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Course Outline

Detailed lesson notes, objectives and learning outcomes

Each level comprises ten lessons. The tenth lesson in each level is a song which demonstrates the skills learned in that level. The first three levels take beginners through to intermediate level of competence.

These are ideal for providing the skills students need during Key Stage 2 Y6/P6 through Key Stage 3 Y7–9/S1–S3 and beyond as students prepare for their GCSE/SQC music studies.

Each lesson contains detailed notes that plans the lesson for the teacher and provides the student with comprehensive notes to use in class and at home.

Listed below are all the learning objectives for every lesson, and the points at which students are able to be assessed for OCN credits.

Gigajam Level 1

click to open/close detailsLesson 1

Guitar

Playing rock chords

  • Introduce power chords, also known as 5 chords and be able to play the chords of A5 and G5.
  • Introduce chord boxes to help understand chord shapes.
  • Introduce the plectrum and how it is used.
  • Understand and be able to count whole notes and the concept of common time.
  • Develop co-ordination of both hands in the playing of rock chords.
  • Introduce repeat signs.

Bass

Building a rock groove

  • Understand and be able to count quarter notes.  
  • Understand root bass notes.  
  • Introduce the bass notes of A and G played on both fretted and on open strings.  
  • Play a rock groove.

Keyboard

Keyboard orientation

  • To become familiar with the layout of the keyboard and be able to play and identify a number of notes on the keyboard.  
  • Introduce the Musical stave and begin to be able to recognise the different notes positions on the stave.  
  • Introduce the concept of rhythm using whole notes, half notes and quarter notes.  
  • Introduce and be able to play simple chords of A and G known as triads.  
  • Introduce common time.

Drums

Building a rock groove

  • Understand and be able to count quarter notes.  
  • Understand and develop three way co-ordination.  
  • Play a rock groove.

click to open/close detailsLesson 2

Guitar

Developing rhythms

  • Understand and be able to count half notes.
  • Understand and be able to count quarter notes.
  • Develop understanding of the chords A5 and G5, by using combinations of all notes learned.
  • Develop greater awareness and ability to play in time with music.
  • Introduce the concept of subdividing, to create rhythm.

Bass

Introducing eighth notes

  • Understand and be able to count eighth notes.
  • Play more rock grooves using eighth notes.
  • Introducing the use of a plectrum (also known as a pick).
  • Understand right hand alternate picking.
  • Understand the use of down and up strokes. 

Keyboard

Introducing Scales

  • Introduce major scales for the notes A and G.
  • Understand the relationship between major triads and major scales.
  • Perform ascending and descending scales using quarter notes.
  • Introduce and apply right hand fingering for scales. 

Drums

Introducing Eighth Notes

  • Understand and be able to count eighth notes.
  • Further development of three way co-ordination.
  • Play more rock grooves using eighth notes.
  • Introduce the single stroke roll. 

click to open/close detailsDebut Grade

Having completed the course up to the end of lesson two students are now in a position to consider taking their debut grade examination.

The examination will consist of techinical exercises (submitted from lessons one and two to the e-portfolio), sight reading exercises, aural tests, general musisianship questions, and performance of exam pieces.

(Examination and syllabus availability expected March 2008)

click to open/close detailsLesson 3

Guitar

Introducing Eighth Notes and Developing Rhythm

  • To introduce, understand and be able to play eighth notes.
  • To develop understanding and performance of rhythm by combining whole, half, quarter and eighth notes together.
  • To build a library of chords by introducing and learning how to play the chords of C5 and D5.

Bass

Introducing New Notes and String Crossing

  • Learn new notes on the A string (3rd string).
  • Introduce and develop control of String Crossing.
  • Play simple rock grooves using the notes A, G, D and C.

Keyboard

Developing Scales and Triads

  • Introduce the use of the left hand in playing the keyboard.
  • Introduce the bass clef. Introduce.
  • Introduce and understand the role of ledger lines in the musical stave.
  • Develop understanding and playing of triads.
  • Introduce and develop understanding and use of the concept of transferability.

Drums

Introducing Sixteenth Notes

  • Understand and be able to count sixteenth notes.
  • Develop control of time using single stroke rolls to play quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes.
  • Develop simple drum fills using quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes.

click to open/close detailsLesson 4

Guitar

Introducing Palm Muting

  • Introduce palm muting and understanding its use in rhythm guitar playing.
  • Integrate the palm muting technique into rhythm playing.
  • Integrate palm muting on eighth notes with other non-muted note values.
  • Continue to develop control of timekeeping and changing chords.

