What is the Brooklyn Guitar Method?
Developed over 10 years in the public school system, the Brooklyn Guitar Method focuses on culturally responsive repertoire that develops students’ ears and gives them foundational skills before they ultimately learn chords. This is done through rote learning, single string melodies/tablature, standard tablature, engaging warm-ups, games, and activities. It is designed to guide a teacher through the journey of teaching a guitar class, whether it be an existing class or a new program being built, since teaching a guitar class requires a different approach from teaching privately. It is also designed with the idea that all music teachers have different comfort levels with guitar and guitar instruction. Maybe you are starting a guitar or Modern Band program in your school, but you may not be entirely confident in your own playing. That is okay! With this method, you will find that you can learn along with your students and find joy in the process. If you are a seasoned guitar player, this method will provide you with a new approach to teaching the instrument. No matter your level, you will be provided with a great amount of material, including lessons, concepts, repertoire, sequences, backing tracks, exclusive play-along videos, and so much more.
What will students learn?
During the first chapter, students learn fun single-string repertoire while developing important skills, like playing on the tips of their fingers, playing in the “sweet spot” of the fret, and mastering string/fret identification. Single string tablature notation is stripped down to the essentials. Numbers represent frets and are written on one single line, representing a guitar string. This first unit allows the teacher and students to focus on important concepts. How do you identify the six strings? Which string is the “first” string and which is the “last”? What is a fret? What is a fret wire? How do you count and identify the frets? How do you use your finger to play a fret? Where is the best place to play inside the fret, known as the “sweet spot”? Should I play in the middle of the fret or closer to one side? How do I play a single string melody while staying in one position? How do I make sure that I am playing with the backing track? How do I produce a good tone without buzzing? When should I start using a pick and how do I use one? These are just some of the questions students will explore during this unit. You will find that when students begin learning chords, the work done in this unit will have truly paid off, both in technique, strength, and understanding of the guitar.
Here is a backing track, including the melody, of an original, single string piece from chapter one.
Chapter two introduces standard tablature. Standard tablature, a system of guitar notation that uses a six-line staff to represent the six guitar strings, helps students improve their technique and understanding of the guitar both horizontally and vertically. In this chapter, I break down some pedagogical techniques for teaching tablature before introducing repertoire. This truly prepares guitar students for the necessary skills required to interpret chord diagrams and play chords and the songs they love, beginning in chapter three.
An excerpt of an interactive play-along video from chapter two.
Students spend the remainder of the year mastering chords and musical concepts through popular and current music, which they often get to choose. Chord playing is a big aspect of the method, which includes many useful graphics to help all different types of learners. I also provide learning targets and lesson ideas for each song in this chapter, original backing tracks in the style of each song, and a moving, play-along video.
An excerpt of an interactive play-along video from chapter three.
Standard sheet music notation is not introduced until Volume Two, when students have developed basic skills and a musical ear, at which point learning notation is natural! Aside from popular music, the method includes lots of original pieces that target specific skills and are accompanied by soulful backing tracks that students can’t get enough of!
A method designed with the classroom in mind.
Music classroom at The Young Women’s Leadership School of Brooklyn
“I've been teaching guitar for over 20 years, and I've never found a method book that really worked for me and my students. I've always had to cobble together bits and pieces from different methods, or write my own. Ronnie Nissinboim has created the strongest, most forward thinking method book I've ever read. I was familiar with some of his methods after observing him teach and instantly incorporated them into my own teaching. He does an excellent job of breaking down different components into well laid out segments, and progressing through them in a well thought out way. I will be using this revolutionary method with my students next year and I'm extremely excited to see the results.”
-David Love, NYC DOE Music Teacher and Professional guitarist
Prior to teaching in a public school, I taught guitar privately. When I first started the guitar program in my school, I applied many of the same teaching principles I would use in a private lesson to class settings of 30+ students. It wasn’t long before I realized this was a mistake! Teaching in a class setting is a completely different dynamic with multiple different types of learners and requires a drastically different approach.
Classroom guitar teachers tend to mention similar issues in their students’ playing, like weak fingers, buzzy notes, chords that just won’t work, and students who are consistently confusing strings and frets. Issues like these are why I developed this method.
