Instant Play Guitar.

Instant Play Guitar. Topics Entertainment (1600 S.W. 43rd St., Renton, WA 98055), 2004. $29.99. Beginner to advanced.

As a music technology advocate, my goal is always to be on the lookout for new ways to enhance my teaching and motivate students. Instant Play Guitar by Topics Entertainment is a wonderful package that addresses both criteria. For beginner students as young as early teens, this is an excellent introduction to both the art of playing and to the instrument itself. Established players also will find a wealth of knowledge here, as well as motivational tools, to inspire composition.

Since I am a pianist, I knew the music information would seem routine, but could my piano fingers adapt to new concepts? As I round the tune of "Amazing Grace" in a relatively short rime period, I was influenced more by the textual information than the video clips. The lighting in later video examples improved, which aided the visual reinforcement. Clicking on the bold, blue type brought up short, pointed text messages. Another plus was the "Tips" button to refresh your memory whenever needed.

With any instrument, introductory technique is critical. Fingering posture and hand position are illustrated clearly. I did have questions about my wrist posture that required a search of prior lesson topics. This ...