Bass

Developing Rhythm for Rock Grooves

  • Develop rhythmic understanding by mixing quarter notes and eighth notes.
  • Develop control of string crossing by playing quarter notes and eighth notes.
  • Develop reading simple notation using sub-divisions.
  • Develop left hand fingering technique.

Keyboard

Developing Two Hand Coordination

  • Introduce two hand coordination, using the left hand to play triads and the right hand to play scales.
  • Develop the use of the bass clef.
  • Further develop transferability.
  • Increase control and understanding of rhythm by introducing eighth notes.
  • Develop greater fluency by changing chords.

Drums

Using Subdivisions For Fills

  • Develop rhythmic understanding by mixing quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes.
  • Develop control of time, by playing quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes as fills.
  • Develop reading simple notation using the subdivisions of quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes.

click to open/close detailsGrade One

Having completed the course up to the end of lesson four students are now in a position to consider taking their grade one examination.

The examination will consist of techinical exercises (submitted from lessons one and two to the e-portfolio), sight reading exercises, aural tests, general musisianship questions, and performance of exam pieces.

(Examination and syllabus availability expected March 2008)

click to open/close detailsLesson 5

Guitar

Developing Palm Muting with Accents

  • Developing rhythm guitar playing using combinations of note values.
  • Developing palm muting skills by mixing accented and non-accented notes.
  • Increasing awareness of playing in time and controlling timekeeping.

Bass

Developing Finger Control

  • Develop control of subdivisions in groove playing.
  • Create new rock grooves with different bass note patterns.
  • Extend development of left hand finger coordination in rock grooves.

Keyboard

Introducing Inversions

  • Introduce the concept of inversions and use practically to develop economy of movement.
  • Develop left hand triads through the use of inversions.
  • Introduce and begin to play chord progressions.

Drums

Developing Hi-Hat Lines

  • Develop control of subdivisions in groove playing.
  • Create new grooves with different hi-hat patterns.
  • Extend development of three way co-ordination in groove playing.

click to open/close detailsLesson 6

Guitar

Developing our understanding of the Fingerboard

  • Develop familiarity with all natural notes on the guitars neck.
  • Be able to change between all natural power chords.
  • Introduce and understand the concepts of flat and sharp notes, and then;
  • Recognise the position of sharp and flat power chords on the guitars neck.
  • Be able to change between any two power chords.

Bass

Developing Rock Grooves Part 1

  • Develop understanding and performance of quarter notes and eighth note patterns.
  • Introduce the D and G strings.
  • Develop further control of string crossing using octave shapes.
  • Introduce visualisation of shapes (octaves). Introducing the bass clef.

Keyboard

Chord and Scale Syllabus

  • Review of previous lessons.
  • Develop transferability of major triads and major scales.
  • Introduce and learn the chords of F, E and B major.
  • Introduce and learn the major scales of F, E and B.
  • Develop the ability to be able to play chords and scales on any natural note.

Drums

Developing Rock Grooves

  • Develop understanding and performance of eighth note and sixteenth note hi-hat patterns.
  • Further strengthen control of three way co-ordination in rock grooves.
  • Develop a broader library of rock grooves.   Introduce repeat signs.

click to open/close detailsLesson 7

Guitar

Learning New Chords

  •  Introducing the concept of minor and major chords.
  • Introduce the chords of G, E minor, A minor and D7.
  • Develop fluency in playing each of the new chords.
  • Develop the ability to change chords fluently and in time.

Bass

Developing Rock Grooves Part 2

  • Develop understanding and performance of octave shapes.
  • Introduce the concept of fingerboard symmetry and transferability.
  • Formally introduce repeat signs.

Keyboard

Introduce Minor Triads

  • Introduce minor triads.
  • Play minor triads in both the right and left hands using whole, half and quarter notes.
  • Compare major and minor triads in terms of their sound and construction.
  • Develop two hand co-ordination by playing right hand minor triads and left hand root notes together.
  • Introduce right hand minor arpeggios using quarter notes.

Drums

Phrasing Part 1 – Introducing Phrasing for Fills

  • Develop more interesting fills.
  • Strengthen use and understanding of sixteenth notes using single stroke rolls.
  • Introduce greater use and control of the non-lead hand.
  • Develop fluency of movement around the kit.

click to open/close detailsGrade Two

Having completed the course up to the end of lesson seven students are now in a position to consider taking their grade two examination.