Ultimately, my goal is to get kids playing chords, and playing them well. I wanted a method that would reach this goal year after year, not just for a select few in each class, but for all my students. When students learn chords too early, they may get frustrated and eventually give up or disengage themselves from the class. But a scaffolded method that prepares students for the challenges of guitar empowers them with the ability and freedom to play the songs they love. The Brooklyn Guitar Method accomplishes this.
Brooklyn Guitar Method: Volume One, Teacher Manual
The Brooklyn Guitar Method: Volume One, Teacher Manual includes over 250 pages of digital content, ready to be used in your classroom. This includes explanations and guidance for the teacher, lesson summaries, objectives/learning targets, sheet music transcriptions for teacher reference, graphics for instruction, repertoire for single string tablature, standard tablature, and chords, all accompanied by lesson concepts and ideas, and more! This also includes embedded backing tracks and play-along videos for convenient presentation in the classroom. You also receive the ability to download all backing tracks in the Member Area of this website (Member Area password provided inside the book). These backing tracks are great for individual and class practice, and they can also be used for accompaniment during performances.
In addition to the backing tracks, the Member Area provides you with exclusive access to interactive play-along videos for every single piece/song in the book! These play-along videos are embedded in the Google Slides Edition as well. You will also have access to additional content, including play-along videos on every string and extra play-along videos for songs not found in the book. Additional content will be added and updated periodically.
You will receive access to the full Google Slides Edition within 24 hours of purchase.
The Google Slides Edition has many benefits, such as easy navigation through linked slides, embedded MP3 tracks and videos, and the ability for the author to update and add new material anytime, with the changes instantly reflected in your book!
This in-depth teacher manual is designed to guide a teacher through a unique method of classroom guitar instruction. It focuses on single-string melodies, standard tablature, rote learning and developing a musical ear, as well as a heavy emphasis on chords, using current popular music.
The book is in Google Slides format and contains 269 pages. It is written in widescreen format to make it ideal for classroom presentation and features explanations, lesson summaries and ideas, visuals and diagrams, musical pieces for instruction (including a number of original songs), sheet music transcriptions for teacher reference, embedded backing tracks and play-along videos, linked slides for easy navigation, and much more to guide a teacher through the process. Click the link below to view a collection of excerpts from within the book.
Your purchase gives you access to our Member Area, which includes 61 original and downloadable backing tracks, exclusive interactive play-along videos for every track, and additional content! It also includes a complimentary PDF download of all the repertoire so that you may print the material for your students if you wish (the PDF download can be found inside the digital teacher manual).
Upon completion of checkout, please allow up to 24 hours to receive access to your product. You will receive access to the complete Google Slides Edition within 24 hours of your purchase (access will be shared with the email address you provide during checkout). You will also receive a separate email containing your product link once access is granted.
*Click here to view a functional collection of excerpts from inside the book
What will you find in the Volume One Teacher Manual?
Book purchase includes full member access!
Brooklyn Guitar Method: Volume Two- A Bridge from Tabs to Standard Music Notation
Brooklyn Guitar Method: Volume Two- A Bridge from Tabs to Standard Music Notation introduces students to standard note-reading on the guitar (Volume One focused on single string melodies, standard tablature, and chords). Like all Brooklyn Guitar Method curriculums, this is achieved through original compositions accompanied by fun and engaging backing tracks, both instrumental and with the melody included.
This 263-page Digital Google Slides curriculum introduces staff notation first, through a built-in “How to Read Music” slide-deck. These slides aid in introducing standard music notation to students. This is great for students who have never learned standard music notation, as well as further practice for those who are more familiar.
Notes on the staff, as they relate to guitar, are then introduced, through sequential repertoire. This repertoire takes students through all the first position natural notes (one string at a time— with each piece building upon the last), while exploring other musical concepts, such as accidentals, key signature, half steps and whole steps, scale construction, along with notated drills and pieces for practicing these concepts. Each piece contains embedded audio tracks composed in a variety of styles. These backing tracks make learning the pieces a blast. The curriculum ends with an extra section of guitar duets.
Brooklyn Guitar Method: Volume Two- A Bridge from Tabs to Standard Music Notation introduces students to standard note-reading on the guitar (Volume One focused on single string melodies, standard tablature, and chords). Like all Brooklyn Guitar Method curriculums, this is achieved through original compositions accompanied by fun and engaging backing tracks, both instrumental and with the melody included.
