Piano Handbook

Introduction

Welcome to the Greeley West High School Piano Class! I am thrilled to have your student in class. I sincerely hope your student’s enrollment in this class helps them increase their love for music, working hard, and contributing to a positive musical environment. There are many opportunities for your students here in the Greeley West Performing Arts Department! These experiences will enrich their personal lives, the school, and will provide them with many hours of pleasure and growth after graduation and beyond!

Your support and involvement will greatly impact your students in a positive way. This handbook has been written and developed for the GW Piano Class. This handbook will cover course goals, Colorado Music Standards, and the grading practices. It is my hope that you read the handbook and understand the policy and procedures for this course.

The piano class will be conducted in a manner that will encourage all students to achieve these general goals:

To improve musical skills on a daily basis
Cooperate with fellow music students through sharing the responsibility and privileges that are part of the music program
Have proper respect for teachers and other students.
Be honest and fair with others concerning equipment, music and school life in general
Read and play music with insight and expression

In Harmony,

Rosie O’Connor

Vocal Music Director

Recommended Materials

All students are encouraged to purchase Alfred’s Basic Piano Adult Lessons 1 book. This is a book that is 100% the student’s. Students will be expected to write in the book and mark it up as their own. This is a $13 book and can be bought from Amazon.

Recommended Book - Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course Lesson Book Level 1 - ISBN 0-88284-616-7

Link to Purchase - https://www.amazon.com/Alfreds-Basic-Adult-Piano-Course/dp/0882846167

Other required materials

Sharpened Pencil
charged Chromebook
Folder to hold handouts for music and extra paper either in a notebook or loose in the folder.

Course Objectives, Critical Content, and State Standards

All students in the GW Piano program will play/sing a varied repertoire of music, alone and with others. They will read, notate and create music. All students will listen to, analyze, evaluate and describe music. Music theory and sight-reading are an integral part of the instructional program.

Colorado Academic music Standards

Students are still responsible for homework, in class participation, assignments, and performances.

Expression of Music

Perform accurately and expressively, demonstrating self-evalution, and personal interpretation.
Participate appropriately as an ensemble member.
Demonstrate the required performance skill sets.

Creation of Music

Improvise appropriately over a harmonic progression.
Compose music in several distinct styles.

Theory of Music

Interpretation of musical elements and ideas.
Evaluation of music using critical and informed analysis.
Discernment of musical elements.

Aesthetic Valuation of Music

Practice of appropriate behavior.
Informed judgements through participation, performance, and the creative process.
Evaluation of the quality and effectiveness of musical performances.
Knowledge of available musical opportunities for continued musical growth and professional development.

Classroom Behavior Expectations and Policies

Students are expected to arrive on time and be ready to work when the bell rings or at the appropriate reporting time. Students should have their piano book and a pencil in class everyday. Absolutely no gum, candy, food or drinks (except water) in class. Students should be an active participant, have a positive attitude and respect each other. Please listen to the teacher at all times, but most importantly, have FUN.

Cell Phones

Cell phones should be put away and in backpacks. If this becomes an issue you will have to give me the phone and I will keep it until the end of the class period. I will let you know if you need your phone during class. In general, please see the school policy.

“If a student is found to have used a cellular telephone or other electronic device without authorization, the phone or device may be confiscated by the staff member and given to an administrator. The parent/guardian will be called by the student and the device will be returned, by an administrator, to the parent/guardian after the end of the school day or at a mutually agreed time.

Failure to relinquish the cellular telephone or electronic device to a requesting staff member will result in a one (1) day School Suspension. Failure to relinquish the cellular telephone or electronic device to an administrator or administrative designee will result in a three day School Suspension.” - Greeley West Student Handbook

Grading Policy

Collaborator: 20%

Ensemble etiquette. Come to class on time with all required materials, participate safely and respectfully, are engaged in classroom discussions & activities, use practice time efficiently,

Performer: 60%

Playing tests based on learned materials.
Piano Pass Off Sheet. Throughout the duration of this course, you will accumulate points from the piano point sheet. This sheet serves as a majority of the points in the class. Students are expected to reach the pass off song by the end of the semester. Students may not move from one unit to the next until they get a sign off of all the previous songs.
Playing Test. There will be frequent playing tests (one a week) where students will play for the class the song on the book they are working on.

Researcher/Creator: 20%

Music literacy, improvisation, music notation, music theory assignments, projects, worksheets.

GWHS Parent/Guardian Piano Sign-off