Syllabus Eighth Grade Guitar

Transcription

1 Syllabus Eighth Grade Guitar Willem Lutter Mission Statement: In Eighth Grade Guitar, students will continue performing music with others on the guitar, further skills reading music, improve their listening skills, and expand their pallet of techniques and playing styles. Along the way, they will learn independence, the value of practice, leadership, and problem-solving. Materials: * Please send your child s guitar with them to school within the first two weeks so I can tune it and check that it is suitable for them to learn on. To be brought to class every day: A three-ring binder that can fit on a music stand, pencils. To have at home: Guitar with case see the last page for purchasing advice. Guitar strap Music Stand Text: Guitar 1 Willem Lutter (free!) Important Dates: *Students must bring THEIR OWN guitars for all after school rehearsals and concerts. Thursday, October 29 Halloween Costume Concert 7:00 (not mandatory, but fun!) Tuesday, December 8 Chorus Concert 7:00, students arrive at 6:30 Wednesday, December 9 After School 8 th Grade Rehearsal 3:30-4:25, activity buses available Wednesday, December 16 7 th and 8 th Grade Guitar Concert 7:00, students arrive at 6:30 February TBA All County Guitar Auditions Friday and Saturday March 4 th and 5 th All County Guitar Festival Thursday, May 12 Chorus Concert 7:00, students arrive at 6:30 Thursday, June 2 After School 8 th Grade Rehearsal 3:30-4:25, activity buses available. Monday, June 6 After School 7 th and 8 th Grade Rehearsal 3:30-5:15, NO ACTIVITY BUSES Tuesday, June 7 7 th and 8 th Grade Guitar Concert 7:00, students arrive at 6:30 A Google calendar available for import is on my website. ALL Concerts and rehearsals are mandatory and graded. Please notify your coaches well in advance and contact me EARLY with any potential conflicts. 1

2 Concert Attire: White dress shirt (button down, polo, or blouse) and black pants. Because of how we sit holding the guitar, no skirts or dresses. Black shoes and black socks. Sneakers and jeans are NOT appropriate concert attire. Grading/Assessment: Assignments that receive a summative grade are posted on my website. 7 th Grade Guitar >> Nine-Week Plan This is a performance-based class, and the most important assessments, especially after the first quarter, are performance. To teach the value of practice as spelled out in the mission statement, I will only grade songs that can be played along with a recording or metronome. Songs that cannot be played with a recording or metronome yet will be given a 50% until that goal is reached. JML Guitar Performance Rubric Score Rhythm Notes Posture and Technique 5 Performed accurately the recording or metronome. 4 One rhythmic hiccup or inaccuracy. 3 Two rhythmic 2 Three rhythmic 1 Four or more rhythmic 0 Is not performed with the recording or metronome. Rhythm /5 Notes /3 Posture and Technique /2 Total /10 Guitar is properly tuned, all notes are correct, speak clearly, are articulated properly, and connect smoothly. One or two notes were missed. More than three notes were missed. Have not been practiced. Back is straight, guitar is comfortably cradled between thighs, wrists are straight, fingers are appropriately curved. One of the above needs improvement. Has not been practiced. 2

3 I strive for four to five performance grades per quarter. Listening: 2 points each (approximately 15 per quarter) Students listen to a piece of music and answer a simple question. These assignments are administered as an online Google survey, and completed at home. Formative vs. Summative: Although most of the grades in my gradebook are summative, music classrooms have more formative assessments than any other classrooms. These assessments are typically informal, quick, and recorded only in memory for the sake of time. Feedback is given to help guide students towards success. Retest Policy: I always encourage students to keep trying until they succeed; this includes graded assignments. Students may test once per day. Students have permission to retest once during class, and I welcome subsequent attempts outside of class time. I am available A day mornings any time after 8:00 AM, and after school Monday through Thursday. Appointments are not necessary in the morning, only the afternoon. Students: How to Succeed in an Instrumental Music Class 1. Respect the learning environment. (Listen, do not play your instrument while the teacher is teaching, raise a hand to ask a question.) 2. Show up to class with your music binder and pencils. 3. Set up a regular practice schedule. (Find a time to be alone with your instrument. 20 minutes a day is adequate for most 8 th grade guitar students.) 4. Follow directions. Parents: How to Help Your Child Succeed in Instrumental Music Class 1. Make sure your child has a playable guitar with strap buttons installed. 2. Help your child set up a regular practice schedule and encourage and motivate them to stick to it. 3. Check your child s progress using Phoenix, and please me with any and all questions. 3

4 I have a classroom set of guitars, so students do not need to bring their guitars to school daily. If you are financially constrained, please let me know as soon as soon as possible, I have a limited number of guitars available to loan. Students MUST have a guitar at home to practice on. They will bring their guitar in a case to school once during the first two weeks so I can tune it, be sure it will work, and install strap buttons if necessary. They will need to bring it to school for ALL after school rehearsals and concerts. Purchasing a Guitar: Classical, not Acoustic. 4/4 or full size. Reputable Manufacturers student models usually start at about $140: Yamaha Cordoba Ibanez Reputable Retailers: Melodee Music Lake Center Plaza, Sterling, also in Leesburg Music and Arts Cedar Lakes Plaza, Sterling, also in Leesburg Guitar Center Lee Jackson Hwy, Fairfax, also online at guitarcenter.com Recommendations: Order a used guitar online from guitarcenter.com it can be returned to the Fairfax store if it is unsuitable. DO NOT BUY Silvertone, 39 DirectlyCheap, Lauren, Lucinda, and similar discount instruments from Costco, Amazon, Target, and Wal-Mart. They often arrive unplayable, and return shipping is expensive. Models from a reputable manufacturer will retain much of their value and can easily be sold if your child decides on a different elective in the future. 4

5 I have read and understand the requirements for materials and the grading policies in this syllabus. I have noted the concert and rehearsal dates and understand that they are mandatory and awarded a grade. I give permission for my child to stay after school for rehearsals, and for extra help as requested by my child or Mr. Lutter. Student s Name Signature Date Classical guitars do not come ready for a strap. Please initial if you would like Mr. Lutter to install strap buttons. Parent/Guardian s Name Signature Date I look to a productive year with your child full of personal and musical growth for both of us. Sincerely, Willem Lutter 5