Mel Bay Publications, a well-established name in music education, offers a variety of complimentary resources specifically designed to support students using their Modern Guitar Method Grade 1 materials. These resources are provided as internet-based downloads and are intended to supplement the primary method books. The availability of these materials represents a form of brand freebies in the educational sector, providing value to customers who purchase the method books or are exploring guitar education. The company provides these resources through their official website, ensuring that users have direct access to supplementary audio, video, and PDF content.
The core of the free offering centers around the "Grade One Expanded Internet Freebies" collection. This collection is comprehensive, featuring a wide array of study materials that cover various musical styles and exercises suitable for beginning guitarists. The materials are designed to enhance the learning experience by providing auditory and visual examples of the techniques and pieces introduced in the method book. Access to these resources generally requires visiting the Mel Bay website and navigating to the specific product support pages or the download center.
Available Free Materials and Content
The freebies collection is divided into several categories, primarily focusing on rock studies and classical or traditional pieces. The rock studies section is particularly extensive, offering pieces that help students develop a sense of rhythm and modern playing styles. The specific titles available in the rock studies collection include:
- Rock Feeling and Rock Feeling 2
- Swamp Buggy
- Low Gear
- Power Drive
- Four-String Blues
- Reading Tab
- Guitar Rock
- Rainy Day Blues
- Classic Rock Boogie 1, 2, and Classic Boogie
- Drivin' D
- 16 G's
- Down Shift
- Do it!
- Overdrive
- GrandSlam
- Triplets (Explanation) / Triplet Blues
- Three Past Midnight
In addition to the rock-oriented studies, the free resources include a selection of classical and traditional repertoire. These pieces are arranged for the Grade 1 level, allowing students to practice different techniques and musical expressions. The titles in this category are:
- Hungarian Dance #4
- The Sally Gardens
- Sakura
- Minuet
- Caleb's Gorge
- Parson's Farewell
- 11 Mile Canyon
- Star of the County Down
- Shady Grove
- Shabat Shalom
- Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier
The Modern Guitar Method Grade 1, which these freebies support, is available in multiple formats. The primary format is an eBook accompanied by online audio and video access. The product number for this format is 93200EB. It is a 48-page publication released by Mel Bay Publications, Inc. on March 15, 2016. The method is designed for beginning students and focuses on modern plectrum style guitar. A significant pedagogical feature is its use of standard notation throughout, which is intended to encourage better sight-reading skills from the start.
Accessing and Utilizing the Resources
To access these free materials, customers typically need to visit the Mel Bay website. The process involves locating the specific product page for the Modern Guitar Method Grade 1 or the dedicated "Internet Freebies" page. For users who have purchased the digital version of the method book, there is a specific mechanism to retrieve extra files. On the product page for the "Modern Guitar Method Grade 1 Pop Version Free Audio," there is a "Download Extras" button. Clicking this button initiates the download of the supplementary files to the user's computer. Once downloaded, the files can be opened by double-clicking them. The website provides instructions for users who encounter trouble opening or downloading the files, and a contact option is available for further assistance.
The company offers services to both U.S. and international customers. Information regarding international resellers is available on their website, along with an FAQ section to answer common questions. The website also includes a download center and a site map to help users navigate the various online resources and find the materials they need. Sample content, including audio samples and written excerpts from various method books, is often available for preview, allowing potential customers to evaluate the materials before purchase.
Method Book Specifications and Educational Approach
The Modern Guitar Method Grade 1 is a cornerstone of Mel Bay's educational catalog. Its specifications highlight its focus on a structured, notation-based learning system. The book contains 48 pages and is bound as an eBook, with the associated audio and video content hosted online. The ISBN for this edition is 1-6097-4723-2, and the ISBN13 is 978-16097-4723-7. The series is titled "Modern Guitar Method," and the publisher is Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
The educational approach of the method is to teach modern plectrum style guitar. By using standard notation exclusively, the method aims to build a strong foundation in sight-reading, a skill that is crucial for long-term musical development. The free audio and video resources are integral to this approach, as they provide students with clear examples of how the written music should sound and be performed. These resources help bridge the gap between reading music and playing it correctly.
