Guitar Learning Schedule

	Objectives	Assignment	Assessment	Groupings	Structure	Due Dates:
Week 1 - August 25 - (5 day week)	Learn the parts of the guitar, how to tune the guitar by ear and with a tuner, learn the string names, read quarter notes and half notes	Alfred's Basic Guitar Method Book 1 - pages 3-12	Quiz on note names of strings and anatomy of guitar. Rhythm math equations. Explain two methods of tuning.	Whole class and partners	1. Teacher demonstration 2. Students copy teacher 3. Students play for partners and listen for errors, 4. Give feedback to partners and switch 5. Take notes throughout class	Study for quiz next Friday.
Week 2 - September 2 ( 4 day week)	Review tuning, string names, and rhythms; scale basics; learn about major chords; key of A - I, IV, V (V7); E and A strings and tabs; Refer to page 53 for chord diagrams.	Spirituals - Wade in the Water, Down by the Riverside, and Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; note reading on E and A strings pages 9-14	Group performance of one of the spirituals with smooth transitions, matching strumming, and correct chord usage; convert standard notation into tabs on a written quiz	Groups of 4-5	Play from the book for a warm-up, Learn chords as a whole class, split into groups, practice group song, perform for class by end of the week.	Performances on Block Day; quiz on Friday
Week 3 - September 8	Review previous weeks work; discuss Transposition and learn the major chords in the key of D Major. Learn the D string notes.	Spirituals - Pick from the list again and transpose to the key of D as a group. In the book, pages 15 - 18	Group performance of one of the spirituals with smooth transitions, matching strumming, and correct chord usage; convert standard notation into tabs on a written quiz (will include E, A, and D string notes)	Groups of 4-5	Learn chords as a whole class, split into groups to transpose the song of choice, practice group song, perform for class by end of the week.	Performance on Block Day, Study for quiz next Friday.
Week 4 - September 15	Review, questions? History of the Spiritual, composition, 12-bar blues; Review pages 13-18 in book.	Use the 12-bar blues progression to compose a group song in the key of D or A. The song lyrics should explore pain and suffering through the use of metaphor in 3 stanzas.	Students will write their lyrics and line them up with chords on the computer during class. They will practice with their group and play and sing/chant their composition for the class on our block day and Friday.	Groups of 3-4	Class discussion on spirituals history, 12-bar blues theory, how to write song lyrics, split into groups to begin project. Record your songs on your phone so you don’t forget what they sound like. I’ll be walking around to answer any questions and provide support.	Friday Quiz from weeks 3-4; Perform on Block Day.
Week 5 - September 22	Learn to read more than one note at a time (harmony), and perform a duet with a partner; discuss chord structures and the difference between open 5th chords (power chords) and chords with qualities (major and minor chords)	Pages 19-23	Students will find and draw the missing third in several fifth chords to show their understanding of major and minor chord structures; students will work in pairs and perform the Rock Duet on page 22 for the class.	Partners	Discuss terminology and play through exercises in the book. Work on analyzing the components of major chords, minor chords, and power chords (open 5th). Practice performance with partner.	Study for next week’s test; performance on block day; Rock Duet p. 22.
Week 6 - September 29	Review all concepts before midterm test. This will include the following: Reading notes on the staff, converting to tablature, building major and minor chords, major scales, I-iV-V, 12 Bar Blues progression, rhythmic values and names, melody, harmony, rhythm, beat, treble clef, staff, sharp, natural, flat, key signature.	Play through pages 1-23 from our books; play through 12 bar blues in the key of A and D; review rhythm and vocabulary; review chord structure and the major scale.	See objectives for test content.	Whole class and individual work and study time.	Question and Answer review sessions; practice performance and study time for theory test.	Written Test on Friday.
2nd 6 weeks - Week 1 - October 6	I, IV, V, vi. Learn to transpose to the key of G Major; learn relative minor, E minor. - Hey There Delilah, Wake me up when September Ends; Blink 182 I miss you (transpose it), Where have all the flowers gone?, Boulevard of Broken Dreams	pages 23-25	Group performance of one of the songs on Block Day, perform “Five String Rock” on pg. 25 for teacher individually.	Whole class, performance groups of 4-5; individual	Conceptual learning as a whole class; song rehearsal in small groups; perform solo performance of “Five-string Rock” some time before Friday.	Performances throughout the week on songs in G or E minor; Five String rock (p. 25)
Week 2 - October 13	Learn the key of C Major, relative minor, A minor. - Leaving on a Jet Plane, Death Cab for Cutie (Soul Meets Body, Brothers on a Hotel Bed), Closing Time, Little Talks, Ho Hey, Radioactive	pages 25-27	Group performance of choice from C major and A minor songs; solo on “Rockin’ in D” (pg. 26, open fifths and single notes)	Whole class, performance groups of 4-5; individual	Conceptual learning as a whole class; song rehearsal in small groups; perform solo performance of “Rockin’ in D” some time before Friday.	Group performances on block day, Rockin’ in D on page 26.
