George Fox Middle School

8th Grade Guitar Syllabus

2016-2017

Instructor Information
Liz Davidson, NBCT
EDavidson1@aacps.org
(410)437-5512

http://gfmsmusic.weebly.com/

Course Information
Guitar is offered to 8th graders at GFMS. This course is designed specifically to accelerate achievement in
understanding the language of music with an emphasis on the Guitar. In this course, students will learn
the instrument, note reading skills, chord charts, and strumming techniques. Students will be exposed to
a variety of learning methods and musical styles.
Course Materials
Students need a Binder for Guitar class (any size is acceptable but a 1 inch with pockets is recommended).
Binders will be stored in the classroom and will NOT need to be taken home often. A Pencil is also
required every class period.
Classroom Guitars are available for every student. However, these guitars are rather old and in fair
condition. We will be doing a class fundraiser this year to raise money for NEW classroom instruments.
More information will follow.
If a student has a personal guitar at home (acoustic ONLY) he/she IS allowed to bring it in to practice on
in class. Students with their own guitar are to bring it to Mrs. Davidsons Music Office (Room A202) in the
morning of an A Day for safe keeping. Students can use it in class and then pick it up after 6 th pd.

What Mrs. Davidson will do to support her students:

Create and implement engaging and rigorous learning activities using a variety of instructional
resources to help students build an understanding of playing the guitar and comprehending music.
Create a positive classroom culture that promotes self-expression and musicianship.
Notify parents via email or phone at any point during the marking period if a student is in
danger of failing or having difficulty managing classroom rules and behavior expectations.

What the student will do to be successful:

Come to class on time and ready to be an active participant.

Engage in lesson activities regularly, use practice time wisely, and try your best consistently.

Keep track of music and materials (each student will have a spot in the classroom to house
materials).
Be Kind, Respectful, and Proud of your Work!

What parents can do to support the student:

Encourage the student to discuss their guitar education and the skills learned in class.
Check Parent Connect regularly to monitor student grades.
Contact Mrs. Davidson with any questions about assignments, grades, or other issues in a
timely manner.

Course Overview
Throughout the school year students will engage in a variety of engaging musical instruction as outlined
in the Anne Arundel County Guitar Curriculum. The curriculum is designed to support the creation of
relevant techniques and skills on the Guitar alone and in an ensemble setting. The 3 units are outlined
briefly below:

Cultivating Lifelong Learners, Creators, and Consumers of Music.

Unit One: Guitar
Unit Two: Guitar Builder
Unit Three: My Inner Voice
Toolbox
Students will perform on all
Students will continue to
understand the basic
strings, using new strum
read, write, and perform
components of guitar
patterns and rhythms.
standard notation, but will
performance, including
Students will read, write, and also find their inner voice
an understanding of the
perform standard notation.
by improvising and then
parts and mechanism of
writing and recording their
the instrument,
original compositions.
instrument care, and an
understanding of the size
and shape of the guitar
through time

Grading Policy

Students grade in this course will be determined based upon progress towards mastery of the
standards. Students will receive a minimum of nine weighted grades each marking period. Small
homework assignments may be given once or twice a quarter. Quarterly assessments are given once per
marking period and do not qualify for the redo policy. Assessments in Guitar may be Standards Based (i.e.
Daily/Classwork Grades), Performance Based (i.e. Skill Mastery), or Written (i.e. - Homework and
Quarterly Assessments).
Daily Grade: 60%

Standards Based
Assessments: 20%

Homework: 5%

Quarterly
Assessment:15%

County Policy- Marking period grades are in percentage of points earned divided by possible points.
90-100% - A

80-89%- B
70-79% - C
60-69% - D
59% or less- E
Late and Redo Policies
All assignments have a due date. Assignments submitted late will be penalized one letter grade.
Per AACPS regulation, students may redo four assessments and/or assignments each quarter. Students
are encouraged, but not required, to participate in teacher-led re-teaching. All redo items must be
completed within ten days of receiving the original grade and may only be redone one time. The higher of
the two grades will be used for calculating the students quarter grade. The teacher may choose to have
the student redo all of an assessment or assignment or may have student only redo specific items or parts
of the work. Students may not redo homework, the quarterly assessment, or a large project; however,
students may redo parts of a large project, if graded separately by the teacher, with each part counting as
a separate redo. Assessments or assignments due in the last week of the quarter are not eligible.