• Review Chords and Chord Familes.
• All students should be familiar with triads and tetra chords in the following keys. C - A - G - E - D
• Intermediate guitarists should focus on the Major and Minor chord families.
• Advanced guitarists are responsible for knowing triads and tetra chords in all four chord familes.
• Major, minor, diminished, augmented.
• Basic Chord overview. Please download, print, and study. Click here!
• Natural Scale Chart. Please download, print, and study. Click here!
• Major key harmonization for all students.
• Please download, print, and study. Click here!
• Technique Exercises for all Classes. Click here!
• Scales and Sub Divisions
• Sequences and Intervals

Music Appreciation

(Understanding Music)
Music Appreciation Class Overview
Fall 2008 - Spring 2009


Actual Course Description:

No prior musical experience is needed for this music course. Musicians and non
musicians will enhance their understanding of music and the role of music in our daily lives.
The study of music history can provide a perspective through which stylistic trends,
compositional devices, and elements of musical expression can be better interpreted,
understood, and appreciated as directly reflected by human development and thought. Music
is a reflection of the society that creates it and this course emphasizes the fact that
understanding music can help us to understanding the culture that produced it. The focus of
the course is popular music and composers of the present day and how classical music of the
past has influenced what we hear and perform today.

Philosophy:

Music History is the history of people. The evolution of music mirrors the growth of
culture throughout the world. The study of music history can provide a perspective through which stylistic trends, compositional devices, and elements of musical expression can be better interpreted, understood, and appreciated as directly reflected by human development and thought. Music is a reflection of the society that creates it and this course emphasizes the fact that understanding music can help us to understanding the culture that produced it.

Understanding music of any given culture requires a wide range of knowledge:
historical and cultural background, listening skills specific to the music being heard, and the ability to verbalize these musical observations with clarity. We must learn to stress the importance of acquiring a clear understanding of the fundamentals of music to enable intellectual discussion of the music of any culture or time period.


Major Goals:

1. Present an overview of the major events that have led to the development of music as we know it today
2. Identify specific musical trends that have occurred throughout history and to relate them to events that may have been influential in their development
3. Distinguish between major style periods in terms of form, texture, performance
practice, and expressive properties
4. Enhance and enrich aesthetic awareness through an understanding of the diverse
means of musical expression that have evolved throughout the centuries

The goal objectives and activities of this class are in alignment with the:
Visual and Performing Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools
Adopted by the
California State Board
of Education
January, 2001
Visual and Performing Arts Challenge Standards for music.


The five standards are as follows:
Standard 1. Artistic Perception
Processing, analyzing and responding to sensory information through the language and skills unique to the arts. Music Descriptor: Students listen to, analyze and describe music using music terminology. They can read and write music.

Standard 2. Creative Expression
Creating, performing, and participating in the arts.
Music Descriptor: Students develop vocal and instrumental skills in order to perform a varied repertoire of music. They compose and arrange music and improvise melodies, variations and accompaniments.

Standard 3. Historical and Cultural Context
Understanding historical and cultural dimensions of the arts.
Music Descriptor: Students develop knowledge and skills necessary to understand and perform music from all parts of the world. They investigate the relationship of music to history and culture.

Standard 4. Aesthetic Valuing
Responding to, analyzing, and making judgments about works of art.
Music Descriptor: Students describe, analyze, interpret, and derive meaning from musical works. They develop criteria, then make critical judgments about and determine the quality of musical experiences and performances based on elements and principles of music.

Standard 5. Connections, Relations, Applications
Connecting and applying what is learned in each art form to learning in other art forms, subject areas and careers. Music Descriptor: Students apply what they learn in music to learning in other subject areas. They develop competencies in problem solving, communication skills, working with others, management of time and resources, all of which contribute to lifelong learning and career skills

Text Book: Understanding Music,
Jeremy Yudkin, Author

You will need appropriate material for class
1. A folder
2. A pen
3. A pencil
4. A notebook
6. A positive mental attitude
Grading:

Grade Scale:
90-100 = A
80-89 = B
74-79 = C
73-70 = D
Under 70 = F

Grades will be assigned according to the following percentages:

40% Quizzes
30% Mid-term/Final Grades
30% Class participation and discussion


DAILY PARTICIPATION POINTS:
Each member or the class begins the semester with 100 points for participation. Students may lose their daily participation points for tardiness, class disturbance, refusal to participate, missing materials, etc. Lost participation points may not be made up. You may lose up to 5 points each class period.

General class rules:
(Failure to comply with the following can and will result in disciplinary action)

• You must be inside of the classroom when the bell rings.
• You may not leave the classroom until the bell rings.
• Keep the room clean and organized (everything has a place)
• You will have your materials ready and be in you seat immediately after entering the class room.
• Some class time will be used for listening to some of the greatest music ever written. You must learn to be an active listener.
• When you are in your own little world, making unwanted noise, talking to others without permission, being disrespectful, doing other class work, or anything else that I don’t like, this is known as ‘outside of class time’ this is a very bad place. You lack respect and discipline when you are ‘outside of class time’ you will and must be punished.
• When you are listening you must not be ‘outside of class time’. Please do not doodle, talk, or disrespect the class in any way. Enjoy the music!
• Talking ‘outside of class time’ is not permitted. This means only speak when you are asked to do so.
• Always bring your materials to class.
• You will read and know these rules and follow them faithfully and we will all be happy.

CONSEQUENCES FOR BREAKING CLASS RULES:
Verbal warning
Detention
Parent contact
Referral to discipline office