Jerry Snyder's Guitar School, Method Book 1: SoundTrax Digital Download

$9.99 USD

Jerry Snyder's Guitar School, Method Book 1: SoundTrax Digital Download

A Comprehensive Method for Class and Individual Instruction

By Jerry Snyder

Item: 00-AA-0000371

$9.99

Digital Download

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Series: Jerry Snyder's Guitar School

Publisher: Alfred Music

SKU: 00-AA-0000371

More about this title

About the Composer: Jerry Snyder

Jerry Snyder's career spans multiple decades of hands-on music education across every grade level, from elementary through adult learners. His work as Performing Arts Coordinator for the East Side Union High School District shaped curriculum for over 22,000 students across 10 high schools, while his parallel expertise in publishing brought decades of classroom experience into clear, teachable methods. A multi-instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, bass, clarinet, saxophone) and performer with the San Jose Symphony since 1974, Snyder combines pedagogical insight with practical musicianship.

Snyder's pioneering contributions to guitar education include over 60 publications and more than 200 clinics delivered nationwide. His first class guitar method launched in 1971, establishing a foundation that led to Jerry Snyder's Guitar School for Alfred Publishing. Beyond the page, he remains active teaching jazz, rock, and blues guitar at De Anza College and serving on the Board of Directors for the American Federation of Musicians, Local 153.

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Why we love this

Snyder wrote this method from the ground up with classroom realities in mind, not theory. The SoundTrax accompaniments transform solitary practice into ensemble playing, giving students the immediate feedback and musical gratification that keeps beginners engaged when progress feels slow. You get a professional's ear for pacing and a teacher's understanding of what actually works in the room.

What to expect

Like playing in a band for the first time. The SoundTrax accompaniments transform isolated finger exercises into real musical moments, with drums, bass, and harmonic support responding to every note the student plays. Even simple melodies gain dimension and purpose when heard alongside thoughtful arrangement.

Who it's for

Beginning guitarists in group settings or one-on-one lessons who benefit from hearing how their part fits into a musical whole. This resource serves classroom teachers with limited guitar background as much as experienced instructors looking for efficient, engaging supplemental material.

How to get the most out of it

Start with the accompaniment at a slower tempo than marked, letting students anchor their timing before pushing toward performance speed.
Have students play familiar exercises with the SoundTrax to build confidence with accompaniment textures before tackling new material.
Isolate rhythm patterns without the full accompaniment first; use just the metronome click to ensure clean execution before layering in harmonic support.
Encourage students to sing the root movement of the backing harmony while playing their part, reinforcing tonal awareness.

How to use it

Use the SoundTrax tracks to anchor group guitar classes, where students benefit from hearing balanced arrangements that guide intonation and phrasing. Individual lesson teachers can deploy them during home practice to simulate the ensemble experience, making practice sessions feel less like solitary work and more like collaborative music-making.