User:JoelSimler

=Freshman Seminar=

Always Wanted To Schedule

 * Topic

I will study through all sections of "Guitar Bible". <> What is the historical significance of Gibson guitars, and what are the different types of guitars does Gibson make?
 * week 1

Go over "The Basics" chapter of book. Also I must procure my guitar from my home in Bellingham
 * week 2

Go over "Blues & Rock 'n' Roll" chapter. I will also need to review any basics that i may need in order to learn this next section. Research Gibson, and Gibson guitars for general information.
 * week 3

Go over "Classic Rock" chapter. Also, I will find songs to practice jamming along to for the previous section. Continue research
 * week 4

Begin studying "Alt. Indie & Power Pop" chapter. Review last chapter for added clarity. Continue research, finding various sources to meet requirements.
 * week 5

Move onto "Metal, Punk & Grunge" Chapter. Continue to practice previous sections of book. Begin planning for presentation
 * week 6

Read the "Funk, Soul & Reggae" Chapter. Review previous chapters. Continue presentation planning, paper in process of being written.
 * week 7

Move onto final chapter of book "Americana". Practice, practice, practice. Finish paper, and finish planning of presentation.
 * week 8

Review every single chapter and make sure that all makes sense. Review paper, and presentation to make sure its all good to go.

Midterm Assignment 1: Taste & Aesthetics
Whilst wandering amidst the Olympic Sculpture Park, I came across, as should be expected, a lot of interesting sculptures. I am not a connoisseur of sculpture art, or much of any visual art really, but I can appreciate the interesting shapes that inhabit this park. On my stroll through I came across one particular sculpture(s) that I actually thought was garbage, and a bench, literally garbage. It was Roy McMakin’s Untitled (concrete bench, metal lawn chair, and cardboard box). At first I believed someone had left a little package next to a bench, and a lawn chair had been placed close by it. It wasn’t until I gave he box a tap with my foot that I realized it was metal, and looked over to my right to see a description of the three chairs. Initially I was thinking “wow, that’s really stupid. . .” and I actually continued to think that all week, practically until I began writing this paper! Even after I did some basic research, I didn’t think much Of Roy McMakin. Actually, I probably began to dislike the piece even more. So how do I feel now? Well, I’m still not a fan of this particular piece of work, I at the very least don’t dislike it. What changed my mind was looking at a collection of his work. He mostly does furniture, much of which is useful. When I began looking more closely at his work I started to notice details and nuances that made me want to stare at them longer. With his other work in mind I was able to see how it related to his other works that I did like. Though I wonder if I really changed my mind, or if I’m just telling myself that so I don’t get depressed, knowing I can’t control my own brain! Which also makes me wonder what it is that controls my brain, if my brain is not me. . . Off topic, but still interesting.

Final Presentation

 * Topic (10%)

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 * Research (20%)

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 * 1) Internet site: Unknown. Google Images. Web. 12 Dec. 2009. .
 * 2) Book: Hunter, Dave, and Deirdre Cartwright. Totally Interactive Guitar Bible. New York: Thunder Bay, 2006. Print.
 * 3) Scholarly Journal: Martin, Darryl. "Innovation and the Development of the Modern Six-String Guitar." Galpin Society (1998): 86-86. Print.
 * 4) Other (interview, TV show,etc):


 * Your accomplishment (20%)

<<Technically I was very close to accomplishing my goal. I only missed it by about 1 and a half chapters. However, in actuality I feel that I was far from my goal. A major problem was that I shot myself in the foot right off the bat. I planned the project to start on week 2 or 3, not realizing that the project technically begins week 1. So, as soon as i knew what I was going to do for my project, I was behind about 2 chapters! Which meant I was suddenly rushing to get through the book. This was very bad for I feel I didn't get everything out of the book that i should, since I was in such a hurry. So, yes, on the surface I was basically succesfull, but i still feel unsuccesful in my project, but I have only me to blame for it. However, on a positive note, I did manage to find out what I want to research on my own to continue this project. I will begin to focus on playing the blues. >>


 * Project Review (50%)
 * 1)What went well

What went well? Well, I would have to say that the project itself went fairly well. I ended up learning more about guitar than I knew beforehand, and feel like, at the very least, a slightly more capable guitar player. Practice was the part of the project that went best, when I actually did practice that is. More specifically, the Blues section I feel was the best and most informative out of all the chapters I made it to.
 * 2)What went poorly

What went poorly was my motivation in the later parts of the project. As time moved on I got busier and busier, which led to me not practicing everyday like I was supposed to. More specifically, the last chapter and a half went terribly awry, being as I didn't even get to them!
 * 3)Future strategies

For a future strategy, I would like to narrow down my idea for learning guitar. Instead of learning to play several different styles half-assedly, I would like to work on just one style of guitar. Blues is what I found I would like to focus on. Also, I would very much like to find a way to motivate myself to practice 10 minutes a day. Often while practicing I would work for an hour, and the not play for a few days. i feel it would be a better strategy to practice a little bit, but way more often.

Self-Assessment
I can definitely see why the art institute would have this be a mandatory class for freshman. It helps to reach you research strategies, self motivation, and it is a good general way to step into a college situation. Personally though I am slightly frustrated that I had to pay for this class. Not that I didn't learn anything from this class, but I have been in college for a number of years now, and feel that I didn't really need the class. I did enjoy the class, and it was especially fun because I enjoy your teaching style, but I feel that the money I paid to take the class was not entirely worth it (it would have been nice to save that money for another class related more to my field). Financial matters aside, I did like the class a lot. The assignments were great because I could really see the purpose for them. Such as the sculpture assignment, where we learn what/who can manipulate ur own thoughts patterns. The "always wanted too. . ." assignment was one of the best assignments I've had, because the guidelines were so vague, that there was little hinderance for creativity. I feel that I was successful in this class because I was able to see the purpose in the assignments.