The examination will consist of techinical exercises (submitted from lessons one and two to the e-portfolio), sight reading exercises, aural tests, general musisianship questions, and performance of exam pieces.

(Examination and syllabus availability expected March 2008)

click to open/close detailsLesson 8

Guitar

Introducing Strumming and Developing Chord Changes

  • Introduce the technique of strumming.
  • Develop control of rhythmic patterns by introducing up strokes.
  • Develop the ability to change chords more fluently within rhythms.
  • Build your library of chords by introducing the chords of D, A and E.

Bass

Introducing Root and 5th Shapes

  • Introduce root and fifth note bass lines.   Introduce the new baIntroduce the concept of note naming.
  • Introduce the concepts of a fifth below and a fifth above.
  • Understand and be able to count half notes.

Keyboard

Introducing Minor Scales

  • Introduce the minor scale for A.
  • Understand the relationship between minor triads and minor scales.
  • Perform ascending and descending minor scales using quarter notes.
  • Introduce and apply left and right hand fingering for minor scales.
  • Develop the ability to play a minor scale on any natural note.

Drums

Phrasing Part 2 – Developing Phrasing for Fills

  • Develop more interesting fills.
  • Strengthen use and understanding of sixteenth notes using single stroke rolls.
  • Introduce greater use and control of the non-lead hand.
  • Further develop fluency of movement around the kit.

click to open/close detailsLesson 9

Guitar

Developing our Rock Chord Library

  • Add to your growing library of rock chords by introducing and learning to play the chords of C and F.
  • Practice chord changes to a strum pattern.
  • Integrate the new chords with those chords learnt so far.
  • Introduce the barre chord and how it is played.

Bass

Developing Root and 5th Shapes

  • Develop root and fifth patterns.  
  • Introduce new bass notes of F and B.   Develop fingerboard visualisation of shapes.  
  • Develop knowledge of all natural notes.

Keyboard

Develop Minor Triads

  • Develop playing minor triads with the left hand.
  • Develop two hand coordination using left hand triads and right hand scales.
  • Introduce minor triad inversions.duce minor triad inversions.
  • Develop changing chords.
  • Develop transferability.

Drums

Introducing the Crash Cymbal

  • Introduce the crash cymbal into your playing.
  • Understand the use of the crash cymbal in defining accents.
  • Develop use of the crash cymbal into grooves and fills.

click to open/close detailsLesson 10

Guitar

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played on the electric guitar.
  • Follow a guitar chart.
  • Apply the learning points developed in lessons 1-9, focusing on:
    1. Fluency of performance.
    2.  Time Keeping.
    3.  Playing chords.
    4.  Muting and un-muting the strings.
    5.  Reading rhythm and note values.
    6.  Using repeat signs.

Bass

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played on the electric bass guitar.  
  • Follow a bass guitar chart.
  • Apply the learning points developed in lessons 1-9, focusing on:
    1. Fluency of performance through string crossing and fingerboard symmetry.
    2. Time keeping.
    3. Playing bass grooves with a band.
    4. Playing octave shapes.
    5. Reading pitch, rhythm and note values.

Keyboard

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played on the keyboard.
  • Follow a keyboard chart.
  • Apply the learning points developed in lessons 1-9, focusing on:
    1. Fluency of performance, through economy of movement and knowledge of triads shapes.
    2. Ability to play inversions of chords.
    3. Time Keeping.
    4. Playing in time with a Band.
    5. Use of two-hand co-ordination.
    6. Reading pitch, rhythm, values.

Drums

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played on the drums.
  • Follow a drum chart.
  • Apply the learning points developed in Lessons 1-9, focusing on:
    1. Groove playing.
    2. Time keeping.
    3. Playing fills.
    4. Reading.
    5. Phrasing.
    6. Using repeats.

click to open/close detailsGrade Three

Having completed the course up to the end of level 1 students are now in a position to consider taking their grade three examination.

The examination will consist of techinical exercises (submitted from lessons one and two to the e-portfolio), sight reading exercises, aural tests, general musisianship questions, and performance of exam pieces.

(Examination and syllabus availability expected March 2008)

click to open/close detailsOCN Entry Level

Students are now able to obtain 14 Entry Level OCN Credits for Learning.

See the accreditation page for more information.

Gigajam Level 2

click to open/close detailsLesson 11

Guitar

Introducing Sixteenth Notes

  • Understand and be able to count and play sixteenth notes.
  • Learn new strum patterns incorporating sixteenth notes.
  • Develop rhythm guitar playing, especially fluency, whilst using sixteenth notes and changing chords.