This 263-page Digital Google Slides curriculum introduces staff notation first, through a built-in “How to Read Music” slide-deck. These slides aid in introducing standard music notation to students. This is great for students who have never learned standard music notation, as well as further practice for those who are more familiar.
Notes on the staff, as they relate to guitar, are then introduced, through sequential repertoire. This repertoire takes students through all the first position natural notes (one string at a time— with each piece building upon the last), while exploring other musical concepts, such as accidentals, key signature, half steps and whole steps, scale construction, along with notated drills and pieces for practicing these concepts. Each piece contains embedded audio tracks composed in a variety of styles. These backing tracks make learning the pieces a blast. The curriculum ends with an extra section of guitar duets.
What makes this curriculum so unique?
-100% digital
-Google Slides format ready for classroom presentation
-original compositions
-extremely fun backing tracks
-backing tracks are written in various and modern styles (R&B, rock, etc.)
-Lots of instructional slides to aid in teaching various musical concepts
-part of a larger digital curriculum
While this is Volume Two of the Brooklyn Guitar Method, it can also serve as a stand-alone curriculum if your goal is to introduce standard music notation right away. To learn more about Volume One of this curriculum, click here.
Upon completion of checkout, please allow up to 24 hours to receive access to your product. You will receive access to the complete Google Slides Edition within 24 hours of your purchase (access will be shared with the email address you provide during checkout). You will also receive a separate email containing your product link once access is granted.
*Click here to view a functional collection of excerpts from inside the book (Works best on a computer)
Brooklyn Guitar Method: Soprano Ukulele Edition
This 237-page interactive Google Slides is a comprehensive and fun soprano ukulele curriculum, designed to be taught in a classroom. It is a fully interactive Google Slides document that is perfect for classroom presentation. It includes explanations and guidance for the teacher, lesson summaries, objectives/learning targets, sheet music transcriptions for teacher reference, graphics for instruction, repertoire for single string melodies, standard tablature melodies, and chords, all accompanied by lesson concepts and ideas, and more! This also includes embedded backing tracks and play-along videos for convenient presentation in the classroom. It also includes interactive chord diagrams that are embedded with audio demonstrations of chords (activated when clicked on). Click below to learn more!
This Ukulele Edition is a comprehensive and fun ukulele curriculum, designed to be taught in a classroom. It is a fully interactive Google Slides document that is perfect for classroom presentation. Details and excerpt below:
-237 page interactive Google Slides, written in widescreen format for ideal classroom presentation.
-Guides teacher at every step, with explanations, lesson summaries and ideas, helpful visuals and diagrams, sheet music transcriptions for teacher reference, embedded backing tracks and play-along videos, linked slides for easy navigation, embedded audio reference examples, repertoire, and more!
-Unique method that includes single string melodies, standard tablature, and chords, with an emphasis on current, popular music spanning different genres.
-Includes over 70 backing tracks and over 50 interactive play-along videos, all embedded for easy use in the classroom.
-Includes interactive chord diagrams that are embedded with audio demonstrations of chords (activated when clicked on).
-Navigation tabs embedded throughout the 214 page document for easy navigation during instruction.
-Embedded audio reference examples
-Your purchase includes future updates, including additional repertoire/lessons that will be added periodically to the Google Slides, as well as ongoing support when needed.
-Also includes a complimentary, printable PDF of all the repertoire/student material! This downloadable PDF can be found within the Google Slides Teacher Manual.
Upon completion of checkout, please allow up to 24 hours to receive access to your product. You will receive access to the complete Google Slides Edition within 24 hours of your purchase (access will be shared with the email address you provide during checkout). You will also receive a separate email containing your product link once access is granted.
*Click here to view a functional collection of excerpts from inside the book
Brooklyn Guitar Method: Bucket Drumming Edition
The Brooklyn Guitar Method: Bucket Drumming Edition is designed for teaching bucket drumming in the classroom. Bucket drumming has become extremely popular in schools across the country. This is a unique and fun curriculum that you will be able to use immediately in your class. Like the other Brooklyn Guitar Method curriculums, the Bucket Drumming Edition is written in an interactive Google Slides format (134 pages), full of fun sequenced repertoire, with embedded backing tracks and play-along videos for every piece. Click below to learn more!
