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Sound Made Simple
Learn How to Play the Guitar with Self-guided Lessons
Sound Made Simple
Whether you want to be a rock star, or you just want to play for your family to sing along, the guitar is one of the most versatile and popular instruments for performing music. This course will teach students the basics of the guitar, including tuning the guitar and playing scales and chords. For those who would like to learn the guitar on their own time, this course will enable students to have a self-paced learning experience. Each lesson models proper techniques and desired sound for students to mimic. Modules of this CD-ROM will be available for student review and continued practice at any time. Students will self-assess in order to judge their learning and improvement.
This Instructional Design Project is being created by JEL Educational Services for EDF6284, Department of Secondary Education, at the University of South Florida for the Spring 2008 semester.
Traditionally, music lessons were given by teachers at schools or in private settings to groups or single students. Due to the busy lifestyles maintained by many today, traditional music lessons may not be practical. This course will allow students to learn to play the guitar in the comfort of their own homes. This low-cost alternative to traditional lessons will give students the basics they need to play simple songs.
This course will offer students a self-paced, guided learning experience. Although this course will lack the traditional face-to-face guidance of an instructor, students will have opportunities to assess their own learning as they proceed through the modules. This course is best used by a student wanting the foundations of proper guitar playing.
This courseware will be designed for students ages 10 and up. A student will be required to follow simple text instructions to complete the course. Young students will enjoy the interactivity of the modules, while older students will like the ease and convenience of learning to play the guitar at home. This course is being designed for the beginning player, but could be utilized by more advanced students looking to review basic concepts.
The main objective of this course is to introduce guitar fundamentals to the novice player who is interested in self-paced instruction. Users will be introduced to tuning a guitar, learning the neck of the guitar (frets and notes), the basic major and minor chords, classic note reading, picking and strumming patterns, and music timing. After completing the lessons, users should be able to mimic chord progressions and perform various song pieces efficiently. Song genres will include rock, rhythm, pop and folk.
The following educational and performance objectives will be covered throughout a courseware package that is based (progressively) on an instructional sequence of five major modules:
1. Guitar Tuning: How to use a standard guitar tuner for tuning the E/A/D/G/B/E guitar strings
2. Learning the Neck: 24 Frets and 144 Notes (not all guitars have 24 frets, but that is o.k.)
3. G Major Scale and chords G/C/E: Finger placement, picking techniques, and strumming techniques for the G Major Scale and G/C/E chords
4. C Major Scale and F/E/A chords: Finger placement, picking techniques, and strumming techniques for the C Major Scale and F/E/A chords
5. The Sad Sounds of Am, Em, Dm: Finger placement, picking techniques, and strumming techniques for the Am, Em, and Dm chords
Content during the instructional phase is progressively sequenced so the user can apply previously learned information for the remainder of the modules. For example, you must first have a tuned guitar before you can start (module 1). You must also be able to recognize strings 1-6 and frets 1-12 in order to learn proper finger placement (module 2). After the student has learned how to tune a guitar and how to recognize string 1-6 and frets 1-12, they then can learn scales and chords (module 3, 4, and 5).
Charts, tables, pictures, sounds, videos, tablature, documents (printable and non-printable), sheet music, hyperlinks, tool buttons, help buttons, FAQ buttons, will all aid in the process of the individualized learning that will take place. Messages of relevant music theory will be offered, which may require the help from a content expert from linked Internet resources.
Time limitations are not relevant for this course. The student may work at his/her own pace. The program will be designed as a one hour, twice a week practice program; but, students have the flexibility to use the course as they wish.
The guitar is a challenging instrument. Since the modules are progressive, one must master the initial skills before moving forward. Therefore, the modules are available for review as needed. Using the program more often than one hour, twice a week, is highly encouraged. Hard work and practice are essential to success with this course.
Throughout the modules, users will have access to review quizzes and games, tools, and a Help icon. Therefore, the course will be designed to address an individual learner’s needs. Users will have the ability to print out text instructions and drills for practice without using the computer.
Course activities will include audio and visual examples. Students will be able to hear notes, chords and songs, and see the music scales on the screen. Therefore, users will see which note they should be playing and will hear how it should sound. Video will also be provided in the early modules to model techniques to the learner. Usability options within a sequenced environment will allow for successful learning.
