Legacy High School A Global Studies School

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1 Legacy High School A Global Studies School Course Expectations Beginning Guitar Instructor: Brian Levanger, Elizabeth McFadden LHS Room 319, 208 Phone: (702) Voice Mail: Mr. Levanger ext. 4031, Ms McFadden ext bplevanger@interact.ccsd.net emcfadden@interact.ccsd.net Course Scope for Beginning Guitar: This one-year course is designed for students with no previous guitar experience. Students will receive guidance and direction in solving problems related to playing the guitar on a beginning level and will learn many of the different styles, skills, and techniques required to become a successful musician. Areas of concentration include: correct posture, note reading, aural skills, flat picking, singing songs, rhythmic patterns, chord study, bass playing, finger picking styles, melody construction, musical forms, tablature notation, improvisation, and performing experiences. This course may be repeated for credit. This course will fulfill either the one arts/humanities credit or one of the elective credits required for graduation. Course Goals for Beginning Guitar: 1. To develop correct posture and hand position. 2. To identify the parts of the guitar and string designation. 3. To demonstrate proper care and maintenance of the guitar. 4. To develop an awareness of correct tuning of the open strings. 5. To understand the history and origin of the guitar. 6. To identify and respond appropriately to musical notation. 7. To learn basic fundamentals of rhythm, note reading, key and time signatures. 8. To recognize form in music. 9. To learn basic chords, scales, and bass lines in first position. 10. To learn proper strumming, finger style, and flat picking techniques. 11. To demonstrate proper placement of movable E and A type barre chords. 12. To develop an awareness of position playing, movable scales, and transposition. 13. To become aware of tablature as it relates to the guitar. Legacy High School Page: 1

2 14. To improvise using short melodic phrases, variations, and chord progressions. 15. To become aware of career opportunities. 16. To understand the relationship between music and other disciplines. Textbooks The following text(s) will be utilized in this course: Guitar Binders with materials required for class Supplemental material provided by teacher Student Supplies Students are expected to have and maintain the following supplies all year: 1. Guitar **NOTICE**-for the purpose of definition, the guitar used in guitar class will be an ACOUSTIC, NYLON, 6-STRING guitar. Students are strongly recommended to provide privately owned (or rented) instruments for use in concerts and home practice. Good quality instruments are available at reasonable rates to purchase or rent at several music stores in the area. Remember, when inquiring about an instrument, the guitar must be an ACOUSTIC, NYLON, 6-STRING guitar. 2. Guitar picks (student s choice of thickness) 3. 3-Ring binder with pockets with subject dividers and notebook paper 4. Pencil School instruments are available for classroom use only. NO SCHOOL-OWNED GUITARS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR HOME USE. Each student is expected to have his/her 3-ring binder and a pencil everyday. Failure to have these required items in class will result in loss of daily participation points. Tardy Policy Tardiness is a serious disruption to the educational program. Every student is required to be in his/her seat when the tardy bell rings. With that in mind, the Legacy High School Tardy Policy will be strictly enforced. On the first and second tardy, the student will be warned; on the third tardy, the parent will be contacted; on the fourth tardy, a detention will be assigned; on the fifth and all subsequent tardies, the student will be sent to the deans office and placed on a Required Parent Conference. Grading Policy Grading Scale: 90% - 100% A 80% - 89% B 70% - 79% C 60% - 69% D Below 60% F Legacy High School Page: 2

3 Students will be graded in the following areas: 1. Daily participation and attendance 30% 2. Written proficiencies and playing exams 30% 3. Concerts and other performances 30% 4. Class assignments and notebook 10% Extra credit will be given to students who attend concerts and give the instructor the program to the concert and also to students who take private guitar lessons. Notebooks Each student is required to keep a notebook with three rings. The student will receive the notebook when the class fee is paid. The notebook should contain the guitar class expectations, the class procedures, paper for note-taking, all written assignments, music, and other information as indicated by the instructor. Homework/Practicing: There will be weekly written homework assignments in this class as well as recommended practicing assignments. Every class will end with an assignment that students should write in their binders. All of the skills taught require repetition in order to perform them well. It is required that the students practice at home. For the students who diligently practice at home, practicing should consist mainly of repeated playing of the assignment. Students who practice the assignment minutes every night should be successful in this class. Semester Grades: 45% Quarter 1/3 Grade 45% Quarter 2/4 Grade 10% Semester Examination All written assignments will be graded on accuracy of content, historical significance, spelling, and grammar. Make-up Work, Late Work, and Attendance Make-up procedures- If a student is absent on a test day, it is his /her responsibility to take the written test on the first day of return; playing tests must be made up after school. If the student was not aware of a test (due to an absence when the test was announced) the student will have three days to take the make-up test. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for the make-up tests; if a test is not made up, it becomes a zero grade. If a student is not happy with his/her grade on a playing test, it can be repeated for a better grade at the end of the testing session when all students have had the chance to test; written tests cannot be Legacy High School Page: 3

