Behavioral Objectives for a Beginning Guitar Course

The following behavioral objectives are designed for a beginning guitar course at the high school level. The students are developing skills related to the reading and performing of chord symbols on a lead sheet (Music notation that includes chord symbols and lyrics). The song used contains chords previously learned by the student and no additional symbols that might cause confusion (coda, repeat signs, etc.).

1.    Given a simple lead sheet, the student can identify the chords needed to play the song.

2.    Given a simple lead sheet, the student can perform the chords needed to play the song.

3.    Given a simple lead sheet, the student can identify the number of beats or measures each chord is played before changing to a new chord.

4.    Given a simple lead sheet, the student can perform the song with a steady beat at 60 b.p.m.

Since the goals involved are behavioral, the student must demonstrate a change in their behavior to satisfy the objectives. In a one on one setting, the student could identify the chords and number of beats per chord verbally and then perform the song at the stated performance level. A rubric could be designed to measure the level the student has attained. However, each of these skills builds upon the last, there is no performance of the song at 60 b.p.m. without the ability to meet the previous behaviors. A single performance test with an accompanying rubric would adequately measure the students’ learning if they have attained all the behavioral objectives. If the student cannot adequately perform the song, then further assessment in a one on one setting should be done to ascertain their deficiency. An inability to identify chords or determine the number of beats each chord is played would result in a poor performance. An inability to perform the chords physically would also result in a poor performance.

The stated goals also align to the National Core Arts Standards. Anchor standard five involves the development and refining of artistic work which would be involved in playing a song from a lead sheet. Anchor standard seven involves perceiving and analyzing artistic work involved in identifying chord symbols and beats in written music. This connection to standards is critical in the development of behavioral objectives and a well-developed curriculum. The specificity and relative simplicity of the objectives also reflects the level of detail and time constraints of a single class period or rehearsal. Wider objectives would be too vague and involved to be useful in this setting.