Los Angeles City College
Music 650: Beginning Guitar, Class # 10498/10509 Class Syllabus Spring 2022
Instructor: Dr. Ken Nagatani
Location: Online (Los Angeles City College) Class Hours: Fridays from 9 to 10:05 a.m.
E-mail: nagatak@elac.edu
Office Hours: Fridays from 10:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
Please know that your success is very important to me, and I am here to support you. Do not hesitate to reach out to me via email whenever you have any questions or concerns. I will be checking my messages regularly and will be sure to get back to you within 24 hours.
Course Meeting Information
The Spring 2022 semester runs from February 7 to June 6, 2022. The course will meet every Friday and will be conducted entirely online, which means you do not have to be on campus to complete the course. You will participate in the course using LACC’s learning management system called Canvas.
LACC Canvas Page
We will meet live on zoom every Friday from 9 to 10:05 a.m., and my office hours will also take place immediately after class on zoom, on Fridays from 10:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
Class Description
In this course, students learn the basics of guitar with emphasis on positioning of body and hands, right and left hand techniques, chords and strumming. Students also learn to read music notation and play simple melodies and accompaniments to gain a firm grasp of the instrument. This is a 2 unit class (Lec 1 hr/Lab 2 hrs),
transferable to UC/CSU.
Prerequisite/Course Entry Expectations
There are no course prerequisites, corequisites or advisories. This course is designed for students with no previous musical training.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the required coursework, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate basic instrument care.
2. Demonstrate proper body position.
3. Sight-read beginning-level melodies using all 6 strings.
4. Accurately perform selected beginning-level solo exercises and scale patterns.
5. Critique a live performance in writing.
Required Text and Materials
1. guitar – standard full-size six string in playable condition
2. A Modern Approach to Classical Guitar (Book One) – 2nd Edition by Charles Duncan (available in physical format, as well as a digital Apple Book)
3. A computer, tablet or phone with a reliable internet connection and camera to enable video submissions Optional (but highly recommended) Materials
footstool, tuner (electronic tuner), music stand Course Requirements/Instructor Expectation
Participation is essential to your success in this course. In online courses, you must be disciplined and efficient to stay on track and keep up with the course schedule. Participation includes completing weekly assignments in a timely manner.
Students are expected to commit to daily practice in order to adequately develop their guitar skills and knowledge during this course. Please note that it is much more effective to practice for short segments daily than to cram several hours of practice the day before class. Aim to devote 5-6 hours per week to the class (eg.
practicing, working on assignments, watching lectures, attending zoom session, etc.). This should be enough to complete successfully the requirements of this course.
Coursework will consist of reading/homework, technique and repertoire practice, and a midterm and final (performance evaluations).
Attendance Policy
Students who are registered and miss the first time the class meets may lose their right to a place in the class.
Whenever students are absent more than 10% of the total meeting days of the class, the instructor may exclude them from class. If the instructor determines that there are no mitigating circumstances that may justify the absences, the instructor may exclude a student from the class.
Regular and active participation is an essential aspect of this online course. The expectation of the instructor is that students will log on a minimum of three times every seven days. It is critical that you read and view all of the lectures and assignment materials. Assignments will be posted by date in Canvas under the “Assignments”
module. Your full participation on a weekly basis is not only a requirement, it is an essential aspect of the online course process. All students are expected to do the work assigned, notify the instructor when emergencies arise, and make up missing assignments no later than four days after they are due.
All distance education courses currently follow the Los Angeles City College Attendance & Academic Policies.
In order to avoid getting an F for the course, it is your responsibility to officially withdraw from the class prior to the deadline.
Drops and Repeats
Effective July 1, 2012 students are allowed three (3) attempts to pass a single class within the Los Angeles Community College District. If a student gets a “W”, “D”, “F”, or “NP” as a grade in a class, that counts as an attempt. If you think you will not be able to complete this course with a C or better, please drop by the due date.
For all important dates, make sure to visit: http://www.lacitycollege.edu/services/admissions/dates.html Grades
Final course grades are calculated based on the following categories:
Assignments and Quizzes 30%
Midterm performance 30%
Final performance 40%
All students for this course must take the midterm and final exams in order to receive a passing grade.
Students will be graded on the midterm and final exam for playing ability, proper technique, tuning, and accuracy of pitch and rhythm. The instructor reserves the right to make available extra credit
projects/assignments to all students in the course.