4 repeated. No tests can be made up or repeated after the end of the quarter in which they were originally given. Late work- will be accepted for 90% credit after one day. After two days it drops down to 85% and another 5% everyday after that. Attendance- is required this is a participation based class and students must be present in order to participate. Hours of Availability- Time is set aside everyday from 1:25-2:00 PM to take phone calls from parents, assist students who pre-arrange with me time to get one on one help or to make-up exams. Our school phone is If these times are not possible, please leave a message with a good time to return the call. My is bplevanger@interact.ccsd.net or emcfadden@interact.ccsd.net messages are checked daily. Attendance After the seventh unexcused absence, students will be denied credit and will receive an F for the course. Classroom Behavior Expectations In addition to all rules established by the school, the following apply to all guitar students: 1) Play when asked to play, stop when asked to stop 2) Raise hand to ask a question or make a comment 3) No gum, candy, food or beverages (excluding water) are allowed in the classroom 4) Treat all instruments properly 5) No talking when I am talking or while we are playing the guitar Consequences for choosing to break a rule: 1) Verbal Warning participation points will be deducted from the student s grade 2) Time out from playing in class for one song up to the whole class period that day 3) Call to parents 4) Referral to counselor 5) Referral to Dean FINGERNAILS Students who choose to play a guitar cannot do so with long fingernails on their left hand. Fingernails on the left hand must be cut to an appropriate length so that the fingertips can rest on the fingerboard without the fingernails touching. Fingernails on the right hand should be shaped to get a combination of flesh and nail when playing finger-style. Legacy High School Page: 4

5 Concerts and other performances Every member of the guitar class is a key member and has a vital role in the musical organization. The success of the entire class depends upon everyone attending each performance. PERFORMANCES ARE NOT OPTIONAL!!! They are a required part of the class. The concerts are worth 100 points apiece and the dates are: Winter Concert: Tuesday, December 15th in the theater. Start time: 6:00 p.m. Spring Concert: Thursday, May 5th in the theater. Start time: 6:00 p.m. Performance attire: Boys -Black pants, black socks, and black shoes, and guitar shirt Girls -Black pants or skirt, black hose, black shoes, and guitar shirt Students who do not wear the above to a performance will not be allowed to perform. If there is a problem coming up with the performance attire please contact me so we can make arrangements to have the whole group perform. LAB FEES All Students in guitar are responsible for a $40 class fee. This lab fee covers in part costs otherwise not covered in the annual budget these costs include maintenance of classroom guitars, replacement strings, guitar picks, and a Legacy guitar shirt. Legacy High School Page: 5

6 Please complete this page, remove from packet and return to school by September 25, Guitar Shirts will be ordered the first week of school. Please circle what shirt size your child wears. Sizes are based on adult sizes only. Size: S M L XL XXL XXXL We are looking for parent volunteers to help out with activities throughout the year, if you are willing to help please put your name and best way to contact you. Name Best Phone number Acknowledgement of Course Expectations Beginning Guitar We have read and discussed the course description and expectations. Student s name [last, first] Parent Name Home phone Student s Signature Parent Signature Work/Cell phone Address: Electronic Textbook If my child s course has an electronic version of the textbook, that can be accessed at home through the internet, I am giving permission to not check out a text book for this course. I have internet access at home to use the electronic version. Note: Not all classes offer an electronic version and a textbook will be checked out to the student. Parent Signature: Legacy High School Page: 6