Morgan Park High School



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MORGAN PARK HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC DEPARTMENT 773-535-2804

1744 W Pryor Avenue Chicago, IL 60643 773-535-2550

Beginning Guitar 2019/20

Instructor: Matthew Kerr

Office: 773-535-2804

Email:Mjkerr@cps.edu Please do not contact me through aspen! Send a direct email to mjkerr@cps.edu

Website:

Link to Parent/Student Portal: or

Dear Parent/Guardian,

I am looking forward to teaching your child this year. At this time, I would like to share some important information regarding the Beginning Guitar course that your son/daughter is enrolled in this year. The following describes the course, what is taught, what a student is expected to learn, classroom rules and an explanation of the grading standards. Please read and discuss the course information with your child.

Vita of Teacher/Credentials: National Board Certification – EAYA Instrumental Music.

Bachelor of Music - Music Education, Chicago State University.

Orff- Schulwerk Level I.

Attendance Policy:

• Students are expected to attend class daily and on time!

• A student returning from an absence must submit written notification to the Attendance Office for reinstatement before first period class. The student must have a note signed by the parent or guardian and the note should reflect an acceptable cause of absence. Acceptable Causes of Absence include the following: Student Illness, Family Emergency, Death in the Immediate Family, Observance of Religious Holiday. Doctor/dentist appointments are not excusable absences.

• In order to make up any missed assignments or assessments, a student must obtain a reinstatement within 7 days of returning from an absence.

• UNEXCUSED absences will result in a grade of zero (0%) for all assignments missed on day of absence.

• Students must follow school policy for TARDIES including hall sweeps (counting as a class cut or UNEXCUSED absence).

• Make up work assignments and tests will be given in the event of and EXCUSED absence or School Function and due at the discretion of the instructor.

• No late work accepted unless a note from a guardian has been provided to Mr. Kerr as well as the Attendance Office.

Grading

All instruction is geared to PLAYING an instrument. We guarantee that each student who works during the class periods will be able to play fairly well at the end of the year. Grades, therefore, are geared to this concept. The breakdown is as follows: Tests/quizzes will be distributed EVERY THURSDAY. Fridays will be used as make up days for students with excused absences. All grades will be updated by Friday for guardian review on Aspen.

Individual Learning: Homework, Bellringers, exit tickets = 10%

Summative Assessments: Performances, unit tests, papers, presentation= 40%

Formative Assessments: Weekly tests on learned material paper and performances=50%

Class Participation (Classwork) and Homework

Participation is essential to successful experiences in music. This means that students must remain open minded to listening experiences, singing and playing instruments. Students will receive daily class participation grades based on a sample rubric attached to this syllabus. Students receive formal assessment for classroom participation. Daily assignments will include and are not limited to singing, playing on instruments, composing, listening to and analyzing music. All performance-based assignments will be graded informally with a daily performance rubric.

Homework is due during the next day of class. For students that own or rent an instrument 15 minutes of practice is required for homework every day. Students are to practice the exercises or excerpts covered during class. Homework is one of the components of formative assessment at Morgan Park High School. A student’s progress in formative assessments, including homework, classwork, quizzes, etc. equates to 50% of that student’s grade. Homework should be used in one of the following three areas: practice, preparation, or extension.

HOMEWORK POLICY & CONFERENCES

• Homework assignments are to be completed and returned on the due date. Students with a valid/excused absence may turn in assignment one day after returning to class. Most assignments are written, however, projects and performance-based activities may require research or group collaboration. Class time will be given for group collaboration. Students will not be allowed to make up assignments with an unexcused absence on the day the activity was assigned.

• No late work accepted unless a note is provided with the signature from the guardian.

• Parent or student conferences for discussing student grades/progress may be scheduled by appointment. Please contact the school office 773-535-2550, band office 773-535-2804, or by email mjkerr@cps.edu

Curriculum

College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Reading

Key Ideas and details

1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.

2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

3. Analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

Introductory Music Theory – 10 weeks: Basic music theory.

First Unit - 5 weeks: 14 basic chords, with application to folk and modern pop styles; guitar structure; tuning; elementary rhythms applied to strumming; blues form.

Second Unit - 5 weeks: first position melody playing; trios; accidentals; rudiments of bass playing.

Third Unit - 5 weeks: half and whole steps applied to movable barre chords; final recital project.

Fourth Unit - 5 weeks: major scale construction and playing; key signatures; development of the right had position, with application to scales and accompaniment.

Fifth Unit - 5 weeks: arpeggio playing; tablature.

Sixth Unit - 5 weeks: natural notes up the fretboard; playing in fifth position; transposition; recital.

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NOTE: Additional materials may be taught if there is time remaining.

Textbooks

Folders/Portfolio

Each student is required to have a folder to be used for storing extra materials, returned exams and work sheets.

Instruments

Students may NOT bring their personal ACOUSTIC guitars for use in this class. Students must use the instruments owned by the school. This ensures that students will always be prepared for class. Instruments will be used during class time and may be checked out by the student for overnight, week-end or school-year vacation practice. Instruments may not be checked out over the summer break.

Check-outs must be returned to the guitar classroom at the beginning of the school day following home use. If a student is ill, provision must be made to get the guitar back to school. Failure to return the guitar check-outs will result in a loss of the check-out privilege.

Required Materials

• Each student must have a folder with pockets, paper and pencils with erasers.

• Students are asked to bring a roll of tissue to be stored in the classroom until needed.

