Advanced Guitar Ensemble
2015/2016 Syllabus
Potomac Falls High School
William Hart Wells
Director of Guitar
William.Wells@lcps.org
Overview
This class is designed to serve students who have successfully completed the Beginning and
Intermediate Guitar classes. Acceptance into this class may also be assigned by the instructor if the
student successfully completes an audition and meets the content knowledge standards set forth by
the LCPS Guitar Curriculum and is aligned with the Virginia Standards of Learning and the
principles established by the National Association of Music Educators. This class will be designed
to further the students’ understanding and mastery of the instrument. This level has many
performance opportunities throughout the year. Please make note of required concerts.
Materials
1) A nylon-string classical guitar purchased at an accredited music retail store or on-line
music retailer. Even though PFHS has a class set for student use, students are still required to
purchase a nylon-string classical guitar, as stated in the LCPS Program of Studies for home practice
and concerts. Students will be required to bring their own instruments for all concerts and to
school for several classes each semester.
2) A footstool or approved guitar support (Gitano, Ergo-Play, etc.) and picks
3) A new packet of nylon guitar strings. These can be found at all area music stores.
Recommended brand is the D’Addario Pro-Arte normal tension. Approx. $10
4) A pencil or mechanical pencil at every rehearsal for indicating musical interpretation
5) A BLACK three-ring binder for class and performance use.
** As the PFHS Guitar Library grows, students will be given parts purchased by PFHS. If
students lose those parts, students will be required to pay for the replacement music. **
Quarterly Objectives
First Semester
First Quarter
-A comprehensive review of the materials covered in the Intermediate Guitar class will be
presented as to help students review previously covered material.
-Rhythm Reading: students will work on syncopated and complex rhythms.
-Note Reading: A comprehensive review of notes in the open, second, and fifth position, will be
covered. Scales will include A, E, B, and F# Major and chord construction will be reviewed.
Students will also read and perform two or more notes at once in open, second, and fifth positions.
-Guitar Maintenance: Students will learn how to change strings on both the school guitars as well
as their personal instrument.
-Sight Reading: Will be used to reinforce the students playing up to the fifth position.
-Scales: Review of two-octave scales construction and performance from the Intermediate Level.
-Students will explore, in-depth, the guitar’s relevance to the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque
eras of music.
-Arpeggios: Right-hand configurations of Giuliani exercises.
-Ensemble Music: This class will have a strong emphasis placed on performance. There will be
performances throughout the school year. Just as in all LCPS music ensembles, participation in
performances is required. Ensemble music will be distributed during the first few weeks of class.
Classes will serve on a rotating basis for part designation (i.e. students, at one time or another, will
play/perform all parts 1-4).
-Solo Repertoire: selections chosen among the Renaissance and Baroque eras of music.
Second Quarter
-Note Reading: Students will be introduced to notation reading in the seventh position. Some
exploration into the ninth position will begin as well utilizing the keys mentioned above plus F, Bb,
and Eb Major as well as A and G natural and harmonic minors.
-Rhythm Reading: students will continue their mastery of syncopated and complex rhythms.
-Sight Reading: Exercises will reinforce the playing of seventh position.
-Arpeggios: Focus will shift to longer-form arpeggio exercises.
-Students will explore, in-depth, the guitar’s relevance to the Classical and Romantic eras of music
-Theory/Aural: students will be asked to vocalize or sing their ensemble music. This will involve
matching pitch and singing melodic lines. Students will not be graded on the quality of their voices.
–Scales: Students will also be introduced to harmonic minor scale construction.
-Aesthetics: students will analyze and discuss individual and group performances.
-Ensemble Music: As we near the date for our first concert, more class time will be dedicated to
rehearsal of the ensemble. Progression in individual material will be adjusted accordingly. See
dates under the “Concert Schedule” for a list of the date and times for concerts. Participation in
the Winter Concert is required.
-Solo Repertoire: selections chosen among the Classical era of music
Second Semester
Third Quarter
-Note Reading: during the semester, students will be working on material that will solidify their
understanding of the fifth and seventh positions and will be introduced to material for playing in
the ninth and twelfth position. Scale exercises will rehearsed accordingly and will utilize earlier
mentioned keys as well as D, E and F# harmonic minor scales.
-Sight Reading: Exercises will be used to reinforce the mastery of material mentioned above.
-Arpeggios: Continued development for technical mastery.
-Chord forms: All moveable E and A forms will be reviewed and performed.
-Improvisation: will be re-introduced and further explored.
-Compositional opportunities and projects will be implemented as well.
-Students will explore, in-depth, the guitar’s relevance to the Modern era of classical music and its
importance in the development of rock and roll.
-Transposition: students will explore the concept of transposition in regards to the guitar.
-Ensemble Music: New music will be distributed as soon as the semester begins in preparation for
upcoming concerts including the optional spring guitar trip and the Spring Concert (see Concerts).
Concert participation in the Spring Concert is required.
-Solo Repertoire: selections chosen among the Romantic and Modern classical era
Fourth Quarter
-Note Reading: exercises that will strengthen the student’s knowledge of the entire fretboard and
continued focus on reading two, three or more notes simultaneously.
-Sight Reading: Used to reinforce the student’s knowledge of ninth and twelfth positions.
