The Shearer Method Series: A common sense, multi-media approach to learning the guitar
by Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, and Alan Hirsh
Book I—The Shearer Method: Classic Guitar Foundations Key Points
Establishes foundations of positioning, right- and left- hand technique. Provides strategies for efficient learning (involving the mind; thoughtful practice) Free-stroke focused. General organization: o First half—develops free stroke and sympathetic movement. o Second half —develops finger alternation with arpeggio and scales Chord knowledge—relate left-hand shapes to chords. Introduce basic chord theory.
Sequence Unit
Technique
Musicianship
Study Concepts Visualizing, concentrating, acquiring habits, forming aims.
Preface/Introduction Beginning Right-hand Development
Optimal position Training the thumb. P free stroke (4) (3) (2).
Basic music notation. Dynamic Expression.
Beginning pre-reading.
Tempo Expression
Pre-reading: left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing.
Beginning Left-hand Development
Notes on fingerboard, strings (3) and (2).
Right-hand Fingers Free Stroke—I
Unit
Technique Free stroke i-m. Right-arm shift (string crossing). Special training of the left-hand/arm.
Musicianship
Study Concepts
Dyads. Accidentals. Ties.
Movement forms and Isolation.
Harmonics. Ledger lines.
Continue Pre-reading: left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing
Chords Key signature
study chord shapes and coordinate movement from chord to chord
Enharmonic notes. Eighth notes.
Continued pre-reading: left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing, chord coordination
Alternating Free Stroke fingers and p—I
Alternating i-m and p. Harmonics. Notes on (4). Open (5) and (6).
Arpeggios—I
Sympathetic motion P,i,m Strumming
Right-hand Fingers Free Stroke—II
Free stroke i-m-a. Glide shift.
Alternating Free Stroke fingers and p—II
Unit
Technique
Musicianship
Study Concepts
Alternating i-m-a and p
Syncopation.
Sympathetic motion. P, i m,a. Position shifting.
Chord coloring.
Common-tone fingerings.
Continued pre-reading: left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing, chord coordination
Arpeggios—II
Arpeggios—III (with Alternation)
P,i,m,i arpeggio. Opposed finger sweeps. P, i, a. P, i, a, i.
Sixteenth notes. Dotted quarter note. Notes on (5) and (6). Compound meter. Understanding chords
Repertoire from the Masters I (Aguado, Carulli, Carcassi, Sor) Alternation and Arpeggio IV
Alternation fingers on a single string. String crossing in alternation. Cross fingerings. P, i,m,a,m,i,.
Pick-up. Scales.
Repertoire from the Masters II Etude in E Minor Dionisio Aguado Andante No. 7 Ferdinando Carulli Andantino Op. 241, No. 19 Ferdinando Carulli Minuetto, Mauro Giulianni (duet for guitar and flute) Op. 10, No. 1 Matteo Carcassi Andante No. 9 Ferdinando Carulli
Book II—The Shearer Method: Classic Guitar Developments Key Points
Establishes visualization procedures Introduces and develops Rest Stroke in combinations with Free stroke Develops understanding of Key. Develops music reading in 12 keys in Open Position (see the Invention Format) Develops barring, slurring, ornaments. Develops rhythmic training in from simple meter to compound to irregular and mixed meter. Establishes the Invention format used also in Book III (in progress).
