Melodies for the thumb
Frank Hill has revised his guitar school, three volumes are already available. A playbook has been published to accompany Norbert Roschauer's school.
It is not unusual for a guitar school to introduce the notes with the thumb touch first. Characteristic of the teaching work Guitar playing - Guitar games is that the thumb is always placed on the next string when playing, i.e. played apoyando. Frank Hill's revised and self-published new school impresses with a wealth of material based on this basic idea. After many melodies played on the low strings, the index, middle and ring fingers of the right hand also appear initially only in combination with the thumb. It remains strangely unclear where the alternating stroke between the index and middle fingers begins. The fact that there are practically no fingerings contributes to a dignified score. Numerous songs with written-out accompaniments can also be performed as chamber music and round off the first volume.
Volume II, which was published at the same time, offers another rich selection of attractive pieces with over 200 numbers and is also ideally suited for teaching teachers who do not share the author's technical concept. There is now a third part of the ambitious seven-volume textbook. It bears the subtitle "Music for every occasion - Solo".
The course is much more marketable Today we hit the strings! for children aged 6 and over by Norbert Roschauer. Anyone who opens the new, supplementary playbook and takes a closer look at the songs and pieces will be pleasantly surprised. Apoyando or not? - Such questions are not discussed here. But the songs are clearly set, with clear indications of accompanying rhythm and plucking patterns. They range from traditional German folk melodies and Christmas carols to folk, gospel and rock songs. However, anyone looking for classical guitar literature will be better served by other booklets.
Frank Hill: Gitarrespielen - Gitarrenspiele, new version with drawings by David Marian, 2 volumes, € 24.80 each, Musica Longa, Berlin
Norbert Roschauer: Today we're hitting the strings! Playbook for the bestselling method, book, CD and online files, art. no. 20278G, € 19.95, Alfred Music, Cologne
