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Recommended Reading
After several years of teaching (and being a guitar student for 14 years), I feel well equipped to recommend two books that are best suited to beginner classical guitarists:
- Craknell, Debbie. Enjoy Playing the Guitar (Book 1). Oxford University Press, 1984.
I feel that this book gets the balance spot on between technique and theory. Far too often beginner books are weighted towards theory (introducing new notes), and therefore allowing students to pick up bad habits. Although technique is something that is ultimately the responsibility of the teacher, when the pupil practises at home, constant reference to (and pictures of) left and right hand technique provide useful reminders to students. Because this balance is well addressed, pupils can progress at a quicker pace as they approach more difficult music, as they are not held back by poor technique.
- Batchelar and Wright. Time Pieces for Guitar: Vol 1. Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, 2008.
This book includes music spanning many centuries. It therefore provides a great opportunity to talk to students about guitar music from different periods, and therefore discuss how music has evolved and introduce playing music in an appropriate style. It includes many duets, which helps (particularly younger) students, as well as introducing the idea of listening to others and not just oneself. Time Pieces for Guitar: Vol 1 covers so many periods of music that there's bound to be something for everyone, not to mention that pieces can be found on all three lists (A, B and C) of ABRSM early grades.