Bass

Introducing Rests Part 1

  • Introduce the concept of sound and silence.
  • Develop the ability to perform rhythms incorporating rests.
  • Develop reading skills through the performance of simple rhythm exercises using quarter notes, eighth notes and their respective rests.
  • Introduce counting method.
  • Rhythm reading tips.

Keyboard

Introducing Rests

  • Introduce the concept of sound and silence.
  • Develop the ability to perform rhythms including rests.
  • Develop reading skills through the performance of simple rhythm exercises using quarter notes and their respective rests.

Drums

Introducing Rests Part 1 – Quarter, Eighth and Sixteenth Notes

  • Introduce the concept of sound and silence.
  • Develop the ability to perform rhythms incorporating rests.
  • Develop reading skills through the performance of simple snare drum exercises using quarter notes, and eighth notes.
  • Apply reading exercises to simple fills around the kit.

click to open/close detailsLesson 12

Guitar

Building our Rock Guitar Library

  • Understand and be able to play the chords of E7, Em, A7 and Am7.
  • Play all chords learned so far over a strum pattern.
  • Change chords in the middle of a bar.
  • Continue to develop fluency and timekeeping.

Bass

Introduce Scales Part 1

  • Introduce the concept of scales.
  • Understand the A minor scale.
  • Develop the ability to play up and down the A minor scale using quarter notes and eighth notes.
  • Develop the ability to visualise the minor scale shape.

Keyboard

Introducing Melody

  • Introduce the concept of melody.
  • Develop the ability to perform melody using half and quarter notes in the right hand.
  • Develop two hand co-ordination using left hand triads and right hand melody.
  • Introduce quarter note rests in melody.
  • Introduce key signatures.

Drums

Developing Rests Part 2 – Sixteenth Notes

  • Develop the ability to perform rhythms incorporating rests.
  • Develop reading skills through the performance of simple snare drum exercises using quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes and rests.
  • Apply reading exercises to simple fills around the kit.

click to open/close detailsLesson 13

Guitar

Developing Barre Chords

  • Introduce the concept of barre chords.
  • Learn the shapes of major, minor, 7th and minor 7th barre chords.
  • Understand and learn to play the barre chords of: E, F, Fm, F7, Fm7, F#, F#m, A, Am, Ab, Am7, A7, G, Gm, G7, G#m, Bb, Bm7, B and C.
  • Integrate barre chords with other, open, chords.

Bass

Minor Rock Grooves

  • Introduce the creative use of a minor scale.
  • Introduce rhythmic development.  
  • Introduce mixing combinations to create a rock groove.  
  • Introducing the technique of hammer on.

Keyboard

Developing Rests

  • Introduce eighth note rests.
  • Develop the ability to perform melody using quarter notes, eighth notes and their equivalent rests.

Drums

Reading – Combining Rhythms Part 1

  • Introduce mixtures of quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes to increase your library of rhythms.
  • Develop the ability to perform more complex rhythms incorporating rests and combinations of notes.
  • Develop reading skills through the performance of snare drum exercises.
  • Apply reading exercises to create fills around the kit.

click to open/close detailsLesson 14

Guitar

Continuing the Study of Barre Chords

  • Learn and play barre chords rooted on the 5th string.
  • Integrate barre chords rooted from the 6th and 5th strings with open Chords.
  • Continue to develop fluency and timekeeping whilst changing chords.

Bass

Using Space

  • Introduce rests in minor rock grooves.
  • Develop rhythm reading.
  • Introduce relationship between the bass line and snare drum.

Keyboard

Developing Melody

  • Develop the concept of melody by introducing minor melody.
  • Introduce eighth note rests in melody.
  • Develop the ability to perform melody with chords using quarter and eighth notes including rests.

Drums

Reading – Further Rhythm Combinations Part 2

  • Introduce more complex variations and mixture of quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes to increase the library of known rhythms.  
  • Develop the ability to perform increasingly more complex rhythms incorporating rests and combinations of notes.  
  • Develop understanding of how to apply the correct sticking to each new rhythmic figure.

click to open/close detailsLesson 15

Guitar

Introducing Rests

  • Introduce the concept of sound and silence.
  • Develop the ability to play rhythms incorporating rests.
  • Develop reading skills through the performance of rhythm guitar exercises using whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes and the equivalent rests.

Bass

Developing Scales

  • Introduce the concept of sound and silence.
  • Develop the ability to play rhythms incorporating rests.
  • Develop reading skills through the performance of rhythm guitar exercises using whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes and the equivalent rests.

