Dodson 1

North Example High School

Guitar Lab I and II - 8:00-9:00 M-F

Guitar I - Learning Objectives Guitar II - Learning Objectives

● Understanding the anatomy
of guitar
● Reading and decoding of
guitar tablature
● Developing the basics of
guitar technique
● Understanding the history of
guitar
● Understanding the role guitar
plays in an ensemble
● Understanding the
characteristics of guitar in
contrasting genres
● Continued development of
guitar technique
● Reading and decoding of
guitar sheet-music

Required Materials
● Preferred method of note-taking
● Guitar Picks
○ For Home Practice
● Guitar Capo
○ For home practice
● Sheet Music Paper [Guitar II]
● Guitars will be provided during class time and are available to be
‘checked-out’ for at home usage.
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Attendance Policy

Attendance is strongly encouraged for this class. A Zoom/Google Meet will

always be available when requested. After 3 unexcused absences, the final
grade will be lowered by a letter grade. Make-up work may also be required
depending on the day the student missed.

Grading Policy

All assignments should be completed by the specified due date, however I do

understand that ‘life happens’ and will always be able to discuss extensions
for assignments. Each assignment will have specific rubrics for criteria.
● Participation 40%
● Research Projects/Papers 25%
● Practice Logs 10%
● Performance Logs 15%
● Checkpoints 10%

Assignments
● Participation
○ Success in this class is mainly determined by participation in
class. Students who engage in discussion, practice during lab
time, and interact with material, will find success in participation.
● Research Projects/Papers
○ At the end of most units, students will be asked to create a project
to demonstrate understanding of the topics discussed. This can
range from a paper discussing their favorite song featuring guitar;
to a shoe-box presentation of guitar anatomy.
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● Practice/Performance Logs
○ Students will be asked to write about what techniques or subjects
they are practicing outside of class-time. Students will also write
about how they believe their in-class performance went and how
they can improve.
● Checkpoints
○ There will be plenty of short quizzes throughout the class that are
mainly used as a check-in to determine if a student has an
understanding of concepts. The lowest 5 quizzes will be dropped
from the final grade.

Cluster One
Week Topic Assignments
Week 1 Introduction to Guitar - Anatomy, Checkpoints 1-3
History, and Handling
Week 2 Playing Guitar - Technique and Anatomy Project Due,
Tablature Checkpoints 4-7,
Practice Log 1
Week 3 Cont. Playing - Technique and Checkpoints 8-10,
Tablature Practice Log 2
Week 4 Chords - ‘Cowboy Chords’ Song Discussion Paper
Due, Checkpoint 11,
Practice Log 3
Week 5 Performance 1 - ‘Cowboy Song’ Practice Log 4,
Performance Log 1
Week 6 Chords Cont. - Arpeggios Pop Song Chord
Project Due,
Checkpoints 12-13,
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Practice Log 5
Week 7 Guitar Performance 2 - Checkpoints 14-15,
‘Arpegg-Mania’ Practice Log 6
Week 8 Intro to Soloing - Single Notes with a Checkpoints 16-17,
pick Performance Log 2,
Practice Log 7
Week 9 Guitar Performance 3 - Prepared Pop Guitar Song Analysis
Song Due, Practice Log 8

Cluster Two
Week Topic Assignments
Week 10 Understanding Capos and Performance Log 3,
Transposition Checkpoint 18
Week 11 Intro to Bar Chords - Major and Practice Log 9,
Minor Checkpoints 19-20
Week 12 Guitar Performance 4 - ‘Switchin’ Guitar Song Analysis 2
Due, Practice Log 10
Week 13 Electric Guitar - Pedals and Effects Performance Log 4,
Checkpoints 21-23
Week 14 Acoustic vs. Electric - Characteristics Practice Log 11,
and Features Checkpoints 24-26
Week 15 Guitar Performance 5 - Prepared Pop Pedal Circuit Paper,
Song Practice Log 12
Week 16 Scales - Blues, Major, Minor Checkpoints 27-30,
Practice Log 13
Week 17 Implementing Scales - Intro to Checkpoints 31-32
Improv Practice Log 14
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Week 18 Workshop and Final Performance Guitar Song Analysis 3

Due,

Cluster Three

Week Topic Assignments

Week 1 Refresher Week - Anatomy, History, Checkpoints 1-3
Tabs, Etc.
Week 2 Scale Workshop - Blues, Major and Checkpoints 4-6,
Minor Practice Log 1
Week 3 Guitar Performance 1 - ‘Ante Up’ Personal Choice
Presentations Presentation Due,
Practice Log 2,
Week 4 Intro to Sheet Music Checkpoints 7-10
Performance Log 1,
Practice Log 3
Week 5 Notation Discussion - Tablature vs. Practice Log 4,
Sheet Music Checkpoints 11-12
Week 6 Guitar Performance 2 - Beginner Notation Persuasive
Classical Guitar Essay, Practice Log 5
Week 7 Finger-Style Playing Practice Log 6,
Checkpoints 13-15
Performance Log 2
Week 8 Introduction to Ensemble Playing - Practice Log 7,
Melody vs. Harmony Checkpoints 16-18
Week 9 Guitar Ensemble 1 - ‘Tuning Up’ Guitar Song Analysis
1, Practice Log 8
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Cluster Four
Week Topic Assignments
Week 10 Genre Breakdown - Blues and Jazz Performance Log 3,
Checkpoints 19-21
Week 11 Genre Breakdown - Rock and Funk Practice Log 9
Week 12 Guitar Performance 3 - ‘Swinging’ Genre Song Analysis
Due, Practice Log 10
Week 13 Bass Guitar - Role and Technique Performance Log 4,
Practice Log 11,
Checkpoints 22-23
Week 14 Genre Breakdown - Bossa and Checkpoints 24-26,
‘Classical’ Practice Log 12
Week 15 Guitar Performance 4 - Personal Arrangement/Composi
Choice tion Project Due,
Practice Log 13
Week 16 Final Technique Workshop - Part Performance Log 5,
Assignments Practice Log 14,
Checkpoint 27
Week 17 Ensemble Workshop Practice Log 15
Week 18 Guitar Ensemble Final Guitar Appreciation
Paper Due