Guitar 2016-2017 Syllabus

Winston Churchill High School

Room 128B

301-469-1243

Department of Music

Matthew Albright, Choral Director

Course Overview

Guitar is a survey course to expose students to the versatility of the instrument and its role in various musical contexts. The aim of the course is to build a solid foundation for appropriate applications of understanding and skill as guitarist, musician, and life-long learner. Proficiency in reading standard musical notation and playing with proper technique is our point of departure.

Course Objectives

Realize chord accompaniment

(1)Pickstyle

(2)Fingerstyle

(3)Strums

(4)Arpeggios

(5)Root andchord

(6)Powerchord

Read from and notate in

(1)Standard music notation – trebleclef

(2)Popular guitartablature

(3)Guitarframes

Guide

(1)Professional rehearsalprotocol

(2)Standard warm-upexercises

(3)Efficient and mindful practiceroutines.

Identify and play in common keys

(1)Diatonicscales

(2)Chromatic, pentatonic, and bluesscales

(3)Triadic chords/arpeggios.

(4)Seventhchords

(5)Barrechords

Identify and provide rationale, through visual and aural analysis, for

(1)Tonalcenter

(2)Dominantfunction

(3)Simpleforms

(4)Instrumentation

(5)Style ofcomposition

(6)Performancetechniques

Compare and contrast musical examples through

(1)Stylistic solo and groupperformance

(2)Groupdiscussion

(3)Writtenanalysis

(4)Modelcomposition

Maintain proper care of guitar

(1)Stringchanging

(2)Storing

(3)Tuning

(4)Handling

Essential Questions

  • How does the nature of an instrument shape its role in anensemble?
  • How was musical notationconceived?
  • How are tonal relationshipsestablished?
  • How do we approach newmusic?
  • How do we identifypatterns?
  • What contributes to the success of musicproduction?
  • How is musical notation a reflection of aural and visualideas?
  • How can music beinterpreted?
  • What makes musicinteresting?

Resources

Primary Text

Snyder,Jerry.GuitarSchool:AComprehensiveMethodforClassandIndividualInstruction.VanNuys, CA:AlfredPublishingCo.,Inc,1993.

Sheet Music

Distributed throughout the year.

Multimedia

  • Course website
  • Ricci Adam’s

There is a plethora of internet guitar resources. We will examine their usefulness throughout the year.

Community

Take advantage of the resources available at WCHS. Use the facilities! Get to know your peers!

Expectations and Assessments Attendance & Preparation (25%)

  • Arrivetoclassontime,regularly.
  • Be in your seat ready to learn with pencils, book, and handouts. A small three-ring binder will help yourorganization.
  • Becourteousandprofessionalatalltimes.Nogum,noheadwear.
  • Treatguitarsandaccessorieswithcare.SEECONTRACT.

Participation & Evaluations (25%)

  • A positive, productive attitude and active participation is necessary forprogress.
  • Graded evaluations will occur at the end of eachunit.

Assignments (50%)

  • Youalwayshaveanassignment:reviewwhatyouknow,practicewhatyoudon’tknow.
  • Complete written assignments in a timely and focusedmanner!
  • Allwrittenassignmentsmustbecompletedin pencilunlessotherwisespecified.

Outline of Minimum Standards

Week / Techniques / Understanding / Skills
MP1, 1-2 / Holding guitar Caring for guitar Finger strum / Parts of the guitar Exploration Musical alphabet / Naming strings Naming frets Chords: Em
MP1, 3-4 / Hand positions Rest stroke / Whole ~ quarter notes Guitar frames / Chords: G7, C[baby] Notes: E(1), F(1), G(1)
MP1, 5-6 / Fingerstyle / Eighth notes Rests / Chords: A7, D
Notes: B(2), C(2), D(2)
MP1, 7-8 / Tuning / I-IV-V / Chords: G
Notes: G(3), A(3), F#(2)
Scale: G Major
MP1, 9-10 / Root and chord strum / Scale degrees Tablature / Chords: A
Notes: G#(3), A(3),
Scale: G Chromatic
MP2, 1-2 / Power chords / Swing Blues Rock / Chords: C, D7
Notes: D, E(4), F(4), C#(2)
Scale: D Major
MP2, 3-4 / Palm mute / Chord qualities / Chords: Dsus Arpeggios
Scale: D chromatic
MP2, 5-6 / ENSEMBLE PLAYING
CLASS CONCERT
MP2, 7-8
MP2, 9-10 / Pickstyle Changing strings / Etudes / Chords: Am Notes: A(5), B(5)
Scale: major pentatonic
MP3, 1-2 / Down-up / Physical safety / Chords: E, E7 Notes: E(6) Scale: E Major
MP3, 3-4 / Free stroke / Classical style / Chords: B7
Scale: E chromatic
MP3, 5-6 / Flamenco / Scale: E phrygian
MP3, 7-8 / Barre chords / Chomaticism / Chords: F
Scale: minor pentatonic
MP3, 9-10 / Harmonics / Chords: Am Notes: A(5), B(5)
Scale: blues
MP4, 1-2 / STUDENT’S CHOICE / Chords: E, E7 Notes: E(6) Scale: E Major
MP4, 3-4 / Chords: B7
Scale: E chromatic
MP4, 5-6 / ENSEMBLE PLAYING
CLASS CONCERT
MP4, 7-8
MP4, 9-10 / MAINTENANCE