The Shearer Method: Foundations—Sequence

Unit

Technique

Musicianship

Study Concepts

Preface/Introduction

·         Visualizing, concentrating, acquiring habits, forming aims.

Beginning Right-hand Development

 

·      Optimal position

·       Training the thumb.

·       P free stroke (4) (3) (2).

·     Basic music notation.

·     Dynamic Expression.

·    Beginning pre-reading. 

Beginning Left-hand Development

 

·     Notes on fingerboard, strings (3) and (2).

·    Tempo Expression

·    Pre-reading: left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing.

Right-hand Fingers Free Stroke—I

 

·     Free stroke i-m.

·     Right-arm shift (string crossing).

·     Special training of the  left-hand/arm.

·       Dyads.

·       Accidentals.

·       Ties.

·   Movement forms and Isolation.

Alternating Free Stroke fingers and p—I

 

 

·     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

Unit

Technique

Musicianship

Study Concepts

Arpeggios—I

 

·      Sympathetic motion

·       P,i,m

·       Strumming

·     Chords

·     Key signature

·      Study chord shapes and coordinate movement from chord to chord

Right-hand Fingers Free Stroke—II

 

 

·    Free stroke i-m-a.

·    Glide shift.

·      Enharmonic notes.

·      Eighth notes.

·  Continued pre-reading:  left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing, chord coordination

Alternating Free Stroke fingers and p—II

 

 

 

 

·    Alternating i-m-a and p

 

·   Syncopation.

 

Arpeggios—II

 

 

 

·     Sympathetic motion.

·      P, i m,a.

·      Position shifting.

·  Chord coloring.

·  Common-tone fingerings.

Unit

Technique

Musicianship

Study Concepts

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

·     Continued pre-reading:  left-hand visualization, air guitar, vocalizing, chord coordination

Repertoire from the Masters I (Aguado, Carulli, Carcassi, Sor)

Alternation and Arpeggio IV

 

 

 

 

·     Alternating 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