Omaha South Magnet High School

Guitar 1
Course Syllabus

INSTRUCTOR AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Instructor Dr. Brian Lew

Email brian.lew@ops.org

Room Number 248

Office Phone Number 531-299-9151

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Guitar 1 is designed for 9th through 12th grade students with any level of guitar experience.
Students will learn a foundation of guitar-playing technique with an emphasis on
note-reading. The fundamentals of musicianship and composing music for the guitar will
also be taught. In-class performances (alone and in groups) will be the focus of this class.

CONTENT STANDARDS

Create Students will compose, arrange, improvise, read and

perform music with an analytical understanding of the
language of music

Perform Students will sing and/or play, independently and/or

with others, a variety of music genres and styles using
technical accuracy and expression and synthesize
feedback from various sources to evaluate
performance.
 Respond Students will analyze and evaluate how music elicits
intended responses (personal response to music).

GRADING

35% Formative 65% Summative

The following are the grade book assignments for the semester. Students are expected to
complete each assignment and participate fully and appropriately. If you are absent, you are
responsible for making up the missed assignment. Every assignment and make up
opportunity will be available in CANVAS.

FORMATIVE ASSIGNMENTS (35%)

Assignment Description
Performance This is a biweekly grade that indicates whether students
performed appropriately, met classroom expectations, and
showed appropriate rehearsal etiquette.

Quarter 1
● Weeks 1-3
● Weeks 4-5
● Weeks 6-7
● Week 8

Quarter 2
● Weeks 9-10
● Weeks 11-12
● Weeks 13-14
● Weeks 16-17
 SUMMATIVE ASSIGNMENTS (65%)
Assignment Description
Playing Test Playing tests are designed to break up our curriculum into
smaller units. If you are giving full and genuine participation
in class, these should be no sweat!

“Written” Written assignments/quizzes are meant to assess mini

research papers and music theory. Examples include:
● Instrument research paper
● Musical artist paper
● Music theory quizzes

Final Exam The final exam will assess curriculum throughout the entire
semester. The day and time of the exam will be dictated by
South High’s final exam schedule. A study guide will be
provided to help prepare for the final.

DISTRICT GRADING POLICY

Grading Scale & All coursework and assessments are judged based on the level
Calculation of student learning from “below basic” to “advanced.” This
course will provide multiple opportunities to achieve at the
“proficient” to “advanced” levels. Students are evaluated
based on a proficiency scale or project rubric.

A final score for each reporting topic/standard will be

determined using a trend score. A trend score looks at the
progression of learning throughout the unit of study or the
course and puts greater emphasis on the increased
achievement at the end of learning. All coursework and
assessments are important for student learning and should be
completed to provide evidence of learning. If multiple
assignments or major assessments (final exam) are not
completed, zeros will be given and the grade for the
topic/standard will be determined by averaging.

At the end of a grading period, scores for each reporting

topic/standard will be averaged using assigned weights. This
weighted average is converted to a letter grade using this
 grading scale for the 2023-2024 school year.

A = 3.51 – 4.00
A- = 3.01 – 3.50
B = 2.51 – 3.00
B- =2.01 – 2.50
C = 1.51 – 2.00
D = 0.76 - 1.50
F = 0.00 – 0.75

Redoing/Revising 1. Students are responsible for completing all coursework and

Student Coursework assessments as assigned.
2. Students will be allowed make-up and the ability to
complete their work until the end of the unit.

3. Students are expected to complete assessments when

given to the class, or if a student was justifiably absent, at
a time designated by the teacher.

4. Redoing, retaking or revising will be done at teacher

discretion in consultation with the student and parent(s).
Teachers may schedule students before, during, or after
school to address needed areas of improvement if not
convenient during class. The time and location for redoing,
retaking or revising will be done at the teacher’s
discretion in consultation with the student and parent(s).

INSTRUMENT USAGE PROCEDURES

Students that use school instruments must follow the following procedures. These
procedures are set in place to avoid damage to instruments. Not following these procedures
will result in the denial of use of school instruments or repair fees. The use of a school
instrument is a privilege not a requirement.
1. No eating or drinking of anything other than water while playing an instrument
2. Do not leave method books or sheet music in cases-this can break the instrument.
3. The footstand is not to be stood on-it is only meant to be used while sitting.
4. Return your instrument to its rightful location after each use.
 5. Purposely throwing, stepping, or causing purposeful damage on an instrument will
result in a vandalism charge and a fee to replace/fix damage done to the instrument.
The student will be denied use of a school instrument for the rest of the year.

If you are interested in purchasing or would like to see if any donations are available to
own your own instrument, please email or speak with me!