Keyboard

Introducing Triad Arpeggios

  • Introduce the concept of triad arpeggios.
  • Develop the ability to be able to perform triads as an arpeggio using quarter notes.

Drums

Reading – Rhythmic Combinations as Fills Part 3

  • Apply the knowledge gained in the last Lesson to develop understanding and physical performance of the new rhythmic figures.
  • Be able to play the new rhythms as single line snare drum exercises.
  • Apply the new rhythms as fills around the kit, developing reading skills.

click to open/close detailsLesson 16

Guitar

Introducing Dotted Notes and Ties

  • Introduce and develop understanding of the musical appearance and purpose of dots.
  • Understand the effect of dots on the note values of half notes and quarter notes.
  • Introduce and then develop understanding of ties.
  • Read and play a rhythm based study whilst changing chords.

Bass

Introducing Scales Part 2

  • Introduce major scales.
  • Develop the ability to play up and down a major scale using quarter notes and eighth notes.
  • Develop the ability to visualise the major scale shape.

Keyboard

Developing Triad Arpeggios

  • Develop the ability to perform triad arpeggios by adding eighth notes.
  • Develop overall performance further through the use of two handed coordination, focus on timekeeping and accuracy of playing.
  • Continue the use of key signatures.

Drums

Developing Fills and Counting

  • Develop the ability to count whilst playing.
  • Expand the library of fills that you can perform.
  • Develop linking grooves and fills with greater fluidity and flow. 

click to open/close detailsLesson 17

Guitar

Introducing 1-4-5 Chord Progressions

  • Understand and be able to play 1-4-5 chord sequences.
  • Memorize the sound of 1-4-5 chord sequences.
  • Work through various progression exercises.

Bass

Developing Scales Part 2

  • Develop understanding of the major scale.
  • Develop the concept of transferability of major scales.
  • Develop the ability to play a major scale on any natural note.
  • Introduce new notes of F#, C# and G#.  
  • Introduce accidentals.
  • Introduce E major scale from an open string.

Keyboard

Introducing Dotted Notes

  • Introduce the appearance and musical purpose of dots.
  • Understand the affect of dots on the note value of half notes and half note rests.
  • Apply understanding of dots to performance by playing a series of studies that include melody and chords.
  • Dots and dotted notes.

Drums

Reading – Introducing Dotted Notes Part 1

  • Develop an understanding of the appearance and musical purpose of dots.
  • Understand the affect of dots on the note values of quarter notes and eighth notes.
  • Apply your understanding of dots to snare drum studies of both quarter notes and eighth notes.

click to open/close detailsLesson 18

Guitar

Introduction to Triplets and Triplet Feel (12/8 and Shuffle)

  • Introduce the concept of triplets.
  • Understand and be able to play triplet eighth notes.
  • Apply triplet feel to 1-4-5 chord sequences.
  • Introduce and develop the shuffle feel.
  • Introduce 12/8 feel.
  • Introduce the concepts of simple and compound time.

Bass

Reading-Introducing Dotted Notes

  • Introduce understanding of the musical appearance and purpose of dots.
  • Understand the effect of dots on the note value of quarter notes and quarter note rests.
  • Apply an understanding of dots to bass rhythm patterns using dotted quarter notes and dotted quarter note rests.

Keyboard

Developing Dotted Notes

  • Develop understanding of the appearance and musical purpose of dots.
  • Understand the affect of dots on the note value of quarter notes and quarter note rests.
  • Apply understanding of dots to your performance by playing studies which use melody and chords.

Drums

Reading – Introducing Dotted Notes Part 2 (Sixteenth Note Bass Drum Grooves)

  • Develop a deeper understanding of the appearance and musical purpose of dots.
  • Apply dotted eighth notes to grooves to expand your vocabulary of rock groove patterns.
  • Develop stronger three way co-ordination with sixteenth note bass drum patterns.

click to open/close detailsLesson 19

Guitar

Introducing Lead Guitar Playing

  • Introduce the idea of playing individual notes as a scale.
  • Introduce and be able to play a minor pentatonic scale.
  • Learn individual techniques including: slides, vibrato, string bending and curls.
  • Practise these techniques and combine them in playing licks.
  • Introduce and understand guitar tablature known as tab.

Bass

Revisiting Root and 5th Shapes

  • Develop understanding of root and fifth patterns incorporating rests.
  • Introduce eighth note root and fifth patterns together with rests to create bass lines.
  • Introduce the concept of mixing and combining patterns to create bass lines.

