FUNCTIONAL MUSICIANSHIP

Course Description: Functional Musicianship is a fine arts course that requires one semester of commitment. This course is offered only to 7th and 8th grade students who have at least 18 weeks of middle school general music, chorus, band, or strings. You will develop your own “individual” as well as group skills on either the piano or guitar. Students will be encouraged to cultivate healthy relationships and friendships as well as improve individual and group skills that relate to music, personal development, and school leadership.

Syllabus

PIANO TRACK

You will be practicing at a digital piano for 18 weeks (one semester). This is a self-paced course in which you will develop basic skills on the piano.

GOALS:

Acquisition of basic technique
Ability to play most melodic lines as you would see them in band, strings, or chorus.
Transpositions will be taught if necessary
Chord with simple, known melodies
Scales in CM, GM, FM, and Am.
Indepence at the instrument
An interest in further study

This may be taken once a year if class sizes permit.

GUITAR TRACK

You will be practicing on an acoustic, Yamaha guitar for 18 weeks (one semester). This is a self-paced course in which you will develop basic skills on the guitar.

GOALS:

Acquisition of basic technique
Ability to pick melodic lines on 4 to 6 strings using written notation.
Ability to produce 3 to 5 note chords using tabs.
Read tabs while singing or along with a recording.
Scales in GM, FM, and Dm
Independence at the instrument
An interest in further study

This may be taken once a year if class sizes permit.