Gift of Fire is a level 5 piece intended to help students begin to master the technique of ascending slurs.Slurs can be a really tricky skill to develop on the guitar for a number of reasons. It can be difficult to execute ascending slurs so that the second pitch in the figure “speaks” and we hear the second note clearly. It can also be challenging to coordinate the new feeling of performing a note on the guitar without using a right-hand finger to pluck the string. For these reasons, it’s important to take it slow and introduce this technique with intention and care for every student.

It is important that all students in the ensemble have confidently completed level 4 of Guitar Curriculum before starting Gift of Fire. Each part requires reading in first position on treble and bass strings. Guitar one will need to be comfortable pivoting up to the fifth fret A on the first string with the fourth finger as well as playing four-note chords rolled with the thumb along with the “dedillo” or brushed chord tremolo technique.

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