Stage 1 Desired Results

ESTABLISHED GOALS

1. The development of basic guitar technical fluency
2. The ability to decode and translate basic guitar notation (music notation, tablature, and chord diagrams).
3. Elementary solo and group performance skills

Standards

Students will be able to independently use their learning to…        

1. tune their guitar.
2. play and write chord progressions using both open and barre chords.
3. perform pentatonic and major scales of one octave each in all 12 keys.
4. seek out reputable Internet and digital resources for further development of guitar technique.
5. multi-task a performance that involves performing a melody and an accompaniment pattern.

Meaning

UNDERSTANDINGS        

Students will understand that…

1. the guitar is a highly expressive instrument with a practically limitless set of applications.
2. the development of competent guitar technique requires consistent daily practice to reinforce skill retention.
3. the use and significance of the guitar in western culture has evolved rapidly over the past 70 years.
4. there are myriad ways to decode and interpret guitar music.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS        

1. How can the guitar be manipulated to suit an individual’s need for artistic expression?
2. How has the guitar been historically used by various individuals to build the basic DNA of the rock music genre?
3. Where can an aspiring guitarist turn to locate reputable resources for further development of their technique?

Acquisition

Students will independently be able to use their learning for...        

1. tuning a guitar and performing basic maintenance for its upkeep and longevity.
2. the independent pursuit of learning how to play songs of their choosing by accessing resources on the Internet.
3. decoding guitar sheet music in a variety of templates

Students will be skilled at…        

1. basic songwriting skills within the pop and rock idioms.
2. more than a dozen major, minor, and dominant chords conventionally used in a majority of Western music.
3. performing basic elements that are germane to both rhythm and lead guitarists.

Stage 2 - Evidence

Evaluative Criteria

Assessment Evidence

1. performance skills
2. listening skills
3. music theory skills

PERFORMANCE TASK(S):        

1. formative assessments
2. summative assessments

OTHER EVIDENCE:        

1. playing test videos
2. in-class group projects
3. traditional tests (multiple choice, matching, T/F, etc.)

Stage 3 – Learning Plan

Summary of Key Learning Events and Instruction

1. guitar vocabulary (headstock, bridge, fretboard, etc.)
2. tuning the guitar (open strings – EADGBe and 5th fret method)
3. open chord diagrams (G, Em, D, C, Am, etc.)
4. song pack #1 (Wild Thing, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, etc.)
5. reading guitar tablature
6. reading music notation
7. song pack #2 (Comfortably Numb, Man on the Moon, etc.)
8. scales (pentatonic and major fingerings)
9. songwriting process (Ode to Joy)
10. student choice (students use ultimate-guitar.com to pursue a song of their choosing to learn how to play)
11. barre chords (major and minor)
12. power chords (F5, Ab5, etc.)
13. tension chords (Dsus4, Cadd9, etc.)