Classical Guitar I Schedule

Here's a tentative schedule for the class--Ron will be changing some details as necessary.

Each topic relates to A Modern Approach to Classical Guitar unless otherwise noted

Treat each week's scheduled material like a checklist for each time you sit down to practice; don't spend the entire 30 minutes (or more) on one or two things--

  • touch on several items each time you sit down to practice, including studying the textbook. 
  • Always review older material

Happy practicing!

Schedule

Week 1 

Introduction to the guitar and classroom study environment

  • Playing Position
  • The Right Hand
  • The Rest Stroke with Index and Middle Fingers (we will not use rest stroke for thumb yet)
  • Reading Music: Pitch notation, Rhythmic notation
  • Open Strings 1, 2, and 3
  • Introduce Free Stroke Thumb
  • The Open Bass Strings
  • Beginning Left hand exercise
Week 2: 
  • Combining Thumb and Fingers: Ex 1, 2, p. 15
  • Complete Music Review
  • The Left Hand: Notes on the First String
    • write in note names (for this exercise only - you must memorize all notes we study within a day or two of introduction), practice saying and playing
  • Notes on the 2nd string 
    • write in note names, practice saying, playing
  • Combining Strings 1 and 2
    • Melodic Movement
    • Cross fingering
Week 3: Test 1, Thursday Week 4

Topics:

  • Begin chord playing and strumming: C, E minor: Chord Chart, Song 1
  • Read about Tuning, and watch video
  • continue practicing p free strokes on open strings

  • warmup: i-m on open strings, left hand exercise

  • Begin all songs, p. 21

  • Begin string 3, p. 22

By the end of week three, you should 

  • be able to consistently sit properly, hold the guitar correctly, and demonstrate correct hand positions
  • demonstrate correctly played free strokes with p for all the music we are working on
  • use proper left hand technique and fingerings for all the music we are working on
  • have fluency reading notes on the 1st, 2nd strings, open 5th, 6th strings, be familiar with 3rd string
    • Ron will not allow you to use music with note names written in for tests.
  • be very comfortable with all meters and rhythms we have studied, and be able to count out loud for all the music we are working on. 
  • be able to strum evenly while moving from the C to E min, and be able to form each chord so that it sounds clearly.
Week 4: 
  • Review all songs for strings 1 and 2
  • Continue string 3
    • Begin Twinkle, Yankee Doodle, Au Clair de la Lune
  • Continue Eeanor Rigby with up-down strum

Thursday: Mid-term exam 

Week 5 
  • Begin Melody with Bass Accompaniment: p. 24
    • Etude, Slavonic Dance
  • Rests, Ties, p. 26-27

Week 6:

  • Rests, Ties, Pickup Notes
    • written exercise
    • For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, Down in the Valley, When the Saints Go Marching In
  • Eighth Notes
    • counting exercise
    • Bingo. Good King Wenceslas
  • 2/4 time
  • Music in Two Parts (read about Bass Stopping)
    • Etude, Chanson Russe
Week 7: 
  • Dotted Quarter Notes p. 32
    • Deck the Halls, Alouette, Auld Lang Syne
    • More Advanced Solo Playing 
      • Berceuse, Song of the Silk Road
      • 1st and 2nd endings
  • Begin 4th string:
    • Written Exercise p. 38
    • Fourth String Estudio, p. 38
    • The Riddle Song, p. 39 

Summertime

  • "swinging" strum, in key of Am 
  • The Chord Progression
Week 8: Friday--last day to drop with W

Mid-term: Tuesday - pieces TBD

Thursday:

  • Notes on the 5th String, p. 40
    • written exercise
    • Soriana, Hymn, Asturias Theme
  • Summertime chord song
Week 9:
  • Sharps and Flats, p. 44, the Natural Sign, p. 46
    • first string, second string, chromatic scale, Aura Lee
    • Alman
  • Accidentals on String 3
    • We Three Kings
    • written fingering exercise
  • Two-octave chromatic scale, p. 54
  • Key Signatures, p. 50
Week 10: 
  • Right Hand Development, p. 51
    • The Coventry Carol
    • Romanza, p. 55
  • Playing Beyond the First Position
    • Joy to the World, Two Octave Chromatic Scale
  • Notes on the Sixth String, , p. 56
    • Lullabye, p. 56
    • Noche en Espana, p. 57
Week 11: 
  • Notes on the 6th String, Cont.
    • Noche en Espana
  • Accidentals on String 6, p. 58
    • written Ex.
    • Malaguena Theme
  • New Finger Combinations, p. 60
    • Greensleeves
Week 12: 

Finals -- no class meetings

Final Exam for Spring 2019 Thursday, June 27, 11:30-1:30

Final Exam TBD

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