Keyboard

Introducing Power Chords

  • Introduce power chords.
  • Develop the ability to play power chords in a style used by the rock guitar.
  • Incorporate the use of power chords with many of the rhythms and notes values studied throughout the level 2 studies.
  • Develop greater coordination between your hands.

Drums

Developing Rock Grooves 2 (Sixteenth Note Bass Drum Grooves)

  • Continue your study of dots in music notation.
  • Develop greater control of the kit using sixteenth note bass drum patterns.
  • Increase your library of rock grooves and bass drum patterns.

click to open/close detailsLesson 20

Guitar

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played on the electric guitar.
  • Strengthen your understanding of guitar chart reading.
  • Apply the learning points developed in lessons 11-19, focusing on:
    1. Fluency of performance.
    2. Time Keeping.
    3.  Playing barre chords.
    4.  Reading and playing dotted rhythms.
    5.  Reading and playing 16th note rhythms.
    6.  Understand and follow Coda signs.

Bass

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played on the electric bass guitar.  
  • Strengthen your understanding of bass guitar chart reading.  
  • Introduce and learn how to play ties to develop greater rhythm reading and playing skills.  
  • Apply the learning points developed in lessons 11-19, focusing on:
    1.  Fluency of performance through string crossing and fingerboard symmetry.
    2.  Time keeping.
    3.  Playing bass grooves with a band.
    4.  Playing octave shapes.
    5.  Reading pitch, rhythm and note values.

Keyboard

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played on the keyboard.
  • Strengthen your understanding of keyboard chart reading  
  • Apply the learning points developed in lessons 11-19, focusing on:
    1. Fluency of performance.
    2.  Use of inversions.
    3.  Playing power chords.
    4.  Time Keeping.
    5.  Use of simple melody.
    6.  Playing in time with a band.
    7.  Use of two hand coordination.
    8.  Application of reading skills that recognise pitch and increasingly more sophisticated rhythms which use rests, ties and dotted notes.

Drums

Performing a Song

  • Developing your ability to play a piece of music.  
  • Strengthen your understanding of drum chart reading.
  • Apply many of the skills learned through the course so far, but specifically:
    1.  Playing in time.
    2.  Linking grooves and fills.
    3.  Reading rhythmic combinations.
    4.  Following a drum chart.
    5.  Play musically.
    6.  Develop speed and stamina.

click to open/close detailsGrade Four

Having completed the course up to the end of level 2 students are now in a position to consider taking their grade four examination.

The examination will consist of techinical exercises (submitted from lessons one and two to the e-portfolio), sight reading exercises, aural tests, general musisianship questions, and performance of exam pieces.

(Examination and syllabus availability expected March 2008)

click to open/close detailsOCN Level 1

Students are now able to obtain 14 Level 1 OCN Credits for Learning.

See the accreditation page for more information.

Gigajam Level 3

click to open/close detailsLesson 21

Guitar

Developing Lead Guitar Techniques (Hammering on and Pulling Off)

  • Develop a library of lead guitar playing techniques.
  • Develop the techniques of hammering on and pulling off.
  • Integrate these techniques into playing guitar licks.

Bass

Introducing Triads

  • Introduce triads and arpeggios.
  • Understand chord construction.
  • Perform triad based Grooves.
  • Visualise and transfer major triad shapes.

Keyboard

Introducing Intervals

  • Introduce intervals.
  • Introduce melodic intervals.
  • Develop the ability to play 3rds.

Drums

Introducing Ties

  • Understand what ties are and how they affect a note.
  • Develop ways of reading ties effectively.
  • Practise playing ties through a snare drum study.

click to open/close detailsLesson 22

Guitar

Improvisation Part 1 (The Extended Pattern)

  • Build knowledge of musical theory to develop lead playing.
  • Memorize and play the A minor pentatonic extended scale.
  • Move around within the A minor extended pattern to play licks.
  • Understand and identify root notes.

Bass

Introduce Minor Triads

  • Introduce minor triads and arpeggios.
  • Understand chord construction.
  • Perform minor triad based grooves.
  • Visualise and transfer minor triad shapes.

Keyboard

Developing Intervals

  • Introduce harmonic intervals.
  • Develop the ability to play 3rds.