Additional Musical Content
Beyond the specific Grade 1 freebies, the Mel Bay website offers a vast library of other musical pieces and studies. A list of available pieces includes a diverse range of compositions and arrangements, such as:
- A Little Bit Of Hanon
- A Serenade
- A Study On The Third String
- A Visit To The Relatives
- Accompaniment Styles In The Key Of G
- Accompaniment Styles In The Key Of E Minor
- Amazing Grace
- Aura Lee
- Austrian Hymn (Franz Haydn, Arr: Mel Bay)
- Billy's Duet
- Bluegrass Waltz
- Buffalo Gals
- Careless Love
- Carry Me Back To Old Virginny (Bland, Arr: Mel Bay)
- Chester
- Cindy
- Cockles And Mussels
- Cradle Song (Johann Brahms)
- E-B Etude
- Follow The Leader
- Frolic
- Gliding Along
- Home On The Range
- Home, Home, Can I Forget Thee
- In The Evening By The Moonlight
- Kum-Ba-Ya
- Lament
- Long, Long Ago
- Maytime (Wanhall-Bay)
- Melancholy
- Michael, Row The Boat Ashore
- Minor Melody
- Morning Song
- Night Song (Sor)
- Our First Duet
- Playtime (Pleyel)
- Psalm 100 (Louis Bourgeois)
- Red River Valley
- Rondo (Mazas)
- Running Around
- Shenandoah
- Small Chord Etude
- Song Without Words
- Sor's Waltz
- Southern Fried
- Sparkling Stella
- Tenting Tonight
- Terry's Tune
- The Blue Bells Of Scotland
- The Builder
- The Chord Waltz
- The Little Prince (Mazas)
- The Merry Men
- The Old Mill
- The Repeater
- Wayfarin' Stranger
- When The Saints Go Marching In
This extensive list demonstrates the breadth of material available from Mel Bay, much of which is supported by similar online audio and video resources. The availability of these pieces, both as part of the method books and as supplementary materials, underscores the company's commitment to providing a rich educational experience.
Brand and Trademark Information
Mel Bay Publications, Inc. has established a strong brand identity in the music education industry. The company holds several registered trademarks, which include Mel Bay®, You Can Teach Yourself®, Gig Savers®, Guitar Sessions®, and Creative Keyboard®. These trademarks are used on their publications and website to signify the quality and origin of their materials. The Mel Bay® name and logo are prominently displayed on their website and products.
The website also includes legal notices regarding third-party trademarks. For example, QuickTime and the QuickTime Logo are acknowledged as trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. The "Get QuickTime Badge" is noted as a trademark of Apple Computer Inc., used with permission. This attention to trademark detail is standard for official brand websites and reinforces the legitimacy of the resources offered.
The Nature of the Free Offerings
It is important to clarify the nature of the "freebies" offered by Mel Bay. These resources are not samples of a physical product in the traditional sense, such as a trial-size cosmetic or a single-serving food item. Instead, they are digital educational materials that are provided at no additional cost to complement a paid product (the method book) or as a value-added resource for customers. They function as promotional materials that support the learning process and encourage the use of Mel Bay's method books.
The distribution of these materials is entirely internet-based. There is no mention of mail-in sample programs or physical mailings. The resources are accessed by downloading files from the Mel Bay website. This digital distribution model is common for educational content and allows for easy updates and access for a global audience. The company's provision of services to international customers supports this model.
Conclusion
The free resources provided by Mel Bay for their Grade 1 Modern Guitar Method represent a significant value for beginning guitar students. These internet-based freebies include a comprehensive collection of rock studies, classical pieces, and traditional arrangements, all supported by online audio and video. The materials are designed to supplement the method book, which is available in an eBook format with online media access. Accessing these resources requires visiting the official Mel Bay website and utilizing the download center or specific product pages. The company, Mel Bay Publications, Inc., is a well-established publisher with a clear focus on structured, notation-based guitar education, and it supports its customers with resources for both U.S. and international audiences.