As a companion piece to the easiest guitar method ever for kids ages 5 and up, this notespeller will add excitement to the learning process. Covering the concepts in Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course Levels 1 and 2, this notespeller is the perfect complement to the method and learning how to play guitar.
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Ron Manus represents the third generation of his family to shape Alfred Music's direction and growth. Since joining the company in 1988, he has served as Chief Business Development Officer and spearheaded the expansion of music instruction into digital formats including software, streaming content, and interactive media. His vision helped Alfred evolve beyond traditional print publishing into contemporary learning platforms.
Manus played a pivotal role in restructuring Alfred Music's operations during the 1990s and orchestrated the 2005 acquisition of Warner Brothers Publications, bringing the catalogs of Duke Ellington, The Beatles, the Eagles, Led Zeppelin, and countless other artists under the Alfred umbrella. His work demonstrates a commitment to making music education accessible and relevant across generations of learners.
Why we love this
Kids respond to notespellers because they isolate the reading skill from the motor challenge of playing. This one mirrors the exact progression of the method book, so there's zero confusion about what students should know at each stage. Your students will build confidence on the page before they transfer it to the fretboard.
What to expect
Accessible and encouraging. The activities remove the pressure of simultaneous hand coordination, letting young musicians focus purely on note identification. Progress feels immediate and satisfying.
Who it's for
Young beginners ages 5 and up working through Alfred's Kid's Guitar Course Levels 1 and 2. Teachers and parents looking to strengthen music reading without adding confusion or competing methodologies.
How to get the most out of it
Work through one page per lesson as a warm-up before opening the method book. This gives students momentum and reinforces note recognition when they're fresh.
Pair the notespeller pages with corresponding method book lessons so reading and playing happen in lockstep. The conceptual alignment means every activity strengthens the other.
Have students identify notes aloud before writing answers. Vocalizing the letter names creates an extra layer of encoding that sticks better than silent work.
How to use it
Assign notespeller pages as homework to reinforce concepts introduced in the lesson. This keeps practice time productive and frees your lesson to focus on technique and tone rather than drilling note names. For group classes, use pages as opening activities while students settle in.
Skills your students will build
Reading notes on the treble clef staff
Identifying note letter names in different positions
Connecting staff notation to fretboard locations
Recognizing melodic and rhythmic patterns
Building sight reading fluency for early-level repertoire
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