The Amazing Grace Guitar Study

Value in Learning Guitar
We want them to gain an understanding  and appreciation of the love and grace of Jesus along with confidence in knowing they can accomplish far more than they ever imagined possible..

A Life Changing Example
The life of Wayne Johnson, founder of Noteworthy Ministries changed when he begin playing guitar. Learning guitar helped to instill in him the confidence that allowed him to overcome a chronic stuttering problem and to accomplish more than he ever dreamed possible.

Guitar DVD
Instructors are provided with a guitar instructional DVD. They may choose to fascinate the DVD or use another approach if they wish.

Guitar lesson goals
Our hope is that these young people will continue serve the Lord by playing guitar in church or small group meetings; expressing their love of God by sharing music with others. For those times in the future when our kids are faced with new and challenging learning situations, we want them to be able to recall how they succeeded in learning guitar. We hope this help to spur them on rather than to give up without trying.

The Noteworthy Approach To Learning Guitar
We believe that a persons ability to learning to play guitar is found in our heart and  minds. Our heart is where our motivation or passion is found. It’s passion for playing guitar that keeps us practicing when you had rather quit and go do something else. Our motivation or desire to play,  comes from God.

God should be at the center of all of our efforts. The most successful leader pray for and with their students, asking Him to bless our efforts and that we use this opportunity glorify Him.

Initially, our approach is to get your kids to playing as soon as possible. We will however be learning theory behind the songs as we learn them. Our experience has shown that learning things and not using them immediately is not a good use of our time. A take home booklet with songs and discussion topics is included.

Learning to play guitar is difficult. It takes time, practice, dedication and is physically demanding (ouch…that hurt’s my fingers!). Many times people who want to play guitar become frustrated and quit because of slow progress. They quit t before they ever experience the joy of playing music.

Hands & Fingers
While many consider the most important  element in learning guitar is their hands, years of experience has proven this to me this to be incorrect. In reality, our hands are like wrenches and screwdrivers are to a mechanic, or as paint brushes are to an artist., Numerous examples of people can be found who have fingers missing or function with limited use of the hands or fingers, who are outstanding guitarist.

Our minds tell our fingers where to go and let us know when the sound we are trying to make is correct. Among the  nerve paths we will be developing  are those that connects fingers and inner ear. This happens by itself the more we play and become familiar with certain sounds the guitar makes. It’s developed by use. It just seems to happen with no effort from us. A good analogy is how we can type on a keyboard without looking at the keyboard.

The ability to play guitar is our minds and hearts…..our fingers  are to music what a brush and paints are to an artist

A “scriptural method” to remember guitar chords
This method evolves around the idea of associating the visual shape of a chord to an object found in scripture. Here is how it works. The physical features of a D chord resemble a cup. The shape of the cup is then related to Luke 22:14 where Jesus drinks from a cup with His disciples at the last supper. ” We read the text together talking about what the passage interpretation and application.

When first learning the chord, students repeat the “remembrance phrase”; “D Chord – Jesus filled the cup, A token of His covenant to save us”, each time before putting their fingers down. This method also allows the young person to practice “with their mind” even while not physically playing the guitar.

D  chord – Jesus filled the cup, A token
A token of His Covenant to save