1. A computer with CD-ROM and Internet capability
2. A guitar (acoustic or electric)
3. Within the lessons, materials include:
a. Instructions for each module
b. Self-paced lessons
c. Graphic illustrations, including sheet music, graphs, charts, pictures
d. Audio examples of chords and scales
e. Video examples of chords, scales, and other skills
f. Content assessment exercises
g. Performance assessment exercises
h. Web resources
i. Help screen for each module
j. FAQs (frequently asked questions) for course
The setting will be in a student’s home. The student will need a computer with a CD-ROM, Internet capability, at least 256k memory, Pentium III or higher processor, Windows XP or Macintosh OS, Microsoft Office (for PC or Mac or just a PowerPoint viewer), and appropriate flash and video plug-ins. The student must also have a guitar with a guitar tuner and a pick. The tutorial program will be entirely based around a PowerPoint presentation on CD-ROM. There will be no help desk or personal instructor; therefore the tutorial program must be inclusive and easy to understand. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Section and Help Menu for each module will be the center for troubleshooting, which may contain links to Internet expert feedback.
The assessment will be five brief interactive/multiple choice quizzes after each lesson:
Quiz for Lesson 1: Tuning Your Guitar,
Quiz for Lesson 2: Learning the Neck
Quiz for Lesson 3: G Major Scale and Chords G/C/D
Quiz for Lesson 4: C Major Scale and Chords F/E/A
Quiz for Lesson 5: The Sad Sounds Am/Em/Dm
Students will also be assessed through the performance of song pieces, which will evaluate timing and sound accuracy. Tests will be 60-120 seconds in length depending on the length of the song. In order to keep this module at a reasonable price for its designated users, the software will not provide simultaneous feedback from the user's guitar. Instead, the user will be self-evaluating as they reflect upon how well they kept up with the song. A metronome tool is a key feature of this program because it allows the user to set the pace of each song (slow, medium, and fast). Practice modules will be provided via games and other interactivity leading up to this evaluation. When it comes time for the test, users should be able to keep up with the pace labeled "medium" or he/she will be advised to go back, practice, and take the assessment later on.
Leanne Selman: rough textual layout (IDP and FEA leader using example rubrics), content development, instructional activities, assessment questions, assessment quizzes.
Erin Cox: rough visual layout (storyboard and sample screen leader using Word and PowerPoint), assessment design with Authorware, video and sound design using PowerPoint and Windows Movie Maker.
James Korycinski: rough visual layout (flowchart leader using Inspiration), animation and graphics, using Inspiration, Flash, MP3s using MusicMatch and Pro Tools, prototype leader using Inspiration and PowerPoint, overall PowerPoint design including navigation links and hyperlinks using PowerPoint.
All members will jointly conduct brainstorming, conceptualization, research, planning, editing, and will give feedback and sign off for every design aspect of the project including the following: IDP, FEA, flowcharts, storyboard, sample screens, prototype, and final PowerPoint presentation.
Overall Presentation: Powerpoint
Multimedia Project: Word, Paint, Adobe Photoshop, Flash, Authorware, Inspiration, PowerPoint, Musicmatch, Pro Tools, Authorware
Modeling (IDP, FEA, flowcharts, storyboards, sample screens, and prototype): Word, Inspiration, and Powerpoint
Graphics and Animation: Word, Paint, Inspiration, Flash, Adobe Photoshop
Video: PowerPoint and Windows Movie Maker
Sound: PowerPoint, Musicmatch, and Pro Tools
IDP GROUP PARTICIPATION: The 10 major IDP guidelines were divided and allocated as indicated below. All group members edited parts of the IDP during week 6 through collaboration on the discussion boards, the wiki, and the VROOM.
Erin Cox
· Abstract
· Need for Project
· Target Audience
· Overall Proposal Design
Leanne Selman
· Performance Objectives
· Courseware Content
· Instructional Activities and Strategies
· Assessment
James Korycinski
· Performance Objectives
· Time Scale for Audience
· Materials
· Setting
· Member Roles