ANDES GUITAR FOR KIDS

This publication is the result of constant work and observation of the different ways knowledge is taught and transmitted from generation to generation, supported by musical research and teaching practices. It also stems from reflections on singing, the importance of the voice in musical memory, and how simple melodies have contributed to the development of more complex musical forms.

Currently, non-academic teaching is imparted at all times, consciously and unconsciously, yet it is often underestimated by the academic community. The latter frequently proposes well-designed methodologies that, however, are disconnected from reality, reducing music to mere enjoyment rather than a way of life. Indeed, we make use of Western musical theory, tablature, and chord charts, but I believe all tools are necessary and valid, harmonizing different methods for better musical results and a richer way of living.

This book/manual contains ten pieces designed to be useful for music teachers. The arrangements were created with children interested in learning to play the guitar in mind. Subsequently, we have added a second level of difficulty and a songbook to help associate the melodies more easily by singing them in Quechua, Spanish, German, French, and English. The included musical genres are mostly among the most representative of the Peruvian repertoire, such as huayno, marinera, pasacalle, toril, and carnival songs. These genres remain, to this day, the cumulative result of local and non-local sounds (musical transculturation). As many of us teachers often do, some lyrics can be adapted to better fit the reality of each community, city, or country.