SAGE Award/Certification Requirements

Subject to modification in future.....(we tweak the program with some degree of regularity). I am making new videos for each award level, and the links will be available below shortly so you can play along.

SAGE levels & criteria 

Student start date: 

Principles of Guitar Award

Level 1

Perform the finger exercise in a slow, controlled fashion (down & up strokes)

Play pick pattern (1-2-3-2) with up and down strokes

Demonstrate ability to read basic tablature and chord diagrams/frames

Play one major chord from memory

Level 2

Play one minor chord from memory

Play the C-major Scale in open position from memory (up & down strokes)

Play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” or other simple melody from memory

Play pick pattern (1-2-3-4-3-2) with up and down strokes

Level 3

Play harmonics at fret 12

One additional major AND minor chord from memory

Mute strings and perform Call & Response

Play the Blues Riff

Extra: read studies (see instructor)

Video walk-thru HERE 

completion date: 

Guitar Developmental Award

Level 4

Memorize all open major chords (C A G E D)

Play 3 chord pairs smoothly at slow tempo 1) Am - E, 2) Am - C, 3) G - Em

Play “Bad to the Bone” riff at slow tempo

Harmonics at frets 12, 7 & 5

Level 5

Memorize all open minor chords (Am Dm Em)

Play 3 more chord pairs smoothly at slow tempo 1) C - Em, 2) A - D, 3) A - E

Play “Smoke on the Water” riff at slow tempo

Read and play “arrow style” strum patterns chart

Level 6

Play above chord pairs with 2 strum patterns

Play “Stairway” finger pattern (1+4-2-3-1)

Play “Spanish” finger pattern (1+6-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3)

Play chord pairs C - D, C - G, G - D, D - Dm, Dm - Am, Dm - G smoothly at tempo

Play Blues Progressions (open position, 8 & 12 bar blues, straight and shuffle)

Extra: read studies (see instructor)

video walk-thru HERE 

completion date:

Guitar Performer Award

Level 7

Play 2 strum songs from start to finish at slow tempo

Play “Daytripper” or other classic riff smoothly at slow tempo

Play “Amazing Grace” or other song with 7th chord smoothly at slow tempo

Play above strum songs with 2 different strum patterns

Level 8

Play 2 more strum songs at slow tempo adding vocal accompaniment

Demonstrate ability to move basic power chord shape smoothly at slow tempo

Play Blues Progressions at slow tempo (5th position, 8 & 12 bar, straight and shuffle)

Play above strum songs with basic picking pattern patterns

Level 9

Play A minor pentatonic scale (5th position) from memory

Play “Malagueña” theme smoothly at slow tempo

Play “Spanish Romance” opening (bars 1 – 4) smoothly at slow tempo

Play 2 strum songs mixing picking and strumming

Play A minor pentatonic & C-major Scales at 40 bpm (16th notes)

Extra: read studies (see instructor)

video "Malaguena" &"Spanish Romance" HERE

video walk thru HERE

completion date:

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Upon completion of each level, student will receive a certificate of mastery.

Upon completion of the final level, student will be both fully qualified and eligible to move to the SDML component based approach, where we have available professional level "Synthesis Certifications" (we also have an instructor certification called the ICAT Program.

Here is a list of all our SDML certification programs & awards.

Contact me with any questions!