Week 3 - October 22 (3 day week)	Learn the parallel minor key of C, C Minor - Rolling in the Deep; Barre Chords. I’d Rather Dance	pages 27-29	Group performance and quiz on the terms relative, parallel, major, minor, and barre chord shapes.	Whole class, performance groups of 4-5	Method book, conceptual learning, group work.	Group Performance of songs, Aura Lee p. 28.
Week 4 - October 27	Learn the key of F major and the relative minor, D minor - Mad World, Kryptonite, Turtles Happy Together, Jack Johnson Flake, Losing My Religion	pages 29-31	Major scale quiz, group performances on block day.	Whole class, performance groups of 4-5	Method book, conceptual learning, group work.	Friday Quiz on the major scale wwhwwwh, C major playing test. pg. 29
Week 5 - November 3	Fill out the keys we have learned in the circle of fifths and see how they relate to one another; discuss intervals and whole and half steps in the major scale )p.29)	pages 31-33; Learn patriotic songs and holiday songs for performing at the Veteran’s home; pick favorite group songs to play for the CD recording project	We will decide on songs for our upcoming performances and rehearse them as a class.	Whole class, performance groups of 4-5	Introduction of songs, Class rehearsal	Make progress towards performances… study for midterm.
Week 6 - November 12 (3 day week)	Review terms and theory for midterm test. Major, minor, relative minor, parallel minor, key signature, transposition, circle of fifths, I-IV-V-vi, barre chords vs. power chords (open 5th chords from book—refer to page 51); whole and half steps, wwhwwwh	review pages 23-33, Learn patriotic songs and holiday songs for performing at the Veteran’s home; pick favorite group songs to play for the CD recording project	Progress toward performance, informal and authentic assessments. Discuss musicality - dynamics, phrasing, counting, meter, etc.	Whole class, performance groups of 4-5	Class rehearsals and study time for midterm.	Midterm for 2nd 6 weeks; perform C Major Scale Exercise on p. 29 individually as part of the performance test
Third 6 weeks - Week 1 - November 17	concert 11/19; review method book at the start of class.	Learn patriotic songs and holiday songs for performing at the Veteran’s home; pick favorite group songs to play for the CD recording project and Empty Bowls	Ability to perform Grand Old Flag, America the Beautiful, and My Country Tis of Thee	Favorite Songs Groups; Patriotic Songs groups; Empty Bowls Groups; CD Project Groups	Class Rehearsal	Veterans’ Field Trip - work on Patriotic Music, Holiday music, music for the empty bowls concert, and CD Project session music; learn page 32
Holidays	Practice at home	Practice at home	Practice at home	Practice at home	Practice at home	Practice at home
Week 2 - December 1	cd project 12/2, 4, 5; review method book to page 33 at the start of class	Learn patriotic songs and holiday songs for performing at the Veteran’s home; pick favorite group songs to play for the CD recording project	Winter Wonderland, Blue Christmas, The Hannukah Song	Favorite Songs Groups; Patriotic Songs groups; Empty Bowls Groups; CD Project Groups; Holiday Songs Groups		Perform group performances and receive class critique. Test on Page 32.
Week 3 - December 8	empty bowls 12/11 5-7pm; review method book to page 33 at the start of class	Continue working on performance material for the empty bowls performance; work on the study guide for the final.	Study guide completion and performance ready for Empty Bowls on 12/11	Empty Bowls performance groups	Group rehearsals and performances for the class with critiquing.	Group performances with critique.
Finals Week December 15	FINALS - Rockin in Dorian Mode, Theory covered up to this point, chord diagrams, and Composition	FINALS	FINALS	FINALS	FINALS	FINALS
Vacation (December 22-Jan 5)	Vacation	Vacation	Vacation	Vacation	Vacation	Vacation
4th 6 weeks -Week 1 - January 6	Page 34-35 in book, prepare for pops concert.	Split into groups of 4-5. Each group will choose 2 songs from movies to perform, keeping in mind that people will be acting silently along with it. They can be funny, serious, dramatic—just make sure that the improv acting team has musical ideas to work with.	Perform the movie songs for the class; perform eighth note exercise for me.			Eighth note exercise p. 35, perform songs for class and critique.
Week 2 - January 12	Page 36-41, strumming patterns, some chords, and work on perfecting your songs for the pops concert.
