Brady Bills and Dr. Larry Green

Over the last semester and summer I have been developing a modern guitar method book. I have been consulting with Larry Green (my faculty mentor) as well as reading many different guitar method books. I came to find that the reason why many of the method books were failing was due to a lack of attractive content and a early focus on chords rather than single notes. I developed my method based upon single notes then progessively moving into small chords (2 or 3 notes only) and gradually move into full chords (4,5 and 6 notes).

I wrote and arranged and recorded multiple songs that are attractive to the modern students. I found that writing and arranging all the songs myself was an exhausting and time consuming process. I decided to outsource some of the songwriting and developed some professional relationships in the process. I contacted many professional songwriters and was able to purchase some very appealing modern songs, which are licensed to be used in the method. I rearranged the guitar parts so they are educational for the very beginning guitar student. I recorded and arranged most of the guitar parts myself in my home studio with recording programs that I purchased and have learned to use. I sent the recording files to multiple professional recording engineers who mixed and mastered the files. I now have numerous professional recordings of these educational arrangements that are attractive to the students I am teaching. The songs are in the pop, rock, reggae, blues, metal and jazz styles. The students react very well and the arrangements are done in a way that educates the students on fundamental guitar technical skills and fundamental musical skills.

While I was arranging and recording some of these songs, I received a phone call to substitute teach a guitar class at a high school. I went and substitute taught and used one of the arrangements I was working on for the guitar method book. The students responded very well to the method and told their teacher about it. I emailed the principal and musical director of the school the arrangement I had come up with and told them about this Orca grant project. About a month later the principal and musical director called me and offered me a position as one of the music academy faculty. I took the job and am currently teaching two intro to guitar classes, music theory, popular music ensemble and the jazz ensemble at Pioneer High School in American Fork.

Pioneer High School as well as Riverton High School is currently using my guitar method as their text in their intro to guitar classes. The book is currently in Beta form. I am constantly adding content as well as recordings. I have another recording session, in which another 7 songs will be recorded, on Sep. 2, 2013 (5 days from now.) Ray Smith, BYU saxophone instructor and jazz faculty, will be in attendance at the recording session not only to provide input but to also record. I am looking into publishing the method book in its final form through Mel Bay music publication after a couple of more beta versions.

Because of this project I have developed skills and relationships that have led to my employment in the music education field. I am so thankful and so blessed that I received this grant. The funds have been crucial in paying for studio time, engineers, musicians, song licenses and equipment. This project has served as a catalyst for me to enter the professional world. Thank you so much.

To view and hear excerpts from the guitar method, visit this link. https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0Bzp5OhrQf6FnbTFSOUczYzdabnM&usp=sharing