Waltham Public Schools

WHS Music

BEGINNING GUITAR Grade 9, 10, 11, 12

College Pre 2.5 credits

This course is for students who wish to begin the study of guitar. Students will learn to play open position major, minor, and dominant chord progressions, recognize note values and associated rhythms, read and play melodies in open finger position, have small group performances in the blues, classical and pop/rock styles and develop improvisational and compositional techniques utilizing the 12 bar blues structure. All of the above will be assessed through in-class performances and recitals. A limited number of school guitars will be available and assigned to students at the discretion of the teacher. This course meets the recommendations for an Arts class outlined in MassCore.

Unit	Timeframe	Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions)	Major Learning Experiences from Unit
Intro Information and Foundational Skills	August/ September 9-10 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Learn the parts of the guitar, reading chord charts, Begin note reading, learn basic right hand strumming patterns, use first chords to learn easy songs	Intro to Guitar: parts, technique, fretboard/chord diagrams Open Position Chords: Em, Am, C, D, G Open Position C Major Scale Pattern Note Reading: Open Position of the 1st and 2nd Strings Basic Score Reading Basic Right Hand Rhythmic Patterns Song Packet: songs utilizing the above chords
Notes Chords Repertoire Ear Training	October 9 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Expand note reading to the top three strings, learn additional songs and new chords. They will also begin working on ear training	the top three strings (G-E) Song Packet: continuation of the songs introduced in September New Chords: add the I, IV V chord progression in the new major keys of D, G and A Ear Training: rhythmic and melodic dictation; solfege patterns utilizing do, re, mi
Notes Chords Repertoire Ear Training	November 7 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Begin playing as an Ensemble, learn all open position chords, And begin reading on the bottom three strings	Note Reading: add bass notes (open position of D, A and E strings) New Chords: all open position chords except F Guitar Ensemble Repertoire: more complicated music utilizing notes of all six strings in open position Basic Score Reading: continued Ear Training: more difficult rhythms and add "sol"
Notes Chords Repertoire Ear Training	December 6 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Learn the mini -barre F Chord And continue working/performing as an Ensemble Ear Training through Rhythmic, melodic dictation	New Chords: add the F Chord mini barre and for some the full barre Guitar Ensemble Repertoire: continue and perform in-class recital Ear Training: continue
Root/5th Bass Strums Finger-Picking Ear Training	January 9 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Learn chord bass notes root/fifths with strum patterns Begin Finger-picking patterns Continue developing Ear training skills	Root/Fifth Bass Strums: all open position chords Open position note review and placement on the guitar Finger-Picking Patterns: Root-3-2-1 - 5-3-2-1 R-3-2-3-1-3-2-3 Greensleeves ¾ Pattern: R-3-2-1-2-3 Ear Training: continued
Song Writing Finger-picking Ear Training	February 6 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Begin composing using chords, rhythms and adding melody Continue with Ear Training and more complex Fingerpicking Patterns	Song Writing Project: composing rhythms-melody and chord progression Accidentals Finger-Picking Patterns: continued Ear Training: continued
Song Writing Blues Improvisation Ear Training	March 8 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Learn the Historical context of The Blues Genre Learn Blues Scales and begin Experimenting with Improvisation Continue with Ear Training	Recital and Recording of Original Composition Begin the Blues: open position A Pentatonic Scale; Licks associated with this scale Historical background/influences Ear Training: continued
Blues Improvisation !2-Bar Shuffle Rhythm Ear Training	April 6 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Learn some basic licks (small phrases) for improvisation and the Shuffle Rhythm Continue with Ear Training And understanding the Historical background	Blues Unit: continued 5th Position A Pentatonic Scale; Licks associated with this scale Licks/Improvisation: rhythmic/melodic, student composed 12-Bar Blues Shuffle Rhythm in A Historical background/influences: continued Ear Training: continued
Blues Form Bass Lines Improvisation 12-Bar Shuffle Rhythm Alternatives Original Blues Composition Ear Training	May 10 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Learn bass Lines for a 12 bar blues progression Learn alternative shuffle rhythms Begin an Original Composition in the Blues Style Pick a song of their choice for performance	Blues Unit: continued Blues Form: bass lines Improvisation Development: continued Right Hand Rhythmic Comping: alternatives to the shuffle Original Blues Composition: melody and improv Song Choice Project: introduce
Original Blues Composition Song Choice	June 4-6 Classes	Beginning Guitar Students will: Perform their original Blues Composition and give a recital of their song choice	Original Blues Composition: melody and improv continued Song Choice: recital

