TRHS Guitar Class Syllabus - Douglas County School District

Suzie Tellefson
e-mail: suzanne.tellefson@dcsdk12.org
Website: www.TRHSmusic.com
Purpose:
TRHS Guitar Class Syllabus
The purpose of the guitar class at ThunderRidge High School is to introduce fundamentals of music and
guitar playing to students with little or no experience in music or playing guitar. We hope that students will take
what they learn from this class and continue a lifelong desire to play music. Remember, this is a beginning
guitar class.
Requirements:
1. You must have a working acoustic guitar in good condition with new or near new strings.
2. Electric guitars are not allowed if they require amplification to be heard.
3. You will need to purchase a beginning guitar book from the school. The cost of the book is $5.95. The
charge for the book will show on your Infinite Campus account. You may pay the charge online with a
credit card or to the TRHS bookkeeper with a check. Please wait till the charge appears on your account
before paying. If you wish, additional resources are also available for purchase. You will be made aware
of those resources throughout the semester.
Grading:
Grades are based on two factors: your daily participation and frequent written and performance
assessments. These two factors are weighted as 50% each.
The grading scale is:
90%-100% A
80%-90% B
70%-80% C
60%-70% D
below 70% F
Your daily participation grade(50%) is based on the following:
1. Being to class on time.
2. Having your book, working guitar, and pencil everyday. It is advised to have an extra set of strings on
hand as they can and do break frequently
3. Participating in a positive manner.
4. Using the time you are given to practice constructively.
5. You are given 10 points a day, don’t lose them!
Your performance and written assessment grade(50%) is based on the following:
1. Being prepared to play an exam when called. Exams are taken out of the book.
2. Showing proficiency on exams as assigned.
3. Being prepared for written exams as they occur.
4. You will always know well in advance of all exams.
5. Each exam is worth 100 points. The final exam is worth 600 points.

Behavior expectations:
All guidelines explained in the Douglas County Behavior Expectations booklet are in force in guitar
class. Violations of the expectations will result in an office referral.
In addition, you will notice a lot of nice equipment in the music rooms. Please do not mistreat the
equipment, i.e. leaning on music stands, tipping chairs back, etc. Please do not touch any of the other equipment
in the room without permission to do so. Mistreatment of any of the equipment will result in a $5.00 fine per
incident to offset maintenance/replacement costs of the equipment.
General Info:
All Guitar can be stored in the back storage room in room B206 (Choir room). For the safety reasons,
your guitar must be placed against the wall. Guitars found on the floor or other places in the building will be
stored in another room and you will need to pay $5.00 to get it back. If you are taking your instrument home,
you must get it out of the storage room by 3:15pm each day, otherwise the room will be locked. You may bring
your instrument to the storage room any time after 7:00 AM. Do not leave your guitar outside of the room at
any time. If your instrument is found outside of the room, it will be stored in another room and you will need to
pay $5.00 to get it back.
Sample rubric for performance exams
Non-proficient Partially Proficient Proficient Advanced
Points 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Rhythm/tempo
Little or no rhythmic
accuracy. Significant
tempo changes.
Some rhythmic
accuracy. Some tempo
changes
Adequate rhythmic
accuracy. Adequate
tempo accuracy with
little change.
Perfect rhythmic
accuracy. Tempo
changes unnoticeable.
Points 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Note Accuracy
Many missed notes &
accidentals. Unfamiliar
with key signature.
Some missed notes.
Some familiarity with
key signature.
Few missed notes.
Familiar with key
signature.
No missed notes. Very
familiar with key
signature.
Points 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Picking/Finger
Technique
No evidence of proper
picking or finger
technique.
Some evidence of
proper picking or finger
technique, but sporadic.
Adequate evidence of
proper picking or finger
technique. Some minor
issues.
Excellent picking or
fingering technique.
Sound quality
excellent.
Name:
Total out of 100

You will be graded on the following assignments. You must play them on or before the date due. Please
make note of the date due as they are assigned. Late assignments will be graded down 10 points for each
class period past the assigned due date.
Book # Piece Date Due
Packet Music Theory Packet
6 The Blues Beat
9 Aura Lee
12 Mary Ann
15 When The Saints...
17 Oh, Susanna
19 Down in the Valley
23 Singing Strings
25 Danny Boy
29 Amazing Grace
34 Surfin’ Safari
36 Aura Lee
39 Simple Gifts
43 New River Train (chords and melody)
46 Chuck B. Goode
48 Brahms Lullaby
49 Cielito Lindo
51 Roots of Rock
54 Battle of Aughrim (chords and melody)
57 Metalurgy
60 Surf-Rock Bass
64 Loch Lomond (chords and melody)
67 Scarborough Fair
72 A Little Night Music
74 The Boogie Progresion
Chord Final I-IV-V (orV7)-I in 5 different keys. Refer to chord chart
in this packet. Play in first position. This must be
played before your scheduled final.
Written Final
Will be given on your scheduled final period for this
class.

I, IV, V or V7, I Progressions
In 12 keys
Pick five keys to play for your playing final
Key I Chord IV Chord V or V7 Chord I Chord
A A D E or E7 A
Bb Bb Eb F or F7 Bb
B B E F# or F#7 B
C C F G or G7 C
Db Db Gb Ab or Ab7 Db
D D G A or A7 D
Eb Eb Ab Bb or Bb7 Eb
E E A B or B7 E
F F Bb C or C7 F
F# F# B C# or C#7 F#
G G C D or D7 G
Ab Ab Db Eb or Eb7 Ab

Agreement Form
Please sign, have your parents sign, and return this portion to your teacher tomorrow. Please keep the
rest of this syllabus and refer to it often. The excuse, “I didn’t know”, is not acceptable.
I have read and understand all of the information contained in this syllabus and I will endeavor to to make
positive progress.
_________________________________
Student’s Name (please print neatly)
_________________________________
Student’s signature
____________
Date
I have read and understand all of the information contained in this syllabus and will support my son/daughter’s
commitment to learning guitar.
_________________________________
Parent’s signature
____________
Date
If you have any questions about this class and its contents please feel free to e-mail me at:
suzanne.tellefson@dcsdk12.org
Thank you!
Suzie Tellefson