• Students are asked to bring 10 pencils to be stored in the classroom until needed.

Behavioral Expectations and Other Guidelines:

Rules & regulations as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct (SCC) will be strictly enforced for each student. Students should follow these directions:

Guitars are to be treated with care and respect. The GUITARS BELONG TO THE STUDENT BODY.

Use only the guitar assigned to you. Personally-owned guitars may only be used by the owner, except by written agreement to another student for a specified time.

1. You must have permission to leave the classroom once the bell rings.

2. You may not leave the classroom before the dismissal bell.

3. Once you have cleaned up for the day go back to your seat and remain seated until the bell rings. There will be no line of students waiting at the door for the bell.

4. You must use the door to enter and exit the band room 126.

5. You must remain in their assigned seat.

6. You must remain respectful and silent during testing. Anything other than this will result in an automatic zero for your own test.

7. You WILL play their instrument EVERYDAY that you attend class. If you don’t feel well enough to play, you should stay home and come back to school when you are feeling better. (Seriously.)

8. Passes out of class will not be written.

9. Electronic devices must not be visible or activated during class.

10. Electronic devices may not be charged during class.

11. Food or beverages are NOT allowed in the classroom.

12. You may NOT sell food inside of our class time or classroom.

13. You must do your own work. Do not copy.

14. Late work is not accepted. Should you have an excused absence you have seven days to submit your work.

15. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the missing assignment from a section member.

16. Respectfully communicate with the teacher any problems/issues you are having.

17. Section leaders are responsible for the entire section, regardless of whether or not you are getting along.

18. As a member of the section you must do your best and put forth positive energy into the section.

19. During sectionals you may only work on assigned repertoire.

20. During sectionals students may NOT leave the section for ANY reason. This means no bathroom, going to eat food, going to visit a teacher, etc.

21. Section leaders are responsible for making sure that section members have all information for required assignments and performances.

22. Section leaders must confirm that section members are attending required performances.

23. Ms. Kerr’s instruments and desk are off limits. Please ask permission before touching anything that is clearly the property of Mr. Kerrs.

24. More directions can be added as needed as the school year progresses.

Dress Code Policy for Students

• All students are expected to dress appropriately for school. In keeping with this requirement, the following dress code will be enforced:

• Shirts and tops must cover chest and midriff areas. Tank, tube, halter tops, spaghetti-straps, cropped midriffs, cut-outs, and see-through tops are not allowed. Shirts and tops should not expose cleavage. Pants and jeans must be worn at the student’s natural waistline.

• No headgear, including headbands and head scarves, may be worn by males or females in the school building, including hoodies. (Religious exemptions to this rule must be on file in the Deans’ Office).

• Any clothing interpreted as symbolic of a gang or gang activity or inappropriate for school is not permitted.

• The wearing of sunglasses is not permitted unless a medical exception in on file.

• Student in violation of this dress code requirement will face disciplinary action as outlined in the Uniform Discipline Code.

Monitoring Class Progress and Attendance:

Grades will be entered into impact once per week. Formal progress reports will be mailed home every 5 weeks, with grade updates for all classes. Students and parents have regular access to a student’s academic progress through the use of the ManageBac website. All involved parties will gain access to this site through our administrative team. It is the student and parent’s responsibility to utilize IMPACT for information about attendance.

Beginning Guitar

Parents print and return this page for knowing and understanding.

Your student is currently enrolled in a guitar class at Morgan Park High School. He/she has requested permission to check out an instrument for practice at home. In order that you and your student fully understand the responsibility attached to this privilege, we ask that you read the contract which follows. If you and your student agree to its provisions, simply sign and date the contract in the appropriate places. Students will be allowed to check out guitars on the date this contract is received in the Music Department. Thanks so much for your help. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 773-535-2804 or send me an email mjkerr@cps.edu CONTRACT

I agree to care for the guitar and guitar case which have been furnished for me and will abide by the following rules when checking out the instrument for home practice.

1. The guitar must be SIGNED OUT on the sign-out sheet and SIGNED IN PRIOR TO FIRST PERIOD ON THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DAY. (If the student is unable to attend school, the PARENT must make an arrangement for the on-time return of the instrument.)

2. Failure to follow Rule 1 will result in permanent loss of the check-out privilege.

3. The guitar students and his/her parents will not allow ANYONE ELSE to touch the guitar or case while they are checked out.

4. If the guitar or case is damaged while sighed out to you, you must pay for repairs.

5. If the guitar or case is damaged beyond repair while signed to you, you are responsible for replacement cost (Guitar $130.00; Case $25.00).

PLEASE PRINT ALL INFORMATION

Student Name: __________________________________________________________________

(Last) (First)

Parent/Guardian Name: ___________________________________________________________

(Last) (First)

Parent Frequently Checked Email Address (Please Print Clearly)

_______________________________________________________________________________

Parent Phone ( ) __________________________________________________________

Please sign below to indicate you have received a copy of your child’s Parent Letter and Course Syllabus for the Beginning Guitar Class Your signature also indicates you have READ and FULLY UNDERSTAND the Course Requirements, Student Supplies and General Classroom Rules and Procedures.

SIGNED: ______________________________________________________________ Date:_____________________

Guitar student signature

SIGNED: ______________________________________________________________ Date:______________________

Parent/guardian signature

PLEASE RETURN SIGNED FORM TO: Mr. Kerr in Room 126 on or before September 9th 2019.

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