg omit string 1 for G, 5 and 6 for C Use Strumming Rhythms worksheet and 8 bar blues while focusing on plectrum/thumb strokes.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets Song TAB Strumming Rhythms 8 bar blues Strumming Rhythms Strumming more rhythms
6	Note Lengths and stave basics; time signature and pitch A-G. ZZ Top Riff and Classical Ballad TAB	By the end of the session students will be able to play a ZZ Top Riff using the worksheet and tap along with their feet. They will know the note duration of a quaver, dotted quaver, crotchet, dotted crotchet, minim and dotted minim. They will understand the musical alphabet A-G and 3-4 and 4-4 time signatures. They will be able to practice a classical ballad.	More rhythms with ZZ Top off beat and foot tapping. Discuss notation. Classical Ballad for gentler and fingerstyle piece using similar theory.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets: The Notes The Stave ZZ Top Classical Ballad
7	Christmas Carols Away in a Manger, Good King Wenceslas, Silent Night Once in Royal and Christmas Time by Cliff Richard   Solos	By the end of the session students will be able to play versions of 3 carols. Students will know a pentatonic scale to use in soloing. Students will have had experience of performing in front of fellow students.   Students will have discussed what they have learnt and what they would like to practice in the break.	Consolidate theory for end of term session, using all the chords learnt so far and TAB melodies. Ask students to perform individually and in groups.   Extend 4 note solo to E/G Pentatonic scale for whole group to play   Feedback on term for each student individually, giving each student an individual learning plan, and advise on resources available to students.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets: Carol TAB Pentatonic Scale TAB and diagrams Chord summary   Individual Learning Plan forms (Somerset Community Education)
8	Welcome TAB Melodies: Auld Langsine TV Themes   12 Bar blues Revise E, A, B7, E7 and A7 chords and pentatonic improvising. Also transcribed blues solos using hammer-ons and pull-offs.	By the end of the session students will be able to play the TAB melodies Auld Langsine and TV Themes. Students will be able to play through a 12 bar blues sequence using the worksheet and an 8 bar blues without a worksheet, play a transcribed solo and improvise using a pentatonic scale. Students will know the hammer-on and pull-off technique and be able to attempt it in soloing and melodies.	Refresh chord technique after break.   Discuss Da-Dum 12-8 Rhythm for blues and rock fours. Use transcribed melodies and improvising to 8 bar blues (first 8 of 12 bar sequence EEEEAAAA) for easier unison in group.   Give students individual feedback on practice in the break and ask for requests songs pieces for next session.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets: Auld Langsine TAB TV Themes TAB   12 Bar blues in chord diagrams Blues TAB solo with rhythm TAB Pentatonic Scale (As lesson 7).
9	Requested Song Song Wonderful Tonight Play CD Can You Play Along? Play a few songs, quiz: Can you guess the chords? The F chord and use it as a barre chord. Discuss fun practice techniques and resources, CDs, Books, PC, Tapes. Give advice on external resources available.	By the end of the session students will be able to play an arrangement of the requested song using a TAB worksheet, and play the chords and melody to Wonderful Tonight. Students will have practiced playing to a CD and have an idea of resources available to them with recording equipment, the PC, books, CDs, tapes and minidisks. Students will be able to play the F chord and use the shape up and down the fretboard as a barre chord.	Use fewer strings on G and C cords if still difficult, and focus on exact fingering to smooth chord changes. Ear training while guessing chords, ie guessing what key the song is in, or familiarising with the sounds of the guitar. Try to maintain confidence of learners in practicing listening as a group. Use guitar compatible songs, mostly to fit with standard chord shapes, but with a few extra songs for barre chord theory. Tutor uses remote control on CD player. F chord as an introduction to barre chords. Refer to CD as how to play in any key. What resources do you have available? Discuss tapes, CDs in car listening PC resources and home performing.	Guitars Amp CD player Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets: Requested song TAB Wonderful Tonight TAB The F chord Slide the F Chord
10	More Chords: Barre Chords Song Alright Now, 2 versions Barre Chords and not Barre Chords. Song Love is All Around; 2 versions Barre Chords and not Barre Chords. Blues soloing session with new transcribed melody and Middle of fretboard pentatonic scale.	By the end of the session students will be able to play at least one version of the songs Alright Now and Love Is All Around. Students will be able to read a pentatonic scale in the middle of the fretboard and use it in soloing .	Students in the group can set their own learning pace with compatible arrangements. This will help maintain confidence with new technique for beginner-intermediate players. New Pentatonic scale, still in the key of E minor/ G major.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard.   Worksheets: How to play Barre Chords, Based on F, E and A, Em and Am Song TAB: 2 versions of each song. Pentatonic scale TAB and pattern.
