| Tests | 40% | Projects | 20% |
| ClassWork | 30% | Notebook | 10% |
| A+ | 100+ | B+ | 89-88 | C+ | 79-78 | D+ | 69-68 |
| A | 99-93 | B | 87-83 | C | 77-73 | D | 67-63 |
| A- | 92-90 | B- | 82-80 | C- | 72-70 | D- | 62-60 |
| F | Below | 60 |
Class Work
Students must bring their own non-amplified, acoustic guitar to class
each
day. Students with electric guitars have ended up at a great
disadvantage to students with acoustic guitars in the past because they
could not hear the music they played. (There are not enough plugs for
amplifiers to be used
and a class full of amplified guitars can quickly become a zoo.)
If you miss a class session, you are responsible for the loss. With the
exception
of one absence, students lose points with each absence or tardy. Points
can
be made up by doing more work (see Points). It is the student's
responsibility
to clear absences through the attendance office. Excessive tardies,
absences,
or nonparticipation will lead to a lower grade. Students who are tardy
or
absent must get the information discussed in class from a classmate or
see the teacher outside of class time. Written
work will be assigned regularly to reinforce or supplement concepts
discussed
in class.
Practice records, which must be signed by parents or guardians, will be
kept
in order to monitor students' practice time outside of class. Practice
is
an essential part of students' homework.
Notebook
Students will be required to bring a 3-ring binder and paper
everyday to class in order to take notes on concepts. Notebooks
will be checked regularly
for neatness and organization. Students with notebooks will do well on
open
notebook tests and quizzes.
Projects
Two projects are required each quarter. All projects
must be
submitted with a cassette tape containing short recorded
examples of
the materials you wrote about, spoke about, displayed, or set to music.
This
tape should contain no more than five (5) minutes of music. All
projects must
be in students' own words, based on their own thoughts. All students
must
complete one multimedia project as one of their projects,
whether they
are enrolled for a semester or for a year. The remaining projects may
be
chosen from the following forms:
1) an oral report (delivered to the class) of at least 5 minutes
duration
2) an original art project (photos taken by the student, an original
drawing,
painting, craft display, diorama, or other original work with teacher
approval)
to be displayed in class [no collages will be accepted]
3) a transcription of an improvised solo into music notation for guitar
4) an original setting of a poem to guitar music (include a
description/analysis of your work)
5) an original music composition for guitar of at least one minute in
length
(include sheet music)
6) a musical analysis of a guitar composition (discuss melody, harmony,
and
rhythm)
7) create an organized web site having to do with guitar
8) create a slide show presentation
9) create a research paper, which must include an outline; a title
page;
an introduction, body, and conclusion; footnotes; at least five sources
in
a bibliography; and show evidence of original thought on the part of
the
student.
10) teach the rest of the guitar class a piece of music, or how to play
something
on guitar
11) an original project which does not meet the above criteria (must
receive teacher pre-approval before starting)
Students must turn in 8 different projects. For example, a
student may not turn in a research paper and three transcriptions of
improvised
solos in one school year.
Students may choose their subject material for their project from the
following
areas:
a) a musical style (jazz, blues, rock, classical, folk, country, etc.)
b) a specific musical group, performer, or composer
c) a musical instrument
Students may reuse subject material, but each project must
be different.
For example, a student may turn in a jazz research paper, a jazz
transcription,
an original setting of a poem in a jazzy style, and a musical analysis
of
a jazz guitar composition.
Any projects not listed above must receive teacher approval prior
to the start of the project.
Extra credit
Required work must be turned in before extra credit will be given.
Students
who wish to make up work missed may complete extra credit assignments
such
as those listed below. Alternate assignments may be created as the need
arises.
Listening Journal (up to 10 points per week)
The listening journal should contain entries of Renaissance, Baroque,
Classical,
Romantic, or 20th Century music, including the date, time, title of
piece,
composer, conductor, and ensemble. The purpose of the listening journal
is
to encourage students to listen to music which they may not normally
hear
so that they may become more open-minded musicians.
Newspaper Music Article Report (10 points each)
Students may clip or copy newspaper articles relating to music and
answer
the following questions for extra credit: who, what, where, when, why,
and
how does this article relate to you?
Expectations
1. Take care of your instrument (name on case, stored in case in proper
storage
areas, no books or other items not meant for your instrument case in
your
case, no trading of instruments without owner’s permission, and then
treat
it with the respect that any musical instrument deserves)
2. Be in the classroom by the time the bell rings
3. Have instrument in working order, ready to play by 1 minute
after
the bell rings
4. Be seated by 1 minute after the bell rings
5. Have pencil and music/book on music stand
6. Have a notebook or binder paper to take notes on concepts discussed
in
class
7. No food, gum, or drinks in class (except for water)
8. Keep the room clean
a. use the garbage can and appropriate recycle bins9. Follow "podium etiquette" during Full Class time
b. music should be stored neatly in binders
a. give your undivided attention to the person on the podium10. Learn something new everyday (make daily progress)
b. be quiet when explanations are given
c. do not play on the guitars while instructions are given
d. play together in an organized manner when directed to do so
Points
Points may be earned in the following ways:
+10 Daily class participation
+10 Extra credit listening journals or newspaper music article reports
+25 Written report/critique on a live music performance
Points may be lost in the following ways:
-10 Absent from class
-10 Non-participation
-10 Instrument or music dirty (soiled,, bent, rolled up, mutilated,
marked
in pen, etc.)*
-10 Playing another's instrument withoout their permission
-10 Gum chewing, food, or drink, in claass (the 1st infraction will
result in a 15-minute clean-up detention, successive infractions will
result in double-time clean-up detentions, etc.)
-10 Instrument or music out of proper storage area
-4 Tardy to class (3 tardies, excused or not, result in 15 minutes of
detention. The next 3 tardies result in 30 minutes of detention, etc.
See tardy policy for consequences for excessive tardies.)
-4 Not prepared for class (no instrumeent or missing strings, no music,
pencil,
notebook, homework, practice records, etc.)
-10% Late assignments will result in aa 10% loss of points on the
assignment for each day the assignment is late
*Lost or mutilated music, books, or other instructional materials will result in a replacement charge placed on the school debt list.
Respect
All students have the right to learn in a safe, supportive, educational
environment.
In order to maintain this, students must treat each other and the
director
with respect. Lack of respect for fellow human beings or for the music
we
study will not be tolerated. Respect others' property and personal
space.
Laugh with, not at, others. Listen to others because we all have
something
unique to contribute to the learning process. Follow directions.
Consequences
Students who fail to obey the rules will face one or more of the
following consequences:
| 1. Removal from rehearsal | 4. Detention |
| 2. Grade lowered | 5. Parent conference |
| 3. Special assignments | 6. Removal from music program |
The success of any group depends on the willingness of its members
to cooperate
with each other and the director. Involvement in a musical organization
includes
simultaneous cooperation and participation to create a product that is
more
than the individual parts - music. The joy of music comes from the
creation
of something that transcends words. Music allows participants to
express
themselves in a very special way by moving others.
By understanding the rules and procedures outlined above, we may
quickly move
on to the making of music. In the process of learning about music,
students,
will also learn about responsibility, sensitivity to others,
self-direction,
and self-esteem. Success in the music classroom may give students
confidence
and inspire them to reach higher goals in other areas of life.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact me at
school -
510-796-1776.
Sincerely,
Richard F. Wong
Music Director
Please keep the above document in your binder and return the portion below by September 12.
I have read and understand the American High School Guitar Grading
Policy for the 2008-2009 school year and agree to abide by it.