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Although there are many piano books written for younger students, it seems to me that it is a lot harder to find a beginning guitar book for young children. This is one such book. It starts right at the beginning and progresses with the age and capability of its target audience always in mind. First, your child will find a guitar they are comfortable with, and then they will learn proper strumming technique and hand and finger positions. After that, it’s on to simple notes and chords. Each time a note or chord is introduced, a short song is provided so students can “really play.� They will recognize many of the songs, such as London Bridge, Skip to My Lou, and the song no program would be complete without, When the Saints Go Marching In. To keep it simple, children use only the bottom three strings of the guitar throughout the book. Along the way, they learn simple musical terms and notation such as the staff, notes, beat, rhythm, and more. The pages are full but not cluttered, allowing children to focus on what they are learning. Included with the book is an enhanced CD, which can be played in your PC or on your stereo. This CD includes tracks for all of the music in the books so children can hear it, practice with it, or play with it. Both levels are also available with a DVD, so that students can reap the benefits of a live instructor. The DVDs are sold separately or along with the book and CD for each level.

This book will provide a wonderful foundation for any young child aspiring to play the guitar. The second book follows a similar format to the first book and continues to progress in difficulty, first reviewing and then building on the skills learned in Level 1. The Complete Book & CDs houses the text for Level 1 and Level 2, along with the activity pages of the 1 & 2 Notespeller and the CDs. - Melissa