11	Purple Haze Step By Step Fingerstyle: Use the standard chords. Song “No Woman No Cry” with Melody	By the end of the session students will be able to play aversion of Purple Haze from the selection of Beginner-Intermediate TAB. Students will also be able to play the chords and melody to No Woman No Cry using the worksheet. All students will be ale to strum the E7+9 cord using diagrams given. Advanced Group: Advanced students will be able to play pentatonic scale in the key of A minor, 5th fret,	With a collection of compatible arrangements, conduct students through playing Purple Haze, Leting students play the Step (1-7) that they find just easy enough before tackling the next step. One-one monitoring by tutor in group activity. While less advanced read the melody to No Woman No Cry, select a group to learn a new solo scale. Play through together No Woman No Cry. Discuss and demonstrate blues rhythm in reggae, Da-dum for reggae feel. (12-8)	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets: Purple Haze Step By Step No Woman No Cry TAB
12	Jazz Blues songs and Rock Riffs Shuffle Bass Lines Status Quo style Riffs Worksong Blues Standard Fingerstyle Blues Don’t Get Around Much Any More Swing	By the end of the session students will be able to Play Shuffle Bass lines, Status Quo Rock Riffs, Worksong and Don’t Get Around Much Students will be able to play in swing and rock.	Use pentatonic scale for soloing with chord sequences. Demonstrate Status Quo Riffs in Rock Style and Blues Style. Tutor plays CD to clarify, eg trad blues and Blues Rock Band.   Ask students one at a time if they have a desire to perform a particular song or piece as next lesson will be individual songs.	Guitars CD player Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Worksheets: Song TAB sheets Pentatonic Scales Rhythms
13	Bring a selection of songs and pieces (including requests from session 12, versions of songs already covered and new pieces) and ask students to choose 1 or more, or a piece they have brought themselves for one-one help, so that they can perform it in front of the class next week.	By the end of the session students will be able to play at least one song or piece of their own choosing to concert standard, including techniques as fit the song.	Give students an opportunity to perform a song well. Give advice one to one, taking it in turns. If students are happy with a song start another, or give guidance on extra style or technique to add to the song, within student’s capability.	Guitars Amp Music Stands Whiteboard   Prepare comfortable seating plan for individual playing.
14	Performing Recording techniques. Record session to give students a CD. Give students a Certificate saying that they have completed the course and showed achievement in …(individual achievement). Feedback on performing and the course.	By the end of the session students will be able to perform a chosen song or piece in front of others, and have experience of performing to an audience and in a recording situation.   Students will have an idea of opportunities that are available for their playing and how they can enroll/pursue individual goals most easily.	Prepare a simulation of a guitar concert for students to have experience that will help in performing in eg. A pub or recording studio. Discuss microphone technique and encourage students’ own abilities, extra songs or improvising, as well a song prepared in lesson 13.   Present individual certificates and feedbak forms. Advise on future opportunities available for students.	Guitars Amp Recording Equipment PA System. Music Stands     Prepare seating plan for mock concert situation.   Certificates printed for each student with individual achievements.

 

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