The Invention Format For visualization and reading, duets called Inventions are provided throughout. Each invention is primarily organized with a high register on the top and low register on the bottom. Both parts are to be learned by the student and may be practiced with a teacher or accompanying media disc. There are at least three inventions per key, in varying levels of difficulty from easy to more challenging
Level
Rhythm
Melody
Invention No. 1
Primarily half note and quarter notes Mostly quarter- and eighth-notes; some dotted and tied rhythms Syncopation, Compound meters; some mixed and irregular meters
Mostly conjunct and scalar motion Mostly conjunct but added skips
Invention No. 2 Invention No. 3
More skipping motion
Sequence Study Concepts
Online
Musicianship
Audio
Technique
Video
Unit
Media Support
Preface
Warm-ups and stretches
Introduction Introducing Rest Stroke Alternation on a single string Alternation on adjacent strings
Visualization 5-step Pre-Read Play and Say Memorization
How to Play Inventions
Switching between Rest and Free Stroke
About the Key Half and Whole Steps Harmonies The Key Progression
The Key of C Major Scales free and rest stroke multiple and single strokes
Scale Visualization Scale structure The Key Progression
Inventions Visualization
Inventions #1-3
The Key of A minor Scales free and rest stroke multiple and single strokes
Scale structure The Key Progression
Visualization
Reading—Inventions #1-3 Compound meter rhythmic patterns Playing Chords with P and Fingers Block and Roll
The Key G Major Scales free and rest stroke Multiple and single strokes
Scale structure Visualization The Key Progression Reading—Inventions #1-3
Study Concepts
Online
Musicianship
Audio
Technique
Video
Unit
Media Support
Slurring Momentary shift into higher position
The Key of E minor Scales free and rest stroke Multiple and single strokes
Scale structure The Key Progression
Visualization
Reading—Inventions #1-3 A on Slur Studies
Compound meter rhythmic patterns
Eighth and Sixteenth Patterns
Alternating Rest a and Free p-i-m
Tone Coloring
Campanella Tasto Ponticello Staccato
Playing Chords P-i-a
Modes
The Key of D Major Scales free and rest stroke Multiple and single strokes
Scale structure The Key Progression
The Key Progression
Visualization
Reading—Inventions #1-3 Syncopation
Barring
The Key of B minor Scales free and rest stroke multiple and single strokes
Scale structure The Key Progression
Visualization
Reading—Inventions #1-3 Hemiola 16th note rhythms Rest -stroke Fingers and Free-stroke arpeggio D on
Alternating Rest-Stroke fingers and P free stroke
Chords of Four Notes
Chord Visualization
Barring with added left-hand fingers Arpeggios without P (A,M,I)
Rhythm Dance I
Study Concepts
Online
Musicianship
Audio
Technique
Video
Unit
Media Support
The Key of F Major Scales free and rest stroke multiple and single strokes
Scale structure Visualization
The Key Progression
Reading—Inventions #1-3 th
Compound meter with 16 notes
The Key of D minor Scales free and rest stroke multiple and single strokes
Scale structure The Key Progression
Visualization
Reading—Inventions #1- 4 Mixed Meter Alternating Compound and simple meter—Rhythm Dance II
Arpeggios without P (A, I, MI) Simultaneous Rest/Free stroke Dyads Involving scalar passages
Ornaments—grace notes and trill Simultaneous Rest/Free Melody and Accompaniment
The Key of A Major Scales free and rest stroke multiple and single strokes
Scale structure The Key Progression
Visualization
Reading—Inventions #1- 4 Irregular meter (5/4)
The Key of F# minor Scales free and rest stroke multiple and single strokes
Scale structure The Key Progression Reading—Inventions #1-3
Visualization
Compound meter rhythmic patterns Arpeggios without P (A, M,I, MI) (I,A,M,A)
Glissando E on String bending and strumming
Rhythm Dance III (counting 5/8) Rhythm Dance IV (counting 7/8)
Study Concepts
Online
Musicianship
Audio
Technique
Video
Unit
Media Support
The Key of E Major Scales free and rest stroke multiple and single strokes
Scale structure The Key Progression
Visualization
Reading—Inventions #1-3 Arpeggios without P (AIMI)
The Key of C# minor Scales free and rest stroke multiple and single strokes
Scale structure The Key Progression
Visualization
Reading—Inventions #1-3 Percussive Techniques
Rhythm Dance V
One-hand Harmonics
Rhythm Dance VI—Mixed Irregular meter
Repertoire From the Masters Works presented in a variety of keys and historical periods: Renaissance—Packington’s Pound (Cutting), Tarantella (Anon.) Baroque—Two Dances (Sanz), Minuet (Petzold), March (Bach), and Sarabande (Handel) Folk—Barbara Allen Classical—Andante and Allegro (Sor), Rondo (Molino) Romantic—Etude (Mertz) , Two Andantinos, Allegretto, (Carcassi)
Book II Developments: Rest-Stroke Developments Single String
Alternating on Adjacent Strings
Switching between rest and free strokes
Alternating Rest Stroke a with p-i-m chords
Rest stroke fingers and free stroke arpeggio
Alternating Rest Stroke fingers and p free stroke
Simultaneous Rest and Free stroke
Irregular Meter
Mixed Irregular Meter
Chord Developments
p-i-m
p-i-a
p-i-m-a
Arpeggios without p Developments a,m,i
a,i,m
a,m,i,m
a,m,i,m
i,a,m,a
Rhythm Developments Compound meter patterns
16th note rhyhtmic patterns
Syncopation and hemiola
Mixed meter
Alternating Compound and simple
Key Developments Understanding key
C major/A minor
G major/E minor
D major/B minor
F major/D minor
A mojor/F# minor
E major/ C# minor
