SCHOOL OF MUSIC TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY

SYLLABUS

Semester & year: Sp 2019

Course number – section – Title: MU2123.002

Meets (day, time, room): T/TR 9:30am

Instructor: Dr. Seth Carper

Email: s_c624@txstate.edu Office: Music 116
Office hours: by appointment

Course Purposes & Objectives

As a general music educator, you may be called upon to play or teach guitar. You will need to know
the basics of guitar performance/instruction.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the semester, students will achieve an understanding of basic guitar fundamentals for
use in a general music or group guitar class.

Textbooks & Other Required Materials

Guitar (your own if you have one, or check one out from the instructor)
Materials provided throughout the course by the instructor.

Grading Policy
Written/playing Test 1= 100 points
Written/playing Test 2= 100 points

The average of these two tests will count as 1/3 of your final grade when averaged with the
remainder of your grades.

Attendance Policy
We only have 9 meetings, 2 of which are test days, so your attendance is essential.

Texas State Policies

Office of Disabilities Statement – If you are a student with a disability who will require an
accommodation(s) to participate in this course, please contact the instructor as soon as possible. You
will be asked to provide documentation from the Office of Disability Services. Failure to contact the
instructor in a timely manner may delay your accommodations.
University Honor Code – Texas State University-San Marcos expects students to engage in all
academic pursuits in a manner that is beyond reproach. Students found in violation of the Honor
Code are subject to disciplinary action. The Honor Code can be found at
http://www.txstate.edu/effective/upps/upps-07-10-01-att1.html
Cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated and may result in a failing grade for the course.

Civility – The School of Music supports the university’s commitment to civility. Disrespectful
conduct undermines a culture of learning, just as acts of dishonesty do. The university policy, PPS
4.02.5-6 “Courteous Behavior,” gives examples of unacceptable conduct and sets out ways of
responding to such conduct. If a student behaves in a manner that the instructor considers to be
discourteous to the instructor or to any member of the class, the instructor may, at his or her
discretion, request that the student desist or request that the student leave the classroom. A student
who does not comply with such a request may be subject to suspension from the class, action by
Student Justice or by the University Police Department. (PPS 4.02 may be found in the Policy and
Procedure Statements Index at http://www.provost.txstate.edu/pps.html.)

Certifying Attendance – The University Certifying Attendance policy can be found at PPS 4.02.
This policy outlines the documentation of student’s attendance in their registered courses and is used
to verify to the federal government that a Title IV aid recipient began attendance in courses aiding in
the documentation of student financial aid availability.

Week No. Dates Assignments Due Topics

WEEK 1 27-Aug Introduction, Syllabus, Guitar parts,
Tuning, TAB, Chord Charts
29-Aug Left vs Right hand roles, First four
frets, Major scale, C-G-F
Basic open string voicings,
WEEK 2 3-Sep strumming

Basic Songs: Row row, Twinkle,

5-Sep Mary,
Sunshine
WEEK 3 10-Sep TEST 1 Written and Playing

12-Sep Finger-Styles, Singing and playing

WEEK 4 17-Sep Bar Chords

19-Sep Seventh Chords

“Randy”
WEEK 5 24-Sep Lesson Planning with Guitar

26-Sep TEST 2 Written and Playing