Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.



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cvbmom
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Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 12:44pm | IP Logged Quote cvbmom
Hi everyone!

I was hoping someone could recommend some beginning guitar books or videos for my ds who is 7. He got a 3/4 size guitar for Christmas and is very excited to learn how to play. We can't really afford proper lessons right now, but a good book or video might help him get started.

Thanks and God bless,
Christine
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Lissa
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Posted: Jan 09 2007 at 2:09pm | IP Logged Quote Lissa
My husband taught himself to play as an adult. He says his number one recommendation is to get a simple chord chart or chord book, something that shows the basic chord fingerings. If you can play three simple chords, you can play a ton of songs. Each chord you add expands your range of songs dramatically.

They sell small (long skinny, sized for fitting in a guitar case) chord books at most music stores and some general bookstores for under $10.

It's interesting...I took guitar lessons in high school but it never really clicked for me. I realize now that my teacher focused mainly on individual notes and fingerpicking melodies. What I really wanted was to be able to sing along to Moon River like Audrey Hepburn. My hubby says if I'd just learned a few chords I could have done just that!

(Now he plays Moon River for me to sing along to, which is even better.)

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shartlesville
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Posted: Jan 11 2007 at 8:57pm | IP Logged Quote shartlesville
My Emily also received a guitar for Christmas. We found a great book/CD pack at the local music store, it was about $8. They also showed her, at no charge, how to change the strings and use her tuner. It can't hurt to chek out what yours might offer.

Lissa wrote:
What I really wanted was to be able to sing along to Moon River like Audrey Hepburn. My hubby says if I'd just learned a few chords I could have done just that!

(Now he plays Moon River for me to sing along to, which is even better.)


Lissa, you are a woman after my own heart.    My mother was just here visiting and we sang Moon River and Beautiful Dreamer to the littles. She used to sing us to sleep with those songs.

Blessings,
Krisann

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MaryM
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Posted: Jan 17 2007 at 3:06am | IP Logged Quote MaryM
My 7 year old got one a year or so ago but we haven't done anything serious with it yet. My 15 year old just got a full size this Christmas and is doing what Lissa said her husband did - teaching himself to play with chord chart info he has downloaded. He has played an instrument before (violin 5 years). He is really doing well for just a couple weeks of working on it and even starting to show his little brother some things. I am so musically inept I really can't be of much help.

I did want to mention a very cute picture book though that I got from the library when all this guitar interest flared here at Christmas.
Sylvester, the Mouse with the Musical Ear
It is a very cute book about a mouse who takes up residence inside a guitar - republished from the 1960's. The aspiring 7 year old guitarist here loved it!

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cvbmom
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Posted: Jan 17 2007 at 12:48pm | IP Logged Quote cvbmom
Thanks for all the help. I didn't want to go into the music store totally unprepared as I would be prone to purchase whatever the salesman would recommend, which has gotten me into trouble before (costly mistakes). I'll have to look into the chord books.

Mary, I did put the Sylvester book on reserve at the library and look forward to reading it. Maybe it'll spark interest here too.

Right now, ds is just strumming away and "playing" guitar as he makes things up. I would just like a little instruction so he might actually be able to play something recognizable   

God bless,
Christine
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