EKU Department of Music
MUS 107
(Class Guitar for Non-Music Majors)
Location: Campbell 327
Time: T-R, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Instructor: Dennis Davis
Office: 112 Foster Building
Phone: (859) 622-5007
FAX 859-622-1333
Email:dennis.davis@eku.edu
Office Hours: By appointment

Catalog Description:

  • Class Guitar I (Non-Music Majors). Two classes per week. May be retaken to a maximum of 4 hours.

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Course Description:

  • Provides basic instruction in the essential elements of guitar playing in a format accessible to all students. A prerequisite knowledge of music or guitar technique is not required.

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Assumptions:

  • All students need to have an acoustic guitar. Students will practice 5 hours per week (minimum). The technical exercises are practiced every week, whether mentioned or not. Practice schedules are due at the beginning of each class. Right hand fingerings will be written out for the text exercises each week. Students are required to attend all EKU guitar events (including EKU Jazz Band Concerts). These dates include, but are not limited to: Apr 2 EKU Guitar Ensemble Recital, Brock, 8:00, Apr 5 Dennis Davis Faculty Guitar Recital, Brock, 8:00, Apr 9 Kent Mulcahy Junior Guitar Recital, Brock 3:00, Apr 23 EKU Guitar Studio Recital, Brock, 6:00, Mar 9 Jazz Ensemble Recital, Gifford, 8:00. Note: Missing a requried concert will lower your grade by one letter.

Learning Objectives Include:

  • Students learn to read and count music on the guitar.
  • Students perform solo and ensemble works for guitar.
  • Students demonstrate proper posture, hand position, and technique.

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Student Assessment:

  • Class Attendance and Participation: 25% - Attendance is mandatory. Five unexcused absences result in a failing grade. Excused absences for legitimate reasons will be granted with proper documentation. Each unexcused absence will result in a 3% reduction of the final grade.
  • Assignments and Projects: 25%
  • Mid-Term Exam: 25% (3/9/2006)
  • Final: 25%
  • Missing required guitar concerts and related events will lower the final grade one letter (per event).
  • 100-90 = A, 89-80 = B, 79-70=C, etc.
  • Student Progress: The instructor will provide students with information on their progress in the course at least once prior to midterm.
  • The last day to drop the course or to withdraw from the University are listed in the Colonel Compass.
  • University Writing Requirement: Baccalaureate degree students must take the exam in the first semester of enrollment after completing the 60th credit hour. Transfer students who transfer 60 credit hours or more must take the exam in the first semester of enrollment. Students failing to register for, take and pass the UWR in the semester after they complete 60 credit hours will be subject to the enrollment limitation described in the undergraduate catalog.

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Required Materials:

  • Beginning Classroom Guitar 2nd Edition by Philip Hemmo: Provides detailed instruction on guitar positioning, hand positioning, tuning, and note reading. Exercises and writings are presented along with etudes and studies from the major style periods. Other Supplementary materials will be copied as needed.
  • Metronome (approx. $15-30.).
(Optional)
  • Practical Theory by Sandy Feldstein (10.95 plus tax): Provides non-music majors an introduction to music theory and harmony.
  • Mel Bay: Basic Chords for the Guitar (4.95 plus tax): Chord diagram reference book.

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Reserve Materials Include:
  • Articles explaining guitar technique.
  • Videos and CD recordings.
  • Other items as announced.

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Course Schedule:

1/17

Basic positioning, essential technical exercises (shifting and slurs), counting and notation (first week); Text: pp. Vii -17.

1/19
No Class (NAMM Conference)

1/24 - 1/26

Perform shifting and slurs exercises with counting. Discussion of how to write out right hand fingerings and plan Practice Schedules (projected v. actual). Text: pp. 17-21; 70-73. (notes on strings 1-2; Chords: Em, G) Read Practice Schedule readings on reserve in the Library. Strumming pattern counting.

1/31 - 2/2

Continue shifting and slur exercises. Discussion: Aguado Study I, Tab vs. Notation, Chord Chart in Text p. 138. Assignment: Prepare general practice schedule; Text: pp. 22-27 (notes on strings 1-3; Chords: Em, G, C, G7); Aguado: ms. 1-8;

2/7 - 2/9

Perform Aguado 1-8, and Chords; Discussion: Harmonics and tuning pp. 12-13, 64-65. Text: pp. 28-35. Notes on string 4; Chords: Em, G, C, G7, D , A7, Dsus4. Ties.

2/14 - 2/16

Perform Aguado 1-12, and Chords; Discussion: rhythmic vocables part dux (triplets/eighths), DC al Fine, repeat signs, Guitar ensemble rounds. Text: 35-40; Chords: Em, G, C, G7, D , A7, Dsus4, E (problems with G fingering p.40) Assign selected ensemble and solo works.

2/21 - 2/23

Perform Aguado 1-16; Exercises on all six strings pp.41-46. Chords: Em, G, C, G7, D , A7, Dsus4, E, Basic Blues Handout and chord strumming tune (Eagles:Take it easy)

2/28 - 3/2

Perform Aguado with singing and phrasing; Compound meter, 2 voice music: pp. 47-50; Chords: Em, G, C, G7, D , A7, Dsus4, E, Am, Dm. CAGED system.

3/7 - 3/9

Aguado Phrasing; C major scales pp. 76-77. Midterm Exam 3/9. The mid-term will have playing and written componets.

  SPRING BREAK (3/13-17)
3/21 - 3/23

 

Perform Aguado; Prior exercises and ensemble pieces. Practice Eagles' Tune. Hand out Come Together.

3/28 - 3/30

 

Text: pp.51-52 top, 54-55; Dynamics and Chromaticism. Aguado Phrasing; Chords: Em, G, C, G7, D , A7, Dsus4, E, Am, Dm., E7, B7; and C scale, Take It Easy (chord Strumming) and Come Together.

4/4 - 4/6

Text: pp.59-63, 67-68. Perform Aguado; Prior exercises and ensemble pieces. Practice Eagles' Tune and Come Together. Bar Chords, CAGED system part dux and Muting.

4/11 - 4/13

 

Text: pp.76 (advanced scales), Continue prior work. Perform prior exercises, solo, and ensemble pieces. Practice Eagles' Tune and Come Together. All chords. Continue CAGED system part dux if necessary.

4/18 - 4/20

 

Text: pp.85-121 (solo and ensemble literature), Continue prior work. Perform prior exercises, solo, and ensemble pieces. Practice Eagles' Tune and Come Together. All chords.

4/25 - 4/27

 

Text: pp.85-121 (solo and ensemble literature), Continue prior work. Perform prior exercises, solo, and ensemble pieces. Practice Eagles' Tune and Come Together. All chords. Bob's blues and dead thumb style.

5/11

Final: 10:30-12:30 pm.Room: Campbell 327.

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University Disabilities Statement If there is any student in this class who is in need of academic accommodations and who is registered with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities, please make an individual appointment with the course instructor to discuss accommodations. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in alternative forms. If any student who is not registered with the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities but has need of academic accommodations, please contact the Office directly, either in person on the first floor of the Turley House, or by telephone at 622-1500.



Academic Apparatus
Catalog Description
Course Description
Assumptions
Learning Objectives
Student Assessment
Required Materials
Course Schedule
Reserve Material
University Disabilities Statement


Other Links
EKU Guitar Program

EKU Department of Music
College of Arts and Sciences