Week 3 - January 20	Pops Concert; Pg. 42-44, set weary blues to music, learn the chromatic scale.	In honor of MLKJ Day, Langston Hughes— Weary Blues Analysis and song composition;	Record, perform, explain musical choices that brought out the meaning of the text.	4-5	Read the poem together as a class, analyze each stanza; each group picks one stanza to set to music, performance will be a multi-movement work.	Use the chromatic notes to help in the performance. Quiz on chromatic scale, sharps, flats, and naturals.
Week 4 - January 26	pages 44-46; Perform Wet Duet p. 44 with a partner. continue working on Langston Hughes and Poetry set to music projects.
Week 5 - February 2	Pages 47-49; learn new positions/notes on the E and A string; transfer this knowledge to building power chords and barre chords; integrate this knowledge with your composition projects.
Week 6 - February 9	Pages 50-52; more power chord work
5th 6 weeks - Week 1 - February 18 (3 day week)	Pages 53-54, Rockin’ the Bach, Shakespeare Projects; John Dowland—Renaissance and Baroque music	Students will learn the style and sound of the Renaissance and Baroque Era. In light of this, each group will pick 2 Shakespeare Solilquoys to set to music. (See As You Like It, Hamlet, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Taming of the Shrew, etc). Try to compose in two different styles.	Perform Rockin’ the Bach, set chords and melodies to Shakespeare texts. Write out guitar melodies to be played as well as background chords and harmonic structure. Text can be read or sung. Music should highlight the mood and character of the text.	Groups of 2-3.		Original Composition performance in April with guest composer, Lucas Floyd. Date and Time TBD.
Week 2 - February 23	pgs. 55-57, try to use the bend and pentatonic scales in your compositions
Week 3 - March 2	pgs. 58-60, pick up notes, A minor Pentatonic scale
Week 4 - March 9	Pages 61-62, discuss secondary dominants and their function in music—try including in compassion.					Perform page 62
Week 5 - March 16	Hal Leonard exercises; Explore more key signatures and barre chords. E Major, C# minor	Learn and practice songs for the Arts Walk; transpose one of the songs into the key of the week.				Learn I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for the key of the week.
Week 6 - March 23	Hal Leonard exercises; Explore more key signatures and barre chords. B Major, G# minor	Learn and practice songs for the Arts Walk; transpose one of the songs into the key of the week.				Learn I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for the key of the week.
6th 6 Weeks - Week 1 - March 30	Hal Leonard exercises; Explore more key signatures and barre chords. F# /Gb Major, D#/Eb minor	Learn and practice songs for the Arts Walk; transpose one of the songs into the key of the week.				Learn I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for the key of the week.
Vacation	vacation	vacation	vacation	vacation	vacation	vacation
Week 2 - April 6	Hal Leonard exercises; Explore more key signatures and barre chords. Db Major, Bb minor	Learn and practice songs for the Arts Walk; transpose one of the songs into the key of the week.				Learn I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for the key of the week.
Week 3 - April 14 (4 day week)	Hal Leonard exercises; Explore more key signatures and barre chords. Ab Major, F minor	Learn and practice songs for the Arts Walk; transpose one of the songs into the key of the week.				Learn I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for the key of the week.
Week 4 - April 20	Hal Leonard exercises; Explore more key signatures and barre chords. Eb Major, C minor	Learn and practice songs for the Arts Walk; transpose one of the songs into the key of the week.				Learn I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for the key of the week.
Week 5 - April 27	Hal Leonard exercises; Explore more key signatures and barre chords. Bb Major, G minor	Learn and practice songs for the Arts Walk; transpose one of the songs into the key of the week.				Learn I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for the key of the week.
Week 6 - May 4	Spring Concert	Learn and practice songs for the Arts Walk; transpose one of the songs into the key of the week.				Learn I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for the key of the week.
May 11	Arts Walk - Review the Circle of Fifths and play I, IV, V, vi in all 12 major and minor keys.	Learn and practice songs for the Arts Walk; transpose one of the songs into the key of the week.	Take notes on circle of fifths and chord theory, scale theory, etc.	Whole class and individual work and study time.		Review I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for all the keys in the circle of fifths.
May 18	Begin testing on the scales and key signature performances, listen and analyze other eras from music history - Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, 20th Century	Pick a song you like with the main 4 chords and transpose into each of the 12 keys. learn your major and pentatonic minor scale for each key.		Individual study, transposition and performances, perform when ready and get each item on the list marked off once completed.		Review I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for all the keys in the circle of fifths.
May 27 ( 3 day week)	Begin testing on the scales and key signature performances.					Review I, IV, V, vi and the major and minor scale for all the keys in the circle of fifths.
June 1 (Finals week)	Finals Week	Finals Week	Finals Week	Finals Week	Finals Week	Finals Week