Guitars
Ideally the school should own a classroom set of matched instruments. TGW recommends classical guitars for many reasons: nylon stings put less stress on the instrument, tend to break less frequently than steel, and are easier on beginning fingers. All styles can be played on the instrument and classical bodies are easy to repair.
Storage
Lockers and or Racks. Whether your students bring in their own guitars or your school supplies the instruments you need to store them. Hanging the instruments on the wall, using a rack system or lockers are all practical solutions.
Individual Guitar stands
Guitar stands are handy in class and essential for performances. Having a teacher guitar stand is useful for securely holding your guitar when you want to move around the room without the instrument.
Podium
If your classroom is one level, a platform/riser is something to consider. You can model proper posture and technique for your students. They will see you better and you can see them.
Music Stands
1 student per stand is optimum, if necessary 2 or even 3 students per stand can work. If possible try to get stands that are shorter than the normal music stands found in the band room. This will also allow you to observe the students right and left hands for quick assessments.
Footrest or Footstool
For proper playing position you need something to elevate your guitar. There are numerous items available to accomplish this. If you can’t purchase commercial footrests you can use cut up lumber. Deck posts that are about 3 X 3 inches cut into 10-inch blocks work well, and 2x4x6 pieces may be hammered or glued together in stacks of varying heights.
Straps
Using guitar straps is a good way to accomplish good posture. It is possible to purchase a card or bag of strap buttons at your local music store. Ask someone handy with a drill to help install the buttons on the guitar. Classic guitar straps are available if you do not want to put strap buttons on nylon string guitars.
Sound System
A system that has inputs for a microphone (it will stress your voice trying to talk over 30
students playing guitar), a drum machine/metronome and your guitar is recommended. It should also have an
input for CD and/or MP3/iPod or computer. A CD player with variable pitch is recommended. There are also
several downloadable software packages that will let you change the speed without changing the pitch of
recorded music on your laptop. If you use electric guitars and/or a bass in class or in a performance guitar
cables of various lengths will be necessary. It is also helpful to have some additional cables/adapter required to
plug your laptop, DVD/Video, metronome or MP3/iPod gear into the system.
Method Books
Recommended at the Teaching Guitar Workshops. Go to www.discoverguitar.com to find publishers who contribute to the workshops. Accrue over time a number of different books for the variety of approaches and additional reading material.
Tuners
For easy access for the students, velcro tuners to a convenient location in the room. There are numerous models available. Students like the type that clamps on to the headstock because they pick up the vibrations of the instrument and are not affected by ambient sound in the room.
Metronome or Drum Machine
There is a wide variety of drum machines that have numerous pre-set beat patterns and styles. Your students will be more enthusiastic playing anything when you add a drum machine.
Capos
If you will be playing any contemporary music in class, capos will occasionally be used.
String Maintenance
String Change Kit: peg head support block, string winder and string/wire cutter, needle
nose pliers, extra strings (1st for steel strings, if using nylon 1st and 4th strings) bridge pin puller (for steel) note:
many string winders have a slot that is to be used as a pin puller, protective eyewear, OOOO steel wool to
clean the fingerboard, lemon oil for the fingerboard, guitar polish and cloth. Use sewing machine oil or liquid graphite to lubricate guitar tuners. Most classic guitars don’t have truss rods but have appropriate “allen wrenches” for truss rod adjustments, note: these usually come supplied with the guitar.
Guitar Maintenance
Damage to classical guitars can usually be repaired with wood glue and clamps.
Replacement Strings
Negotiate with your local dealer to get best possible prices for strings packed in bulk. If replacing nylon strings, keep the old D string on, because it is usually the first to break and may be newer than the strings on the guitar that you are restringing.
Nail Care Kit
Diamond Deb type file, nail clippers, 500 - 800 grit sandpaper (finishing paper).
Picks
Best picks are standard size, medium to hard. Thin picks are not recommended.
Manuscript Paper
Both 5 line and 6 line (tablature) as well as blank chord grid are available commercially.
Hand Sanitizer
and cloths to wipe down the strings.
Pencils and Erasers
Additional Instruments
in priority order:
Electric Bass, Keyboard, Electric Guitars, other fretted instruments like mandolin and banjo.