The Fabulous School of Music

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Folk Guitar

What is a Folk Guitar?

A Folk guitar is usually a steel-string acoustic guitar, a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound. They are often referred to simply as acoustic guitars, although the nylon-strung classical guitar can be used for folk guitar music as well. The most common type can be called a flat-top guitar.  A Folk guitar can be picked, plucked, finger-picked or strummed depending on the instrumentation/accompaniment and the desired sound that is intended.

Folk guitar is more of a term used for the style of music being played than the guitar it is being played on, ranging from early country and blues through the folk explosion of the 1960’s and 1970’s. Folk music became extremely popular then and later with guitarist/singers like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Jim Croce and Harry Chapin. Contemporary folk music is still going strong with the popularity of guitarist/singers such as Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson.

Teaching Philosophy

With seven guitar teachers on the faculty of the Fabulous School of Music, we have a tremendous amount of schedule flexibility as well as several types of guitar instruction, different books used, techniques, levels, styles and ages each teacher will take.
 
Our Folk Guitar teachers start the young beginner with reading notes using one of the Hal Leonard or Mel Bay Guitar Method books. Easy open chords are taught as well as simple chord progressions, strumming patterns and songs.  For older students and adults the same approach can apply, although we normally design and evolve the curriculum around the individual, their capabilities, their musical preferences and their level.  Topics that will be covered are chords, strumming, chord progressions, finger style, scales, music theory and ear training. Students are also encouraged to bring in songs and styles that they would like their teacher to cover during their lessons.  Normally guitar students are accepted at age 7.

The philosophy of our guitar teachers is that learning the guitar should be fun, a creative outlet and we strive to instill a passion for music that lasts throughout a student’s life.