Unit

Timeframe

Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions)

Major Learning Experiences from Unit

Intro Information and Foundational Skills

August/

September

9-10 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Learn the parts of the guitar, reading chord charts, Begin note reading, learn basic right hand strumming patterns, use first chords to learn easy songs

Intro to Guitar: parts, technique, fretboard/chord diagrams

Open Position Chords:

Em, Am, C, D, G

Open Position C Major Scale Pattern

Note Reading: Open Position of the 1st and 2nd Strings

Basic Score Reading

Basic Right Hand Rhythmic Patterns

Song Packet: songs utilizing the above chords

Notes

Chords

Repertoire

Ear Training

October

9 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Expand note reading to the top three strings, learn additional songs and new chords. They will also begin working on ear training

the top three strings (G-E)

Song Packet: continuation of the songs introduced in September

New Chords: add the I, IV V chord progression in the new major keys of D, G and A

Ear Training: rhythmic and melodic dictation; solfege patterns utilizing do, re, mi

Notes

Chords

Repertoire

Ear Training

November

7 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Begin playing as an Ensemble, learn all open position chords,

And begin reading on the bottom three strings

Note Reading: add bass notes (open position of D, A and E strings)

New Chords: all open position chords except F

Guitar Ensemble Repertoire: more complicated music utilizing notes of all six strings in open position

Basic Score Reading: continued

Ear Training: more difficult rhythms and add "sol"

Notes

Chords

Repertoire

Ear Training

December

6 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Learn the mini -barre

F Chord And continue working/performing as an Ensemble

Ear Training through Rhythmic, melodic dictation

New Chords: add the F Chord mini barre and for some the full barre

Guitar Ensemble Repertoire: continue and perform in-class recital

Ear Training: continue

Root/5th Bass Strums

Finger-Picking

Ear Training

January

9 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Learn chord bass notes root/fifths with strum patterns

Begin Finger-picking patterns

Continue developing Ear training skills

Root/Fifth Bass Strums: all open position chords

Open position note review and placement on the guitar

Finger-Picking Patterns:

Root-3-2-1 - 5-3-2-1

R-3-2-3-1-3-2-3

Greensleeves ¾ Pattern:

R-3-2-1-2-3

Ear Training: continued

Song Writing

Finger-picking

Ear Training

February

6 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Begin composing using chords, rhythms and adding melody

Continue with Ear Training and more complex Fingerpicking Patterns

Song Writing Project: composing rhythms-melody and chord progression

Accidentals

Finger-Picking Patterns: continued

Ear Training: continued

Song Writing

Blues

Improvisation

Ear Training

March

8 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Learn the Historical context of The Blues Genre

Learn Blues Scales and begin Experimenting with Improvisation

Continue with Ear Training

Recital and Recording of Original Composition

Begin the Blues: open position A Pentatonic Scale; Licks associated with this scale

Historical background/influences

Ear Training: continued

Blues

Improvisation

!2-Bar Shuffle Rhythm

Ear Training

April

6 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Learn some basic licks (small phrases) for improvisation and the Shuffle Rhythm

