Classical Guitar Year 1

I worked at a small high school as an assistant guitar teacher for 5 years. Our curriculum was based on modern styles and modern techniques. However, before I settled on a curriculum centered around learning modern songs, I put together a curriculum for learning the classical guitar because many middles school and high school guitar programs teach classical only.

At the completion of year one, students will be able to:

1. Perform using correct sitting posture and appropriate hand positions
2. Play a sixteen measure melody composed with eighth notes at a moderate tempo using alternate picking
3. Read standard music notation and play on all six strings in first position up to the fourth fret
4. Play melodies in the keys C major, A minor, G major, E minor, D major, B minor, F major and D minor
5. Play one octave scales including C major, G major, A major, D major and E major in first position
6. Have a tonal range which extends to the A above the staff
7. Identify chord diagrams and play major, minor and dominant seventh chords in first position in the keys of C major, G major, D major, D minor, A major, A minor, E major, and E minor
8. Strum rhythms to include whole, half, quarter and eighth notes including simple syncopation
9. Play power chords using roots on open sixth, fifth and fourth strings
10. Read and understand symbols indicating up and down strokes using a pick also known as alternate picking
11. Play arpeggios in a finger-style style as an accompaniment
12. Identify and use p-i-m-a including rest stroke (apoyando) and free stroke (tirando)
13. Improvise a melodic line by crafting logical phrases
14. Identify and name the parts of the guitar
15. Identify basic musical symbols
16. Tune the guitar by pitch matching
17. Play effectively and dependably as a part of an ensemble. As a class, the students should have a repertoire of at least four ensemble selections that they can play accurately and musically (if taking lessons with Chris in Utah)
18. Identify and perform in time signatures 4/4, 3/4 and 2/4
19. Perform in a variety of tempos
20. Perform with a metronome, electronic drummer, or recorded accompaniment
21. Demonstrate through performance appropriate dynamics including (forte and piano)
22. Sight-read a simple melodic line of 8 measures in first position, using simple meter in the keys of C major, G major and a minor containing whole, half and quarter notes and corresponding rest rhythms