Generally I work with adults (and usually fairly experienced players) when I teach. As I've mentioned here before, I have some radically different approaches that I use, and while they don't work with everybody, I've gotten some remarkable results from most of the folks I've worked with. The most simple explanation to my style of teaching would be that I try to eliminate (at the beginning) the things that "aren't fun". I concentrate strictly on ear training, repetition, and familiarisation with one "key" at a time, til the person can "hear" the changes to just about any song in that key, rather than learning one song at a time.

Ella is 7 and both her parents are very musical. They sure don't need me to help her become a rock star, or Classical giant....but, she and I made a deal. So I'm going to try and teach her a little bit about being a "folksinger"!! I figure it'll put good use to my little 1890s 4 string "courting guitar", which is about right, size-wise for her. We'll probably start off with "John Henry" (just one G chord, played with one finger, and lots of frantic strumming) and if she hasn't smashed the four string over my head we'll try "Skip to My Lou" with a D7th added.

Any suggestions on teaching a "little girl" how to play a "little guitar" would be welcome. She's a sweetie by the way. If I'd ever had kids, I'd want one like Ella.

Thanks

Rick