Music 118R Guitar Techniques and Literature, Winter 2010

Strictly Beatles!

SECTION 001, index # 08906; TTH 7:00-7:50pm, meets in C-580 HFAC

INSTRUCTOR:

Lawrence Green 801-422-3275; lrmusic “at” mstarmetro “dot” net Office: C-398-HFAC (SW corner of the HFAC, outside, go to the top of the stairs, keep going straight through the north glass doors and downstairs).

TEXTS:

Lawrence Green's Great Big Guitar Method and The Beatles Complete Chord Songbook. Get them at: the Great Salt Lake Guitar Co., 362 West Center Street, Provo, 801-375-4435. You must also have a guitar in at least tolerable playing condition.

PRACTICE TIME NEEDED:

45 minutes a day, minimum.

MATERIAL STUDIED:

This is an intermediate guitar class. This semester is only the music of the Beatles. We will expand the folk guitar styles and techniques learned in Music 117, but using the music of the Beatles, exclusively. You should have completed Music 117 or be able to play at that level.

Here follows an approximation of the semester. There are 14 weeks of class. We will cover these items:

Review: basic techniques as found in Lawrence Green's Great Big Guitar Method, pages 1-83. This will include basic chords, strums, bass/strums, fingerpicks, the Travis Pick and some other items.

Tablature: We will need some reading ability in tablature to facilitate the learning of intros and specific parts of songs.

Bar Chords: Two Sets, as found on pages 242 and 243 in the GBGM.

New Techniques: will be learned as we learn the various songs by the Beatles. This will include new strums, bass/strums and bass stuff, picks, scales, slurs, different tunings, false fingerpicking, and such. You need to attend to stay up on the material. I choose the particular songs based on how fast the class is getting the concepts at a given time.

Week 13: perform in class and/or group play -- obviously, this must be only Beatles music!
Week 14: perform in class and/or group play; I will hold an in-class review the next-to-last day of class.
Week 15: written test -- LAST DAY OF CLASS!

ATTENDANCE:

Mandatory; Attendance is taken twice during the term on un-announced days; attendance is only counted if absences are a problem.

GRADES ARE BASED ON THREE AREAS

1) WRITTEN TEST. Based on facts in the text from pages 1-151 and other material from other sections in the book. THE TEST IS GIVEN DURING THE LAST PERIOD OF CLASS, IN CLASS - April 13, 2010. At this time, you will turn in your pink sheet with your concerts attended written on the pink sheet (see below).

2) ATTEND THREE (3) CONCERTS where guitar is principle or prominent--folk, classical and jazz, and I'll even count rock if the guitar players can play. A list will be sent via email within two weeks of the beginning of class. Please check with the instructor for approval of any concert not on the list. Only approved concerts count. In addition to anything happening on campus, you can also go to any of the following local places: Borders Bookstore 801-224-2720, Muse Music, Club Velour or any other venue of this type. Please save concert information--tickets, programs, etc. You are responsible for correct concert information. At this point I have just a few concerts to list with incomplete info, but this will be updated, so check occasionally.

Synthesis, an on-campus event; please check with HFAC box office for date and times.
Jazz Ensemble, an on-campus event; please check with HFAC box office for date and times.
Folk Ensemble, an on-campus event; please check with HFAC box office for date and times.
Guitars Unplugged, an on-campus event, usually in March; please check with ASBYU for date and times.
Acoustic Explosion, an on-campus event that occurs each month; please check with ASBYU for date and times.
Lawrence Green, classical guitar recital, TBA

3) PERFORMANCE/PRACTICE JOURNAL (PDF file -- go to Blackboard and print this out). You can perform three (3) times out in public or in class, or you can keep a record of your daily practice. Choose one or the other and log it on the PERFORMANCE/PRACTICE JOURNAL. NOTE: You will list your concert names and dates on the PERFORMANCE/PRACTICE JOURNAL and turn in on the day of the final.

Please observe BYU dress standards--thanks.