SWHS Guitar

Courses Available

Advanced Guitar & Guitar Orchestra:

COURSE DESCRIPTION   

This class is designed for the student that has classical guitar proficiency. Reading music in multiple positions with advanced rhythms is required.  Students focus on performance and continue to advance individual skill levels in solo, small ensemble, and large ensemble playing as well as music theory, music history and guitar pedagogy.  Students in Guitar Orchestra also participate in small ensembles that cover multiple genres. Small ensembles have the opportunity to perform in private events throughout our community during the year. Guitar Orchestra students perform multiple times a year in our community, collegiate collaboration, daytime and evening performances, and combined concerts. Performance is the primary expectation of this class and attendance at performances is required. Private lessons are encouraged. This class takes an out-of-state tour each spring.

Songwriting/Digital Music:

COURSE DESCRIPTION   

Songwriting is designed for the musician that has a desire to create their own music. Exploring instruments, digital music, and studying the elements involved in writing music, students build a portfolio of their own music through collaboration and solo projects. Students will become comfortable writing music using digital software and explore how these functions work. This class performs throughout the school year in various venues in and out of school in the evening and during the day. This class takes an out-of-state tour each spring.  

Intermediate Guitar:

COURSE DESCRIPTION   

This class is designed for the student that has previous experience playing guitar by reading tablature, chording or playing by ear but does not read traditional music notation OR for the student that reads music on another instrument. Students that have played the piano for 5 years or more should contact Mr. Waln to discuss appropriate class placement.  Students will learn to play traditional notation, barre chords, flat picking, and fingerpicking (including PIMA)  in a variety of genres. Music theory, ear training, scales, arpeggios, rhythm reading and guitar history are all a part of the curriculum. Students gain fluency through practice in solo, small ensemble, and large ensemble playing. Students perform in class and at evening concerts. Private lessons are encouraged. This class has three required evening concerts during the school year.

Beginning Guitar:

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This class is intended for the student with no previous instrumental experience. Students will learn how to read music, read tablature, play open chords, strum patterns, fingerpick, and flat pick in multiple genres of music. Students gain fluency through practice in solo, small ensemble, and large ensemble playing. The students will perform as a class in an evening concert during the course of the semester.