Drums

Developing our use of Tied Notes

  • Develop greater ability to read tied notes easily.
  • Begin to apply common uses of ties as fills.
  • Introduce pushes and their most common use.

click to open/close detailsLesson 23

Guitar

Improvisation Part 2 (Introducing the Blues Note)

  • Learn the sound of, and be able to play, blues notes.
  • Introduce blues notes into improvisation.
  • Continue to apply lead guitar techniques to scales and build soloing and improvisational skills.

Bass

Introducing Ties

  • Introduce the use of ties and develop understanding of their musical use.
  • Develop ways of reading ties effectively.
  • Practise reading and playing ties through a series of practical studies.

Keyboard

Minor Thirds

  • Introduce minor scale intervals.
  • Develop the ability to play minor 3rds as melodic intervals.

Drums

Introducing ‘Setting-Up Fills’ Developing our use of Tied Notes

  • Develop more understanding of tied notes and their uses.
  • Continue to apply common uses of ties to expand your ability to play musical fills.
  • Develop the ability to count through fills.
  • Introduce the concept of setting up accents and phrases.

click to open/close detailsLesson 24

Guitar

Improvisation Part 3 (Pattern 3 Minor Pentatonic)

  • Learn the scale pattern of pattern 3 minor pentatonic/ pattern 3 blues scale.
  • Improvise using pattern 3 minor pentatonic and incorporating all scales learned so far.
  • Develop your lead guitar playing by playing along with media files and jamming.

Bass

Developing Triads

  • Developing further your understanding of Triads.
  • Introduce creative use of triads in bass riffs.
  • Perform combinations of major and minor triad riffs which include dots and ties.

Keyboard

Developing Intervals

  • Develop minor intervals.
  • Develop the ability to play minor 3rds as harmonic intervals.

Drums

Introducing Triplets (Part 1)

  • Understand how triplet eighth notes divide the beat.
  • Learn how to count triplet eighth notes.
  • Play triplet eighth notes as a single stroke roll.
  • Develop playing triplet eighth notes as simple fills.

click to open/close detailsLesson 25

Guitar

Improvisation Part 4 (Pattern 4 Minor Pentatonic)

  • Introduce and develop understanding of pattern 4 minor pentatonic.
  • Develop pattern 4 by practising specific licks.
  • Introduce the blues notes and develop familiarity using examples of blues notes licks.
  • Connect pattern 3 and pattern 4 through the root note.

Bass

Developing Scales

  • Introduce pentatonic scales and arpeggios.
  • Understand construction theory.
  • Perform pentatonic based riffs.
  • Visualise and transfer major pentatonic shapes.
  • Understand the relationship between the major pentatonic, major triad and major scale.

Keyboard

Introducing Ties

  • Understand what ties are and how they affect the note.
  • Develop ways of reading ties effectively.
  • Practising ties in melody and chords using and notes.

Drums

Introducing Triplets (Part 2) — Triplets as Grooves

  • Introduce the idea of shuffle as a feel.
  • Develop how to count and play a shuffle ride line accurately.
  • Develop common shuffle grooves.

click to open/close detailsLesson 26

Guitar

Improvisation Part 5 (Pattern 5 Minor Pentatonic)

  • Learn scale pattern for minor pentatonic/blues scale pattern 5.  
  • Improvise licks inside pattern 5 minor pentatonic.
  • Integrate pattern 5 with patterns 1 and 4.

Bass

Introducing Minor Pentatonics

  • Introduce minor pentatonics.
  • Further understanding construction theory.
  • Visualise and transfer minor pentatonic shapes.
  • Perform minor pentatonic based riffs.
  • Understand the relationship between the minor pentatonic, minor triad and minor scale.

Keyboard

Developing Ties

  • Understand eighth note ties.
  • Practise playing ties in melody and chords.
  • Understand dots and ties together.

Drums

Introducing Triplets (Part 3) — Rock Shuffle Grooves

  • Introduce the idea of shuffle as a feel.
  • Develop how to count and play a shuffle ride line accurately.
  • Develop common shuffle grooves.

click to open/close detailsLesson 27

Guitar

Completion of the Fingerboard

  • Introduce, understand and play minor pentatonic pattern 2.
  • Integrate all pentatonic scales learned so far.
  • Develop the ability to play solos in different keys.

Bass

Developing Pentatonics

  • Further develop your understanding of pentatonics.
  • Introduce creative use of pentatonics in bass riffs.  
  • Perform major and minor pentatonic riffs including the use of dots and ties to enhance rhythmic playing.
  • Understand and perform a 12 Bar pattern.

