William Leavitt
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" G. Leavitt (October 4, 1926–November 4, 1990) was an American jazz guitarist and arranger best known for his long series of guitar instruction books and for developing a related curriculum at Berklee College of Music
as chair of the guitar department.
Emphasis is placed on using a guitar pick
, rather than a fingerstyle approach. At the time, although many players were using picks, very few college-level educational materials existed that were specifically designed with the pick-style in mind.
With the exception of Classical Studies for Pick-Style Guitar, all of Leavitt's published studies are originals. This differs from many method books that include "old favorites." Leavitt emphasizes that when learning how to read music, students must be presented with music they don't already know.
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
as chair of the guitar department.
The Method
Leavitt's books contain no guitar tablature and consist only of standard notation and chord symbols with occasionally written-in fingering numbers, string numbers, and position numerals. They range in level from the beginning reader to the professional.Emphasis is placed on using a guitar pick
Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
, rather than a fingerstyle approach. At the time, although many players were using picks, very few college-level educational materials existed that were specifically designed with the pick-style in mind.
With the exception of Classical Studies for Pick-Style Guitar, all of Leavitt's published studies are originals. This differs from many method books that include "old favorites." Leavitt emphasizes that when learning how to read music, students must be presented with music they don't already know.
Books
- A Modern Method for Guitar Volume 1 (Berklee Press, ISBN 0-7935-4511-0)
- A Modern Method for Guitar Volume 2 (Berklee Press, ISBN 0-87639-015-7)
- A Modern Method for Guitar Volume 3 (Berklee Press, ISBN 0-87639-017-3)
- Berklee Basic Guitar - Phase 1 (Berklee Press, ISBN 0-634-01333-5)
- Berklee Basic Guitar - Phase 2 (Berklee Press, ISBN 0-793555264)
- Melodic Rhythms for Guitar (Berklee Press, ISBN 0-634-01332-7)
- Reading Studies for Guitar (Berklee Press, ISBN 0-634-01335-1)
- Advanced Reading Studies for Guitar (Berklee Press, ISBN 0-634-01337-8)
- Classical Studies for Pick-Style Guitar (Berklee Press, ISBN 0-634-01339-4)
Other Materials
Within the Berklee College of Music Guitar Department, there is a constant circulation of Leavitt's unpublished material for students, ranging from chord solos to arrangements that include over five guitar parts.External links
- http://www.jonfinn.com/guitar/lessons/satindoll/indexsatindoll.phpstudent turned professor, Jon FinnJon FinnJonathan M. Finn is an American rock musician and guitarist. He is the founder and leader of the Jon Finn Group, and is a professor at the Berklee College of Music; he joined the guitar faculty there in 1988...
, on Leavitt's teaching style] - Charles H. Chapman Tribute Biography