PIANO I COURSE SYLLABUS (also found on Canvas!)
PIANO planning Calendar
AHS COMMON SYLLABUS
COURSE: Beginning Keyboard I (53.0941001-1)
INSTRUCTOR; Mr. Mike Walsh: Email: [email protected]
REQUIRED TEXT: Alfred’s Basic Adult All-In-One Level 1 Piano eBook (Palmer, Manus, Lethco)
GET YOUR BOOK FIRST. You must purchase your own piano book; ALL assignments will come from this book, and you will be working from it the first week; it will be yours to keep. Because of how our lab operates (each seat has individual audio and video communication), we must use an eBook so the book will live on your classroom iMac computer - and any other Apple devices you own. Before you purchase you must have an iTunes account. If you do not have an apple devise you must still create an iTunes account and can purchase online or from the Apple desktop in the classroom. Go into iBooks on your Apple device to purchase this book:
BOOK TITLE: Alfred's Basic Adult All-In-One Course (Book 1) interactive eBook Authors: Palmer, Manus, Lethco BE SURE IT IS THE "All-In-One" course before purchasing. It may take a minute to download before the interactive stuff begins to work. Read full version of Syllabus for more details (link above).
Class Fees: In addition to purchasing your own book, there is a "Lab Fee" of $25 per student that will help "offset" the expense of keeping our computer software and hardware up-to-date. The actual cost is well over $100-per-seat on a average year. ALL FEES will be paid online through the Alpharetta HS main school website on the OSP page. "Online School Payments" is the first button from the left on the homepage. Search the course title and follow the prompts. LINK WILL BE ACTICE 8.7.23. Be sure you get email or print your receipt at checkout! If this link is missing or not active as of 8.7.23, please email Mr. Walsh.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a beginning music course for students with little or no formal training on piano. Music fundamentals covering basic theory, notation, and rhythm will be covered. In addition, students will complete periodic worksheets to "check for understanding."
The main focus of the class will of course be learning to play the piano!
GOALS:
1. The student will be able to play piano.
2. The student will be able to identify the fundamentals of music through piano performance.
3. The student will apply music theory and piano fundamentals to musical performance.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: No musical experience is required to participate in this class – only a desire to learn how to play! Students will be expected to complete piano performance tests (proficiencies) on their piano.
EVALUATION:
Grades will be based on performance proficiencies, worksheets, written tests, and class participation. Grades will be assigned as follows:
55% - MAJOR (summative) - Unit Checkpoints, Unit Assessments
35% - MINOR (formative) – daily checkpoint performances, written quizes
10% - PRACTICE - daily skills practice, basic skills checkpoints
Scope and Sequence (paced according to experience level):
Unit 1: Posture, finger warmups, finger numbers, The Piano Keyboard, The Musical Alphabet, basic C- position, Intro to right-hand / left-hand work, intro to reading music notation
Unit 2: Grand Staff / Clefs, Time Signatures, C-position; intro to chords
Unit 3: G-position; the I chord, the IV chord
Unit 4: Accidentals, G Major 5 Finger Position, I, IV, V7 chords in G major
Unit 5: F Major Five finger position, I, IV, V7 in F Major, transposition, D.C. al fine, dotted rhythms
Unit 6: Staccato, 1st and 2nd endings, blocked and broken chords, Dynamics, ritardandos, accents
Unit 7: Half steps and whole steps, C Major Scale, Scale preparation drills, Scale melodies, common and cut time.
Unit 8: G Major Scale, shifting hand position, 6/8 time signature
Unit 9: F Major Scale, The order of sharps, Sharp key signatures, G Major, F Major, A Minor, D Minor.
Lessons will be planned and designed using the Following MENC Standards which have been adopted by Fulton County and the State of Georgia as the Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) for all Music classes. Recognized National Standards NAfME Content Standards
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
5. Reading and notating music.
6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
7. Evaluating music and music performances.
8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
AHS RECOVERY/RISE (RE-TEACHING/INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT AND ENRICHMENT POLICY):
1. All students will have one (1) opportunity each nine-week period to redo/retake one (1) major assignment or assessment for improvement; eligibility for retakes is for students who earned below a 75. However, you cannot improve your grade beyond a 75. In other words on a retake, a 75 up to a perfect score on the retake will be a 75 in the gradebook.
2. Student retakes must be completed before the next summative assessment is given - or five (5) school days before the end of the marking period if there is not another major assessment given (teachers can make exceptions for students who have excused absences during this 5-day window).
Make-Up Work:
Since piano is skills-based, students will work at their own pace on each unit, with work due by end of each unit. Students will have until end of semester to complete any missing assignments. Students can work ahead if they are able (move-on-when-ready). 10% reduction from the graded score on missing work due to absence, or present but missing work that is due by end of unit. Assignments missing after the end of a unit will be accepted until end of semester, 15% reduction from the graded score.
RISE SCHEDULE: Monday, 7:40-8:15 AM / 3:25-3:50 PM, by appointment only.