The Brooklyn Guitar Method: Bucket Drumming Edition is designed for teaching bucket drumming in the classroom. Bucket drumming has become extremely popular in schools across the country. This is a unique and fun curriculum that you will be able to use immediately in your class. Like the other Brooklyn Guitar Method curriculums, the Bucket Drumming Edition is written in an interactive Google Slides format, full of fun sequenced repertoire, with embedded backing tracks and play-along videos for every piece. Here are the highlights:
-Interactive 134-page Google Slides perfect for classroom presentation.
-Uses bucket staff notation. Notation represents the middle of the bucket, the rim, middle with both sticks, the side, and stick clicks.
-Each piece contains multiple audio tracks (isolated drums, drums plus musical accompaniment, music minus drums) at two or three different tempos. These tracks are great for demonstrating the pieces and having students play-along. You may also download all tracks.
-All audio tracks are conveniently embedded into the slides. Simply click on the audio icon to start!
-All backing tracks are original pieces in a variety of musical styles. Playing along with the tracks adds a great deal of fun to the experience and helps students to learn the rhythms.
-Each piece includes an interactive play-along video!
-34 pieces divided into six sections based on rhythmic values (Quarter notes/rests, Eighth notes, Sixteenth notes, Eighth/Sixteenth note combos, Eighth rests, and Triplets). Pieces are sequenced in a progressive manner, giving students plenty of practice at the introduction of each new rhythmic figure.
-Section seven is a rudiment section featuring rudiments and exercises that have been adapted for bucket drums.
-When appropriate, suggested sticking is included under notation.
-In addition to the pieces mentioned above, your purchase includes an appendix section with additional repertoire. New repertoire will be periodically added to this appendix at no additional cost to you.
-You will also receive a complimentary consumable PDF of all of the repertoire, so you can print the sheet music for your students!
Upon completion of checkout, please allow up to 24 hours to receive access to your product. You will receive access to the complete Google Slides within 24 hours of your purchase (access will be shared with the email address you provide during checkout). You will also receive a separate email containing your product link once access is granted.
CLICK HERE FOR A SNEAK PEEK AT A FUNCTIONAL GOOGLE SLIDES EXCERPT
Brooklyn Guitar Method’s Chord Library is an extremely fun and engaging way to teach your guitar students a variety of chords! Like the Brooklyn Guitar Method teacher manual, this digital product is a fully interactive Google Slides. With over 100 chord shapes, it is full of the most important chords for your guitar players, and then some! Each chord diagram is displayed in widescreen, accompanied by entertaining pictures/cartoons that match the letters, and is embedded with an audio demonstration. Simply click anywhere on the chord to hear the chord, first as an arpeggio, followed by a crystal clear strum. This is great for modeling these chords to your students.
Features:
-Over 100 chord shapes and sounds!
-Navigation tabs throughout the slide deck provides easy navigation throughout the document. Seamlessly hop from one chord to another without having to scroll through slides.
-All chords are embedded with audio. Just click to play the sound!
-Contains four sections: Common Chords (All Major, Major7th, Dominant 7th, minor, and minor 7th chords), E/Emi Style Barre Chords (Major and minor), A/Ami Style Barre Chords (Major and minor), and Extra Chords (various embellished chords).
-A living Google Slides Document, this product will be continuously updated, with new chords added frequently. You will have access to all new updates with this one time purchase.
Click Here to view and interact with an excerpt!
Upon completion of checkout, please allow up to 24 hours to receive access to your product. You will receive access to the complete Google Slides Edition within 24 hours of your purchase (access will be shared with the email address you provide during checkout). You will also receive a separate email containing your product link once access is granted.
About the Author
Ronnie Nissinboim has been the music teacher at The Young Women’s Leadership School of Brooklyn since 2013, when he started the school’s music program, which is a full guitar program serving grades 6-12. He is currently the Head of the Arts Department and serves as a cooperating teacher for music education student teachers from various colleges. Each year, he also instructs a guitar pedagogy course at the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music.
An active member of the Little Kids Rock organization, Ronnie is a three-time presenter at the annual Modern Band Summit. He has presented workshops on Single String Tablature, music technology, guitar pedagogy, and has received numerous grants for his school, including a $20,000 grant from Vans and a $60,000 grant from Exploring the Arts.