Week 27 of 27
Goal: You put together a little programme and play it for others.
Review
Last week: transposing. Play a song in your favourite key.
Step by step
- Pick two or three songs you enjoy playing – an easy one to start, a lively one, and a calm one to finish.
- Practise the gaps between songs: finish the song, short pause, tune, announce, next song. That’s part of a concert too.
- A slip? Just keep playing! The audience usually doesn’t even notice – what matters is that the rhythm keeps going.
- Fancy your own song? With My song you write lyrics and chords and play your song with the backing. Ideas: Songs for beginners.
Time to make music: your piece
Your programme, for example: Auld Lang Syne in G, Freut euch des Lebens in G (as a waltz!) and your favourite song from the course. Applause!
Homework for next time
Five days, about ten minutes each:
- Tune first every day.
- Day 1: write down a programme of two or three songs.
- Days 2–4: play the whole programme once, without stopping.
- Day 5: dress rehearsal in front of one person.
- Fun: design a concert poster with your songs!
Done when …
- you play your programme without stopping
- you’ve played it for at least one person
If you get stuck
- Stage fright? Totally normal! Take a deep breath and start slowly – the first song can be the easiest.
- Fingers shaking? Warm up for five minutes first: scale, a few chord changes, then off you go.
For teachers: lesson plan
- ≈ 10 min Warm-up: each child names their favourite song from the course; the teacher writes a concert list.
- ≈ 15 min Practice: dress rehearsal in small groups – walking on, announcing, playing, bowing.
- ≈ 20 min Together: a final concert for parents or another class, ending with everyone playing Auld Lang Syne.
Differentiation: those who are confident play the piece with down-up or help a partner; those who need more time strum only on beat one of each bar.
For the board: openstring.de/gitarre/en/lesson/27/