Continue with Ear Training

And understanding the Historical background

Blues Unit: continued

5th Position A Pentatonic Scale; Licks associated with this scale

Licks/Improvisation: rhythmic/melodic, student composed

12-Bar Blues Shuffle Rhythm in A

Historical background/influences: continued

Ear Training: continued

Blues Form Bass Lines

Improvisation

12-Bar Shuffle Rhythm Alternatives

Original Blues Composition

Ear Training

May

10 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Learn bass Lines for a 12 bar blues progression

Learn alternative shuffle rhythms

Begin an Original Composition in the Blues Style

Pick a song of their choice for performance

Blues Unit: continued

Blues Form: bass lines

Improvisation Development: continued

Right Hand Rhythmic Comping: alternatives to the shuffle

Original Blues Composition: melody and improv

Song Choice Project: introduce

Original Blues Composition

Song Choice

June

4-6 Classes

Beginning Guitar Students will:

Perform their original Blues Composition and give a recital of their song choice

Original Blues Composition: melody and improv continued

Song Choice: recital

Narrative: Honors Show Choir 595

Music Unlimited is a select group of singers and dancers who perform a wide range of vocal styles from classical concert literature to popular and show choir music. Placement in this ensemble is based upon a vocal and choreography audition. This course is co-curricular and functions as both a concert choir and extra-curricular competitive show choir. This group typically rehearses Tuesdays and Thursdays, and attends competitions. Students will sing music in four or more parts from various styles and cultures. Attendance at school performances, community events, and show choir competitions is mandatory. This course meets the recommendations for an Arts class outlined in MassCore.

Prerequisite: Audition

Unit	Timeframe	Big Ideas (Statements or Essential Questions)	Major Learning Experiences from Unit	Standards (Including WIDA Standards)
Fall Perf.	Sept- Mid Nov.	Ensemble development	Introduce new music and perform it stylistically appropriate for the venue. This will include choreography.	-Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Generate instrumental or vocal interpretations that integrate aesthetic principles with personal style. (ASE.M.Cr.01) -Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work. Perform a musical work designed to elicit audience reflection because of its style or viewpoint. (ASE.M.P.06)
Winter Perf.	End of Nov- Dec.	Community connections	Singing, Reading & Notation Listening, Analyzing, & Describing Music Concepts of Style, Stylistic Influence, and Stylistic Change Interdisciplinary Connections	-Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. Explain the development of the group's aesthetic vision as an ensemble and how it is represented in a performance. (ASE.M.Co.10) -efine and complete artistic work. Refine musical pieces to extended rhythmic and harmonic ideas (e.g., composing in unusual time signatures or moving beyond I, IV, V progressions). (AG.M.Cr.03)
Competition Season	January-April	How can we bring our performance to the highest level of excellence?	Singing Reading & Notation Listening, Analyzing, & Describing Music Purpose & Meanings in the Arts Concepts of Style, Stylistic Influence, and Stylistic Change	-Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work. Generate instrumental or vocal interpretations that integrate aesthetic principles with personal style. (ASE.M.Cr.01) -Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work. Perform a musical work designed to elicit audience reflection because of its style or viewpoint. (ASE.M.P.06)
Show Choir Talent Review	April-May	Creating solo/small group acts	Singing Reading & Notation Concepts of Style, Stylistic Influence, and Stylistic Change	-Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art. Explain the development of the group's aesthetic vision as an ensemble and how it is represented in a performance. (ASE.M.Co.10) -efine and complete artistic work. Refine musical pieces to extended rhythmic and harmonic ideas (e.g., composing in unusual time signatures or moving beyond I, IV, V progressions). (AG.M.Cr.03)
Notation, Theory & Interval Review	June	Reviewing various sight reading and oral skills taught throughout the year	Singing Reading & Notation Listening, Analyzing, & Describing Music	Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Document strategies used regularly to organize artistic ideas (e.g., building off of sub-dominate scales, or composing using a sonata form). (AG.M.Cr.02) Refine and complete artistic work. Refine musical pieces to extended rhythmic and harmonic ideas (e.g., composing in unusual time signatures or moving beyond I, IV, V progressions). (AG.M.Cr.03)