Guitar: Song Introductions & Endings (8 credits)

Presented by David Putano MT-BC

You know the song. You know the chords. But how do you start and finish it in a way that sounds intentional rather than simply beginning on the first chord and stopping on the last?

Song introductions and endings are small details that can make a big difference in how confident, musical, and polished your live guitar playing sounds.

In this self-study course with David Putano, MT-BC, you’ll learn practical guitar techniques for creating more interesting introductions and endings that you can use with familiar songs, original compositions, and improvisation in your music therapy work.

Through step-by-step video instruction and hands-on practice, you’ll expand your guitar vocabulary and develop more options for shaping songs musically. Rather than playing every song the same way, you’ll gain techniques you can draw from to better match the style, mood, and therapeutic moment.

Each lesson gives you an opportunity to learn a concept, practice it on your own guitar, and gradually incorporate it into your playing. Printable course handouts are also included to support your practice and provide a resource you can return to after completing the course.

The goal isn’t flashy guitar playing. It’s developing the practical musicianship and versatility to make your live guitar accompaniment sound more intentional, confident, and engaging in your music therapy sessions.

In this workshop, you will learn:

Practical guitar introductions you can use to begin songs with greater musicality and confidence.
Different approaches to song endings that help you bring songs to a more intentional and satisfying close.
How to apply introductions and endings to pre-composed songs, original compositions, and improvisation.
Ways to vary your playing so songs don’t all begin and end the same way.
How to select techniques that complement the style, mood, and musical experience you are creating.
Guitar techniques that expand your accompaniment vocabulary and overall functional musicianship.
How to practice and integrate new techniques so they become usable skills in your music therapy sessions.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course instruction participants will be able to (***or begin to):

Apply three of the suggested song introductions and endings to songs they currently play. (III.A.5.aa) (III.A.5.b) (III.A.5.n) (III.A.5.cc)
List at least five song introduction and five song ending concepts that they could consider using in the future. (III.A.5.t) (III.A.5.aa)
Demonstrate the ability to apply at least three of the suggested song introductions and endings to pieces that you improvise or compose. (III.A.5.t) (III.A.5.b) (III.A.5.a) (III.A.5.r) (III.A.5.cc)
Explain at least three song introduction and song ending concepts that they were exposed to during this course. (III.A.5.t) (III.A.5.aa)

*** the reason the language “begin to” is included is because all guitar players are at varying degrees of development and competency. This course covers basic information that all music therapy professionals can play and information that at times, is of a more advanced level. At this time, those with less experience can be exposed to this information then apply the more advanced techniques in the future as their skills develop.

CBMT Domain Areas

Domain III: 3A-8 Music theory (e.g., composition, harmony, transposition); 3A-9 Instrument and voice proficiency; 3A-10 Clinical adaptation of musicianship to address therapeutic needs

Domain III: 3A-10 Clinical adaptation of musicianship to address therapeutic needs; 3A-7 Music therapy methods used to support therapeutic outcomes (e.g., improvising, recreating, composing, listening, moving);

Domain III: 3A-8 Music theory (e.g., composition, harmony, transposition); 3A-9 Instrument and voice proficiency; 3A-10 Clinical adaptation of musicianship to address therapeutic needs

Domain III: 3A-6 Theoretical frameworks for music therapy treatment implementation (e.g., educational,

3A-7 Music therapy methods used to support therapeutic outcomes (e.g., improvising, recreating, composing, listening, moving); 3A-10 Clinical adaptation of musicianship to address therapeutic needs"

Course Schedule and Format

Title: Guitar: Song Introductions & Endings

Activity Time Video – Course Opening and Part 1 Introduction 10:39

Video – Section I – Song Introductions 1:48

Video – Intro #1 7:25 Practice 10:00

Video – Intro #2 9:51 Practice 10:00

Video – Intro #3 11:57 Practice 10:00

Video – Intro #4 6:16 Practice 10:00

Video – Section I – Reminder .30

Video – Intro #5 8:36 Practice 10:00

Video – Intro #6 7:52 Practice 10:00

Video – Intro #7 8:22 Practice 10:00

Video – Intro #8 10:40 Practice 10:00

Video – Section II – Song Endings .57

Video – Ending #1 7:23 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #2 9:14 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #3 6:09 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #4 4:02 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #5 5:54 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #6 6:33 Practice 10:00

Video – Section II- Reminder .16

Video – Ending #7 6:40 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #8 15:35 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #9 6:03 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #10 5:20 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #11 9:01 Practice 10:00

Video – Ending #12 9:19 Practice 10:00

Video – Closing 1:09

Post Test 30:00 Approximately 402.5 minutes

Guitar: Song Introductions and Endings is approved by the Certification Board for Music Therapists (CBMT) for 8 CMTEs-Continuing Music Therapy Education credits. The Spiegel Academy, CBMT Approved Provider #P-106, maintains responsibility for program quality and adherence to CBMT policies and criteria.

Class Description