Grade Scale or Criteria:
A – Excellent B – Good C – Satisfactory
D – Less than satisfactory F – Failing
P – Pass; at least equivalent to a “C” grade or better NP – Not pass; equal to “D” or “F” grade
Technical Support
The Office of Special Services is available to support all LACC students. The STHD supports accessing and successfully using LACC technology. They are staffed with knowledgeable and friendly student team members to provide peer support and all assistance provided is free for LACC students.
Phone: 323-953-4000 ext. 2049 E-mail: lacc-techsupport@laccd.edu LACC IT Website
Financial Aid
If you need help paying for books and other college expenses, call the Financial Aid Office at (323) 953-4000 ext. 2010 or email: finaid@lacitycollege.edu.
Students with Disabilities
Students with a verified disability who may need authorized accommodation(s) for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and the Office of Special Services (323-953-4000, ext.2270 or email
oss@lacitycollege.edu). Visit OSS on Cranium Café https://lacc.craniumcafe.com/ or the OSS website:
http://lacitycollege.edu/Resources/Office-Special-Services/
Library
The LACC Library provides a variety of resources and services to support online education. Currently with Covid19, the Library is closed and cannot lend physical books at this time. However, students can access over 200,000 ebooks, millions of newspaper, magazine and scholarly journal articles in full-text, watch videos, and chat with a librarian 24/7, all online. Visit the Library homepage http://library.lacitycollege.edu to get started.
Student Code of Conduct
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following actions: cheating on an exam, plagiarism, working together on an assignment, paper or project when the instructor has specifically stated students should not do so, submitting the same term paper to more than one instructor, or allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of enhancing one’s grade (see LACCD Board Rule 9803.28). Penalties may include a grade of zero or "F" on an exam or paper, or even suspension from the
College.
Prohibited Discrimination
The policy of the Los Angeles Community College District is to provide an educational, employment and business environment free from Prohibited Discrimination, as defined by Board Rule 15003. Employees,
students, or other persons acting on behalf of the District who engage in Prohibited Discrimination as defined in this policy or by State and Federal law shall be subject to discipline, up to and including discharge, expulsion, or termination of contract. The specific rules and procedures for reporting allegations of Prohibited
Discrimination and for pursuing available remedies are included in Administrative Regulation C-14. A copy may be obtained from the Deputy Title IX Coordinator or from the District’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Any member of the Los Angeles City College community, which includes students, faculty, and staff, who believes, perceives, or actually experiences conduct that may constitute prohibited discrimination, has the right to seek the help of the College. Every employee has the responsibility to report such conduct to the Title IX Coordinator or the District's Office of Diversity, Quity, and Inclusion when it is directed toward students.
Potential complainants are advised that administrative and civil law remedies, including but not limited to injunctions, restraining orders or other orders, may be made available. For assistance, contact the Deputy Title IX Coordinator at (213) 891-2315, or SpeakUp@lacitycollege.edu, or Diversity-Programs@email.laccd.edu.
Course Schedule/Important Dates MIDTERM – TBD
NO CLASS: February 18 (President’s Day) & April 8 (Spring Break)
FINAL EXAM – June 3 from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (through zoom or by submitting video)
1. Demonstrate basic instrument care. 2. Demonstrate proper body position. 3. Sight-read beginning-level melodies using all six strings. 4. Accurately perform selected beginning-level solo exercises and scale patterns. 5. Critique a live performance in writing.
Grading Scale or Criteria A - Excellent
B - Good C - Satisfactory
D - Less than satisfactory
Effective July 1, 2012 students are allowed three (3) attempts to pass a single class within the Los Angeles
Community College District. If a student gets a “W”, “D”, “F”, or “NP” as a grade in a class, that counts as an attempt.
If you think you will not be able to complete this course with a C or better, please drop by the due date.
Students who are registered and miss the first time the class meets may lose their right to a place in the class.
Whenever students are absent more than 10% of the total meeting days of the class, the instructor may exclude them from class. If the instructor determines that there are no mitigating circumstances that may justify the absences, the instructor may exclude a student from the class. Students are responsible for officially dropping a class that they stop attending.
Attendance Policy Drop and Repeats
2 units transferable to UC/CSU
The student learns basic positioning of body and hands, music notation and reading, finger picking, and chord accompaniment. Designed for students with no previous musical training. Student must provide own guitar.
Course Description
Units/Transferability
Prerequisites/Co-requisites/Advisories
Course Student Learning Outcomes No Prerequisites. No Corequisites.
F - Failing
P - Pass; at least equivalent to a “C” grade or better NP - Not Pass; equal to “D” or “F” grade
Financial Aid
If you need help paying for books and other college expenses, call the Financial Aid Office at (323) 953-4000 ext.2010 or email finaid@lacitycollege.edu.
