Title: Beginner’s Guitar for Kids
Author: Corey Klaus
Illustrator: Pamela Hodges
Age Group: 5+ (Bug loved this though and he’s almost 4)
Synopsis: A comprehensive guide to help littles learn guitar basics.
The Lowdown:
If you ask me if I play an instrument, I’ll probably tell you I’m pretty good at the radio. I love music but my musical instrument knowledge consists of three months piano lessons, four years ago. And Bug, well, Bug LOVES his music. He loves singing, he loves listening to songs, and he loves his instruments. He was playing around on the keyboard so much that we started him on piano lessons, which was crazy hard to do. No one wanted to give a three-year-old piano lessons. Finally, his Music Garden teacher said she’d give it a try and he loved it! He can read about four notes now and writes his own “songs”. His dedication goes in waves, as many things do for preschoolers, but his underlying love never changes. But he doesn’t just love the piano. Bug also can’t get enough of the guitar. He received a ¼ size guitar as a present and loves “playing” along to his favorite songs (mostly Zac Brown Band). But while I have a bit of knowledge when it comes to piano and we were lucky enough to find someone willing to give such a young kid lessons, the guitar is not sharing the same luck. I have absolutely zero experience with a guitar.
Luckily, Beginner’s Guitar for Kids doesn’t require me to have any experience. Set up through slow and methodical lessons, the workbook helps parents and kids alike learn the basic fundamentals of playing a guitar. Each lesson follows Winden, a small child in a bear costume, and Squiggy, a friendly snake. These two pals learn first the types of guitars, the pieces, and how it all comes together. Each chapter has an interactive section that is supplemented with coloring pages, activities, and encouragement to have fun. Bug loved designing his own guitar is the early pages and learning the strings’ notes. We’re still slowly making our way through but the sedated pace of the book allows for the very short attention span so many young kids possess. And by not crushing so much information into each lesson so quickly, Klaus takes into account the ever important task of not stifling enthusiasm with information overload. Bug’s still excited to work on pages in his “guitar book” as he calls it and I enjoy seeing him feed his creativity, thirst to learn, and desire to have fun.
Story Tips:
- You’ll definitely want to have a guitar BEFORE you begin the book but check out the What You Will Need section ahead of time for a comprehensive list.
I need more!
Corey Klaus has been teaching music for about ten years and has worked with music therapists to perfect his technique. He’s on Intagram @corey_klaus
Pamela Hodges has also illustrated How to be a Cat and Color Cats. For more fun info and smile-inspiring writing, check out her website: http://www.pamelahodges.com/about-pamela/
Add to my library:
Beginner’s Guitar for Kids with Winden and Squiggy: Teach Yourself to Play the Guitar
