MusicPro University Offers Free Guitar Course to Public Schools
- By Sharleen Nelson
- 04/11/13
When schools face budget cuts, music programs are often the first to go, but MusicPro University is trying to fill that gap by offering its online guitar course to eligible public schools at no charge.
Whether students are beginning players or have had previous music instruction, each of the eight modules in the Learn to Play Guitar course are designed to promote practice and learning. Each unit includes accompanying reference videos, guides, charts, and checklists to monitor progress, which Instructors can adapt to suit the individual needs of their students or curriculum. For instance, charts can be printed and distributed to the class to use as visual references, and online videos can be downloaded for later review or assigned as homework.
To take advantage of the free program, public school instructors are required to complete a one-hour, online briefing at the MusicPro University site. After completion, log-in information, instructions for adding students to the online learning center, and a course syllabus are provided. In addition, schools that sign up for the free guitar program are given lifetime access.
Key features of the course include:
- Online access to modules, lessons, and materials;
- Videos for visual learning support;
- Downloadable lesson videos are accessible via computer, tablet, or smart phone;
- Checklist charts and individual module checklists to help students track progress;
- More than 100 step-by-step video lessons;
- On-line reference library with songs, rhythm charts, and how-to chord videos;
- Song charts with color coded strumming and picking patterns;
- Startup schedule, practice plan, and daily practice log;
- Assortment of reference charts covering chords, chord progression, guitar parts, Ace Circle, songwriter key and progression, riff charts, Barre Isometrics, strumming patterns, finger picking, scale, and fretboard;
- Practice, video reference, and chord frame guides;
- Audio rhythm tracks; and
- An online metronome.
"Our guitar course has everything needed to introduce a group of young people to this powerful musical instrument," said MusicPro University's Mark Leaser, in a prepared statement. "Lessons start with the bare essentials and build up in a purposeful, calculated way. Strength exercises, for instance, will have students playing complex chords much faster than traditional instructional methods. Research has shown how important music and the arts can be to cognitive development, so MusicPro University has decided to do its part in keeping music alive in public schools."
Request forms for the free guitar program are available at musicprouniversity.com.
Individuals may also purchase the "Learn to Play Guitar" course for $99 online.
About the Author
Sharleen Nelson is a freelance journalist based in Springfield, Oregon. She can be reached at [email protected].