Play the Guitar--Book One, by Don KingA fun book for class or individual learning.
Aimed at inspiring students by exploring a wide variety of musical styles, while developing a strong foundation of classical fingerstyle playing skills.
A special feature is the wide variety of music to inspire students. There are:
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Students will love to explore these different sounds, and in doing so, will achieve a real understanding of music, and an ability in a range of playing techniques.
At the completion of this first book, students will have learnt:
Other areas studied include:
Play the Guitar--Book Two, by Don KingThis book continues the exploration of music for the guitar that began in Book One and is also suitable for any student who has just passed the beginning
stages of learning. Using the classical ‘finger style’ approach, this book explores:
The blend of solos, duets, trios, quartets and song accompaniment makes this book ideal for use in class and group learning. Private teachers with individual students will also find it valuable, because most of the quartets and trios are arranged to work well as duets. Areas studied systematically include:
Particularly enjoyable are the sections devoted to 'special effects’ such as:
Why I wrote the booksAn important goal for me while writing the books, was to provide material that would help teachers to stimulate the imagination and enthusiasm of their students.
Above all, I wanted the books to inspire a love and understanding of music, and to give impetus and direction for further study. This goal led me to break with tradition and take a completely new approach. Most guitar methods concentrate on one style. (For example, solo classical, plectrum lead rock, folk strumming, solo blues and so on). This approach is fine for the experienced guitarist who is perfecting a chosen style, but for the beginner, I have found that specialising too soon can severely limit potential and produce a narrow outlook which prevents a real understanding of music. It can also prove very boring – especially in the class situation. I believe that a new approach is needed. We live in an exciting age full of potential. For the first time in history we have access to all the cultures of the world, past and present. This gives us a marvellous musical opportunity. I liken beginning guitarists to first-time travellers, setting out with a teacher as a guide to explore the world (in time as well as space). When they have finished their travels, they have gained an appreciation and understanding of the world which enables them to choose wisely where and when they will settle down to live. In the same way, I have found that this is an exciting and productive way to begin the study of the guitar. Why not experience the world of music first, before deciding on which area or areas to specialise in? I have found that students love this approach. For example, when they study an elegant gavotte by Bach one week, and perhaps a hard-driving rock tune or a syncopated African rhythm the next, it really stretches their imagination and generates enthusiasm. As they discover new sounds, they naturally gain an appreciation and understanding of all music. This benefits and enhances later specialised study. And importantly, this approach is fun! It’s never boring. Therefore the theme of the Play the Guitar books is exploration! As well as modern American guitar styles such as blues, rock, ragtime and country and western, you’ll find the rich heritage of European music from the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods. There are traditional folk tunes from England, Wales, America and Australia, plus exciting rhythms and melodies from Spain, Latin America, Mexico, the West Indies, the Middle East, Africa and Japan. There is another significant break with tradition that you’ll find in these books... Almost all guitar books are designed for individual tuition (even if they say “suitable for class tuition” on the cover). This is because they concentrate on solo playing or on teacher and student duets. Solo work is of course very important, but just as it is fun and beneficial to travel with friends, group learning has many advantages. In particular, ensemble playing develops facility in sight-reading, listening skills and the ability to keep in time. For this reason, I have aimed to make the ‘Play the Guitar’ books especially suited for group work by giving equal importance to solos, duets, trios and quartets. Because I wanted to also make the books valuable for private teachers working with individual students on a one-to-one basis, I have designed most of the quartets and trios to work perfectly well as teacher/student duets. This means that private teachers can gain the full advantage of the wide range of teaching material contained in the books. Singing is another important aspect in developing musicianship. Therefore I have included many songs with a variety of accompaniment styles. This also helps the student gain knowledge of chord progressions and harmony – a vital aspect of musical understanding. All the songs can also be played as purely instrumental duets. Finally, I’d like to mention how much pleasure I had in writing the ‘Play the Guitar ‘books - I have been greatly encouraged by their continued success, and it has been marvellous to hear from teachers who have written to tell me about the results they are having. If you are a teacher and haven’t yet discovered these books, I hope that you will try them out with your beginning students. And I would love to hear from you to find out how you have found them in your teaching work. |
"I am impressed by the great variety of material in these books. My students are stimulated and inspired”.
David Loomes - Performer and teacher, Timaru "These books offer inspiration”. Milton Parker – Performer and teacher, Wellington “Your books fill a need that has existed for a long time, I like the way you have mixed the styles and included 'popular’ with ‘classical music”. Suzanne Court – Composer, performer and teacher, Christchurch 
“The idea of incorporating numerous styles in one tutor book is excellent. Also starting a pupil off with a key note and working logically
through the scale is an idea long overdue in a modern tutor book”. Mark Lyons – Performer and teacher, Wellington “No longer do I need to supplement the books my pupils use, as the variety of music in these two books fulfil almost every teaching requirement”. Susan Jones – Performer and teacher, Sydney “The standard of the two books is very high and I am particularly impressed by the layout and the breadth of material”. Michael Franklin – Composer, performer and teacher, New York “These books have had an immediate and lasting effect on my how my students are learning and they are truly enjoying the guitar”. Philip Gunter – Performer and teacher, Melbourne “I now work for ‘Soundwork in Schools’ and a whole new generation of kids is being introduced to your books. I insist on using yours because I love your teaching system. I think it is the best one out there for giving a good grounding in lots of different styles as well as theory, and I'm getting all my students on to your books. Morag Lorigan – Palmerston North "The ‘Play the Guitar ’books are an achievement of excellent quality, extremely well thought out and very refreshing indeed”. Paul Ubana Jones – Guitar performer/composer and teacher “They are superb publications and will receive our full support”. Max Stewart – Hamilton Advisor on School Music “I am most impressed by the ‘Play the Guitar’ books. The clarity of teaching points, the well thought out step-by-step progression, and wonderful variety of teaching material make them ideal for use in the education system”. Murray Fletcher – Gisborne Adviser on School Music “I am really impressed with the concept of exploring a wide range of musical styles that is found in the ‘Play the Guitar’ books. The layout and the way the teaching material is presented are excellent”. Paul Wheeler – Dunedin District Adviser on School Music To see examples of the huge variety and high quality of the music and lessons in my books, please click here 
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For examples of the huge variety and high quality of music in my books,
please click here
For examples of the huge variety and high quality of music in my books,
please click here