Guitar I Syllabus
Block, Fall, 2015
Dana Copeland, teacher
3th
Class description:
A beginning guitar class in which students will learn the basic essentials of guitar
playing, how to read, perform, and respond to music, have a general knowledge of
music history, and how music affects our everyday life. Prior knowledge of music or
guitar playing is not required. This is a beginning class, which will start from scratch.
Supplies required for class:
 Guitar
 Guitar Picks
 Pencil
 2 3-ring binders
 capo
 tuner (can be an app on your phone
Books we will be using:
Essential Elements for Guitar (Hal Leonard)
H.O.T. First Year Guitar by Nancy Lee Marsters
Various Guitar Song Books
Timeline:
August:
Parts of the guitar; hand position; posture; parts of the staff; note
names in the treble clef; notes on the open strings, notes on strings 1 and
2; chords: C, G, G7, D7, Em; G and D chord progressions, reading
whole, half, and quarter notes. Basic strumming patterns.
September:
Notes on strings 3 and 4; reading rests, tied notes and dotted
notes; syncopated strumming patterns; chords: D, A7;
D and A chord progression; playing duets.
October:
Notes on the 5th and 6th strings; chords: E7, B7, Em7, F, Am7, Am;
C, Am, E, and Em chord progressions; finger picking; bass strum; power
chords.
November:
Eighth notes and rests; key signatures; f-sharp and c-sharp; blues;
Playing the bass, tablature.
December:
Barre chords; chromatics; using a capo.
Grades will be given for the following:
Performance Assignments (10%)
Performance Assessments (30%)
Creating Assignments (10%)
Creating Assessments (20%)
Responding Assignments (10%)
Responding Assessments (20%)
What you will learn in guitar (objectives)
Use appropriate terminology to analyze, evaluate, and use the elements of music
(rhythm, tempo, melody, for, timbre, dynamics).
 Apply the elements of music with technical accuracy and expression while
playing the guitar, reading music, writing music, and creating music
independently and with others.
 Listen to and analyze how changing different elements results in different music
effects (styles).
 Describe, analyze and evaluate distinguishing characteristics of music
representing a variety of world cultures and historical periods.
 Listen to, perform, and classify music representing a variety of world cultures and
historical periods.
 Examine music from various cultures and time periods and explain how music
reflects the culture, or how the influence of time and place are reflected in the
music.
 Compare, interpret and explain purposes for which music is created to fulfill
(ceremonial, recreational, and artistic expression).
 Create new, listen to, choose and perform music to fulfill a variety of specific
purposes.
 Create, notate, improvise, and perform music alone and with others.
 Use knowledge of the musical elements to create and perform music in an
expressive manner.
 Play the guitar reading basic music notation.
 Critique performances using knowledge of the elements of music and music
terminology.
 Explore skills and training necessary for a variety of careers related to music.