Keyboard

Introducing Triplets

  • Understand how Triplet 1/8th notes divide the beat.
  • Learn how to count 1/8th note triplets.   Play 1/8th notes triplets.
  • Develop playing 1/8th notes triplets.

Drums

Phrasing — Developing Triplet Phrasing

  • Develop triplet phrasing using triplet eighth notes.
  • Understand the rules for driving each of the beats in triplet phrasing.
  • Develop playing right hand and left hand accents.
  • Develop control of accenting and creation of triplet phrases as part of a snare drum study.

click to open/close detailsLesson 28

Guitar

Developing Pentatonic/Blues Scale Soloing

  • Introduce the concepts of the landing note and safety notes.
  • Develop musical understanding of licks that dont land on root notes.
  • Consider genuine improvisation.

Bass

Introducing the Blues Scale

  • Introduce and understand the blues scale and its construction.
  • Understand the relationship between the blues scale and the minor pentatonic.
  • Perform blues scale based grooves.

Keyboard

Extending Arpeggios

  • Introduce broken chords.
  • To be able to play arpeggios between both hands.
  • Introduce open voicing.

Drums

Phrasing — Developing Triplet Phrasing as Fills

  • Develop phrasing using triplet eighth notes around the kit.
  • Apply triplet phrasing as fills, following both a bar of 12/8 groove and a rock shuffle groove.
  • Develop movement around the kit with triplets.

click to open/close detailsLesson 29

Guitar

Developing Improvisation of Pentatonic/Blues Part 2

  • Apply the use of triplets to develop your solos rhythmic content.
  • Develop triplet timekeeping whilst soloing.
  • Add triplets to blues and the extended scale whilst applying lead guitar techniques.

Bass

Applying our understanding of theory

  • Overview all of the theory studied through the course so far.
  • Apply the theory learned to develop creative use of the bass guitar.
  • Further  develop the ability to visualise and transfer shapes.

Keyboard

Creating a Keyboard Part

  • Review course content.
  • Introduce 12 bar blues.
  • Introduce rhythmic variation.

Drums

Introducing Whole Notes and Half Notes

  • Introduce whole notes and half notes.
  • Develop familiarity with whole notes and half notes and their rests.
  • Develop your reading skills through the performance of a snare drum exercise using all of the simple time notation studied thus far.

click to open/close detailsLesson 30

Guitar

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played.
  • Further develop the ability to follow a guitar chart.
  • Apply some of the learning points developed in lessons 11-29, focusing on:
    1. Fluency of performance.
    2. Time Keeping.
    3. Playing barre chords.
    4.  Improvising a solo.
    5.  Reading and playing 16th note rhythms.

Bass

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played on the electric bass guitar.
  • Further develop the ability to follow a bass guitar chart.
  • Apply  the learning points developed in lessons 21-29, focusing on:
    1.  Fluency of performance.
    2.  Time keeping.
    3.  Playing bass grooves with a band.
    4.  Playing riffs using a variety of techniques such as octave and fifth shapes and use of scale knowledge.
    5.  Reading pitch, rhythm and note values.
    6.  Increasingly playing musically and sympathetically.

Keyboard

Performing a Song

  • Introduce a piece of music to be played on the keyboard.
  • Further develop the ability to follow a keyboard chart.
  • Apply  the learning points developed in lessons 21-29, focusing on:
    1.  Fluency of performance.
    2.  Use of inversions.
    3.  Time keeping.
    4.  Use of simple melody.
    5.  Playing in time with a band.
    6.  Use of two hand co-ordination.
    7.  Application of reading skills that recognise pitch and sophisticated rhythms that use rests, ties and dotted notes.

Drums

Performing a Song

  • Developing your ability to play a piece of music.
  • Further develop the ability to follow a drum chart.
  • Apply the many skills learned through the course so far, but specifically:
    1. Playing in time.
    2.  Linking grooves and fills.
    3.  Reading rhythmic combinations.
    4.  Following a drum chart.
    5. Play musically.
    6.  Develop speed and stamina.
    7.  Understand the different repeat signs and map reading of drum charts.

click to open/close detailsGrade Five

Having completed the course up to the end of level 3 students are now in a position to consider taking their grade five examination.

The examination will consist of techinical exercises (submitted from lessons one and two to the e-portfolio), sight reading exercises, aural tests, general musisianship questions, and performance of exam pieces.

(Examination and syllabus availability expected March 2008)

click to open/close detailsOCN Level 2

Students are now able to obtain 14 Level 2 OCN Credits for Learning.

See the accreditation page for more information.