Major Concepts/Content: The guitar I course is designed to introduce students to the study of the guitar. The content includes, but is not limited to, staff notation and rhythm concepts, major and minor chord recognition, strumming and picking techniques, duple and triple meters, listening skills, guitar styles and forms, familiarity in the playing of all strings, variety of guitar repertoire, performance as soloists and in group ensembles, tuning and intonation, and guitar accompaniment techniques. 

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities in guitar will include, but will not be limited in scope to, demonstrating music rudiments through note-reading and rhythm patterns; understanding meters and their application in playing; applying picking techniques in playing melodies; using all strings in solo and group ensembles; daily instruction in and application of tuning techniques; playing a variety of classical and popular guitar musical styles; accompanying piano and other instruments; listening to guitar music of different types, of different forms, and from different periods. 

Major Evaluative Techniques: Students will be required to pass written and oral examinations in music rudiments and to perform successfully guitar music independently, as an accompanist, and in group ensembles, following all critical markings on a musical score. 

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the guitar I course, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of staff and notation.
• Demonstrate understanding of rhythmic concept.
• Read guitar music using all strings and picking technique.
• Demonstrate ability to tune the guitar
• Participate in small ensembles.
• Perform as a soloist.

Last Revised: July 19, 2005