-Arpeggios: Continued development for technical mastery.
-Improvisation: Composition and improvisational assignments/evaluations shall occur toward the
end of the grading period in small group settings.
-Students will also identify, analyze, and discuss career options in music.
-Students will explore the guitar’s relevance to Jazz, Rock, and if time allows, flamenco idioms of
music. Evaluation pieces will be assigned at the discretion of the instructor.
-Chord progressions: Students will be introduced to the dominant 9, altered dominant 9, minor 7flat 5, and diminished 7 chord forms. Construction and improvisation will be continued.
-Aesthetics: students will analyze and discuss individual and group performances.
-Theory/Aural: students will be asked to vocalize or sing their ensemble music. This will involve
matching pitch and singing melodic lines. Students will not be graded on the quality of their voices.
-Ensemble Music: With end-of-the-year concerts coming near, more class time will be spent
rehearsing ensemble material in preparation. As a result, individual requirements will be adjusted
accordingly. Participation in the Spring Concert is required
-Solo Repertoire: selections chosen among the Classical, Rock, and/or Jazz music idioms.
Concerts/Required Dates
Thursday, December 17th, 2015
*Winter Concert*
Dress Rehearsal will be Monday, December 14th, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, January, 14th, 2016
*PFHS/RBMS Combined Guitar Ensembles Concert*
March 11th, 2016
*LCPS Guitar Festival*
Concert at Heritage High School at 7:00 p.m. *required for all Advanced and Artist Guitarists*
Advanced Ensemble are required to attend the festival concert on Friday, March 11th only.
Thursday, April 28th, 2016
*Spring Concert*
Dress Rehearsal will be Tuesday, April 26th, 2016
** TENTATIVE** March 13th and April 7th – 10th, 2016
OPTIONAL Spring Tour – TBD
*Participation in all scheduled concerts is required. Graded, after-school rehearsals are
required of students (check guitar calendar on the PFHS Guitar Website for schedules).
Failure to participate in concert performances and after-school rehearsals will reflect negatively on
a student’s grade. Participation in the Spring Guitar Trip is not required but encouraged of all
Advanced and Artist students. Occasionally, an additional performance opportunity comes open
to the Advanced Ensemble and participation is required. I will make every effort to get any
schedule changes forwarded to all ensemble member families at the earliest possible convenience.
Grading
40% – Concert and Class Participation
45% – Evaluations (written and playing)
Playing Evaluation 1 – 15%
Playing Evaluation 2 – 15%
Snap-Shot Evaluation Average – 15%
15% – Written Practice and Class Assignments
This class places a large emphasis on performance. That being the case,
attendance at all performances is required. After-school Dress Rehearsals are required of
all ensemble members as well. At the beginning of every grading period, each student will
receive a 100 for their Concert and Class Participation Grade (see above). Students can only lose
points from this grade as follows...
-Unexcused absence from a concert – 70 point deduction.
-Unexcused absence from a dress rehearsal – 25 point deduction.
-Failure to bring personal classical guitar to rehearsal (when required) – 10 point deduction.
-Failure to bring music and/or footstool to class – 2 point deduction per class.
**Participation in all scheduled concerts is required. Graded, after-school rehearsals are
also required of students. Failure to participate in concert performances and after-school
rehearsals will reflect negatively on a student’s grade. Students will have to opportunity to makeup point deductions. For missed concert performances, make-up performance juries with the
music faculty will be held once a grading period. For missed rehearsals, make-ups in the
form of essays on guitarists, composers, or musicians relevant to the class, as assigned by the
instructor.
Evaluation grades are broken down into two parts – one half consisting of performance
evaluations (2 per grade term) and the half consists of snap-shot evaluations. Snap-shot
evaluations will occur every three classes or so to ensure that students are maintaining their athome practice schedule. Students are required to practice a minimum of 30-45 minutes a day
on the material covered in class. A copy of the performance rubric for evaluations can be
found on my website.
Commitment Letter
Potomac Falls High School
2015-2016 School Year
*Our students are very busy with what is required of them as high school
students. Some are very active in clubs, athletics, and other extra-curricular activities. This
class requires a commitment from each and every student for the betterment of the
individual and for the ensemble. Conflicts may arise from time to time. Please mark your
calendars now for scheduled concerts to help avoid conflicts. Please refer to the Guitar
Calendar found on my school website to find out the after-school rehearsal schedules for winter
and spring concerts. Missing concerts and rehearsals for athletic events is not an excused absence.
Please feel free to email me at William.Wells@lcps.org with any questions.*
This letter states that as a student and a parent of a student of the Guitar Program at
Potomac Falls High School, we have fully read and discussed the information found in this
syllabus. As a result, we understand the requirements placed on our student and their
commitment for the 15-16 school year. Return this form completed for your first written
practice grade of the year!
Students Name: (print clearly) ____________________________________________________________________________
Students Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name: (print clearly) _________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ______________________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Preferred Email (print clearly):______________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________________
Date: ___________
I am very excited about the opportunities a new year possesses for the guitar
program at PFHS and I look forward to working with your student. Please feel free to email
me at any time William.Wells@lcps.org
William Hart Wells
Director of Guitar
Potomac Falls High School