Belwin's 21st Century Guitar Ensemble 2: Guitar Book & CD

This book strikes an uncommon balance between recognizable repertoire and genuinely musical learning material. Pairing Tarrega's classical etude alongside seasonal favorites and original compositions keeps students invested while building legitimate technique, and the recorded accompaniments remove the barrier of finding ensemble partners for classroom practice.

The collection moves between classical refinement, folk tradition, and seasonal warmth. Tarrega's etude establishes a serious musical foundation, while pieces like Joy to the World and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas create moments of familiar comfort. Throughout, the writing remains clear and transparent, letting each student's voice be heard.

This ensemble book is designed for guitarists working through the second level of the Belwin's 21st Century Guitar Course. It serves students who are comfortable with basic hand position and simple time signatures but need varied repertoire to maintain interest while solidifying their developing technique.

• Work through the Tarrega etude slowly before attempting tempo, attending especially to the fingering patterns in the upper register where students often rush.
• Use the recorded accompaniment to establish steady tempo, but have students play through individually first to build confidence with their own phrasing.
• Balance melody and accompaniment parts by rehearsing them separately, then layering them once each student owns their line.
• Pay attention to dynamic shape in pieces like Rae's Song; the accompaniment tracks can obscure when a melody line is flagging.

Assign pieces sequentially alongside Guitar Method 2 to reinforce skills as they emerge in the curriculum. The classical etude works well as a recital piece when students reach that level of polish, while the seasonal selections fit naturally into holiday concert programming. The ensemble format makes this material ideal for student ensemble performances or demonstrations in front of parents and peers.

• Upper register fingering patterns and hand independence
• Reading and playing in ensemble without a conductor
• Sight-reading across varied musical styles and time signatures
• Maintaining steady rhythm against recorded accompaniment
• Dynamic control and melodic phrasing
• Coordination of melodic and accompaniment parts