For all important dates make sure to visit
Accommodations
Students with a verified disability who may need authorized accommodation(s) for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and the Office of Special Services (323-953-4000, ext.2270 or email oss@lacitycollege.edu).
Visit OSS on Cranium Café https://lacc.craniumcafe.com/ or
the OSS website: http://lacitycollege.edu/Resources/Office-Special-Services/
Student Code of Conduct
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following actions: cheating on an exam, plagiarism, working together on an assignment, paper or project when the instructor has specifically stated students should not do so, submitting the same term paper to more than one instructor, or allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of enhancing one’s grade (see LACCD Board Rule 9803.28). Penalties may include a grade of zero or "F" on an exam or paper, or even suspension from the College.
Course: MUSIC 650
Title: BEGINNING GUITAR
Library
The LACC Library provides online access to databases, eBooks, full-text articles, streaming videos, research skills workshops, and 24/7 reference chat for research support.
In-person services are dependent on the Covid-19 situation. Check the library webpage for updates:
http://library.lacitycollege.edu
http://www.lacitycollege.edu/services/admissions/dates.html
The policy of the Los Angeles Community College District is to provide an educational, employment and business environment free from Prohibited Discrimination, as defined by Board Rule 15003. Employees, students, or other persons acting on behalf of the District who engage in Prohibited Discrimination as defined in this policy or by State and Federal law shall be subject to discipline, up to and including discharge, expulsion, or termination of contract. The specific rules and procedures for reporting allegations of Prohibited Discrimination and for pursuing available
remedies are included in Administrative Regulation C-14. A copy may be obtained from the Deputy Title IX Coordinator or from the District’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Any member of the Los Angeles City College community, which includes students, faculty, and staff, who believes, perceives, or actually experiences conduct that may constitute prohibited discrimination, has the right to seek the help of the College. Every employee has the responsibility to report such conduct to the Title IX Coordinator or the
District's Office of Diversity, Quity, and Inclusion when it is directed toward students. Potential complainants are advised that administrative and civil law remedies, including but not limited to injunctions, restraining orders or other orders, may be made available. For assistance, contact the Deputy Title IX Coordinator at (213) 891-2315, or SpeakUp@lacitycollege.edu, or Diversity-Programs@email.laccd.edu.
Prohibited Discrimination
In compliance with Health Orders from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, the Los Angeles Community College District, Board Policy 2800, approved August 4, 2021, all students, employees and visitors, regardless of vaccination status, shall wear a mask or face covering while inside any District building, classroom, library, gymnasium, facility or other indoor setting. These requirements are in place to fulfill the Board’s statutory obligation to protect its students, faculty, employees and visitors from the risks associated with the spread of infectious diseases, including the spread of the COVID-19 virus and its variants.
Students who fail to wear a mask/face covering while indoors at all LACCD colleges and facilities, including classrooms, will be asked to either comply or to leave the classroom immediately. Continued failure to comply constitutes a violation of the Student Code of Conduct as outlined in Board Policy 5500 and students may be subject to further disciplinary action. Pursuant to Education Code Section 76032, students may be removed from class for up to two (2) class sessions for refusing to wear the mask/face coverings required by this Board Policy. Further or repeated offenses may result in discipline pursuant to Education Code, Board Rules, and Board Policy.
Wearing Masks/Facial Covering on Campus
Exceptions to the mask/facial covering requirement are that the student has a valid medical exception currently on file in their college’s Disabled Student Programs and Services / Office of Special Services (DSPS/OSS) office, such as a medical condition, including mental health or disability, that prevents wearing a mask, or, for students who are hearing impaired or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication. To facilitate sign language use in the classroom, faculty and sign-language interpreters may remove their face covering for instruction purposes only. In such cases, faculty and interpreters must maintain six feet of distance from all others in the classroom. Should any student have an approved exemption from wearing a mask/face covering, they must also maintain six feet of distance from all others.
Board Policy 2800: http://go.boarddocs.com/ca/laccd/Board.nsf/goto?openid=C5LNVM612301 Board Policy 5500: http://go.boarddocs.com/ca/laccd/Board.nsf/goto?openid=C54M4A560575 Board Action August 4, 2021:
http://laccd.edu/Documents/NewsDocuments/2021/LACCD%20Board%20Adopts%20Policies%20Regarding%20Mas king%20and%20Vaccinations%20August%204%20Screen.pdf
