The Shearer Method: Foundations—Sequence
Unit |
Technique |
Musicianship |
Study Concepts |
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Preface/Introduction |
· Visualizing, concentrating, acquiring habits, forming aims. |
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Beginning Right-hand Development |
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· Optimal position · Training the thumb. · P free stroke (4) (3) (2). |
· Basic music notation. · Dynamic Expression. |
· Beginning pre-reading. |
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Beginning Left-hand Development |
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· Notes on fingerboard, strings (3) and (2). |
· Tempo Expression |
· Pre-reading: left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing. |
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Right-hand Fingers Free Stroke—I |
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· Free stroke i-m. · Right-arm shift (string crossing). · Special training of the left-hand/arm. |
· Dyads. · Accidentals. · Ties. |
· Movement forms and Isolation. |
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Alternating Free Stroke fingers and p—I |
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· Alternating i-m and p. · Harmonics. · Notes on (4). · Open (5) and (6). |
· Harmonics. · Ledger lines. |
· Continue Pre-reading: left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing |
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Unit |
Technique |
Musicianship |
Study Concepts |
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Arpeggios—I |
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· Sympathetic motion · P,i,m · Strumming |
· Chords · Key signature |
· Study chord shapes and coordinate movement from chord to chord |
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Right-hand Fingers Free Stroke—II
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· Free stroke i-m-a. · Glide shift. |
· Enharmonic notes. · Eighth notes. |
· Continued pre-reading: left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing, chord coordination |
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Alternating Free Stroke fingers and p—II
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· Alternating i-m-a and p |
· Syncopation. |
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Arpeggios—II
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· Sympathetic motion. · P, i m,a. · Position shifting. |
· Chord coloring. |
· Common-tone fingerings. |
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Arpeggios—III (with Alternation)
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· 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 |
· Continued pre-reading: left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing, chord coordination |
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Repertoire from the Masters I (Aguado, Carulli, Carcassi, Sor) |
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Alternation and Arpeggio IV
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· Alternating fingers on a single string. · String crossing in alternation. · Cross fingerings. · P, i,m,a,m,i,. |
· Pick-up. · Scales. |
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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 |