William Leavitt was a long-time chair of Berklee’s Guitar Department, serving from 1965 to 1990. He had a profound influence on Berklee’s guitar curriculum, as well as jazz guitar education worldwide, and he mentored thousands of musicians. As a performer and/or arranger, he worked with many renowned artists, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Andy Williams, and Patti Page.
Books by Author:
A Modern Method for Guitar – Volume 1 (Book/Online Video): Book with More Than 14 Hours of Berklee Video Instruction
A Modern Method for Guitar, by William Leavitt, is one of the world’s most popular guitar methods and is the…
A Modern Method for Guitar: Rock Songbook – Volume 1
Play great rock while you learn from one of the most revered guitar methods of all time!
Advanced Reading Studies for Guitar
This Berklee Workshop is for serious guitar students who want to sharpen their high register reading skills and take their playing to the next level. Introduces studies in all keys, using positions eight through twelve, and utilizing all major, minor, and symmetric scales.
A Modern Method for Guitar – Volume 1 (Book/DVD-ROM)
14 Hours of Instruction…A Year’s Worth of Guitar Lessons at Berklee College of Music
A Modern Method for Guitar – Volume 1 (Book/CD)
A practical and comprehensive guitar instruction method used as the basic text for the Berklee College of Music guitar program. Volume 1 teaches the beginning guitar student all the fundamentals. Features “play-along” cassette.
A Modern Method for Guitar – Volume 1 (Book)
A practical and comprehensive guitar method designed for the serious guitar student and used as the basic text for the…
A Modern Method for Guitar – Volume 2 (Book)
Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals from Volume 1, Volume 2 continues the study of melody, scales, arpeggios, and chords, covering the entire fingerboard.
A Modern Method for Guitar – Volume 2 (Book/CD)
Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals from Volume 1, Volume 2 continues the study of melody, scales, arpeggios, and chords, covering…
A Modern Method for Guitar, Volume 3
Expanding on skills learned from Volumes 1 and 2, features an in-depth study of advanced techniques relating to scales, arpeggios, rhythm guitar, chord/scale relationship, chord construction, and chord voicings.
A Modern Method for Guitar – Volumes 1, 2, 3 Complete
The Leavitt method has stood the test of time and earned legions of loyal followers. Now you can have all three volumes of this classic guitar method in one convenient book at a great savings!
Melodic Rhythms for Guitar
A thorough presentation of rhythms commonly found in contemporary music, including 68 harmonized melodies and 42 rhythm exercises.
Reading Studies for Guitar
A comprehensive approach to developing practical sight-reading skills for guitar. Studies will greatly improve reading and technical ability, covering positions 1 through 7 in all keys.
Classical Studies for Pick-Style Guitar – Volume 1: Develop Technical Proficiency with Innovative Solos and Duets
An outstanding collection of solos and duets for intermediate to advanced pick-style guitarists. Features over 20 compositions, including pieces by Carcassi, Carulli, Sor, Bach, Paganini, Kreutzer, and Clementi.
Berklee Basic Guitar – Phase 1: Guitar Technique
Ideal for beginning guitar students or guitar classes. Technique and reading skills are developed through solo, two-, three-, and four-part ensemble arrangements. Phase I introduces chords. Phase II develops your ability to create a unique and personal sound.
Berklee Basic Guitar – Phase 2: Guitar Technique
A continuation of Phase 1, this volume includes solo, two-part, and three-part ensemble arrangements of traditional and newly-composed music for beginning to intermediate students or classes.
