COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course explores the history of music beginning with the prehistoric period through present day. Topics of study may include: the conception of a genre, the purpose and effect of music, music’s relationship to historical events and personal experiences, and the lives of musical artist, composers, and performers. Assignments will include short answer essay questions, projects, personal reflections, discussion board postings, listening to recordings, viewing performances, quizzes, and tests. To ensure success in this course, each student is advised to keep up with course readings, viewing/listening to all assigned recordings/performances, complete all assignments, attend class, participate in class discussions, pass exams and quizzes.

TEXTBOOKS: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Music History, Michael Miller, 2008

The History of Jazz, Ted Gioia, 2011

In the Country of Country, Nicholas Dawidoff, 1997

The Emergence of Rock and Roll, Mitchell K. Hall, 2014

Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artist and Songs that Defined the 1980s., Lori Majewski and Jonathan Burnstein, 2014

Black Noise, Tricia Rose, 2014

***Supplementary text as needed***

SUPPLIES: Computer with internet access.

· Assignments will often be posted via internet classroom (Edmodo)

· Discussion board post will be required

· Many video performances, films, and recordings will be via internet

CLASSROOM POLICIES:

1. All work should be turned in on the assigned due date with a name and title. If assignment is in electronic form, the format is assignment name followed by first name last name. (Example: Chapter One Comments joesmith)

2. Work turned in without a name will not receive credit.

3. Work turned in within a week of the due date will be penalized by 50%

4. Tests and quizzes missed due to an excused absence must be made up during the lunch period or before or after school.

5. Tests and quizzes must be made up within two days of the excused absence.

6. All students should follow the Student Handbook Code of Conduct.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

All papers, discussion board posts, quizzes, tests, and assignments must be your own work. DO NOT CUT AND PASTE. If you must cut and paste, be sure to provide a citation.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

· It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they have access to online discussion boards and assignments as well as credentials needed to access the internet classroom.

· Students should always bring assigned readings to class. If in electronic form, ensure that the device has the needed charge for the duration of the class period.

GRADING SCALE 90-100 = A 80-89 = B 70-79 = C < 70 = F

ASSIGNMENT WEIGHTS

· Homework Assignments 40%

· Quizzes 15%

· Tests 25%

· Discussion Board Participation 20%

COURSE CONTENT

SEMESTER ONE

1^ST QUARTER

Western Classical Music

· From the Beginning: Ancient Music

· Of Monks and Troubadours: The Medieval Period

· Ornate Patterns: The Baroque Period

· Masses, Motets, and Madrigals: The Renaissance Period

· A Lyrical Revolution: The Classical Period

· Classical Music Matures: The Romantic Period

· The Death of Traditional Harmony: The Twentieth Century and Beyond

· This Led to That: The Evolution of Classical Music

2^nd QUARTER

World Music

· The Music of Asia and India

· The Music of the Middle East

· The Music of Africa

· The Music of Latin America and the Caribbean

American Popular Music (a brief overview)

· Setting the Stage: American Popular Music Pre-1900

· From the Bayou to Bourbon Street: Blues and Jazz

· Tin Pan Alley and Beyond: The Great American Songbook

· Rock, Rhythm, and Rap: Popular Music from 1950 to Today

The History of Jazz (a detailed study)

· New Orleans Jazz

· The Jazz Age

· Harlem

· The Swing Era

· Modern Jazz

· Jazz Styles

SEMESTER TWO

3^rd QUARTER

Country Western Music

· Nashville Cats: Harlan Howard, Chet Atkins

· Deep Country: Sara Carter, Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline

· Bluegrass: Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley, Earl Scruggs

· That Old-Time Country: The Louvin Brothers, Doc Watson

· Two Real Country Stars: Johnny Cash, George Jones

· The West Coast Sound: Rose Maddox, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Iris DeMent

· Taking It Forward: Emmylou Harris, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and The Flatlanders

Rock and Roll

· The Early Years of Rock and Roll

· Decline and Renewal

· The Beatles and the British Invasion

· Psychedelia

· Rock Splinters

· Short bios of Songs from the 1950s through the 2010s

4^th QUARTER

New Wave (1980s)

A study of articles and interviews with artist (to name a few)

· Adam and the Ants

· Duran Duran

· Devo

· Human League

· Dexys Midnight Runners

· Bow Wow Wow

· Depeche Mode

· A Flock of Seagulls

· A-ha

· Tears for Fears

· INXS

· Simple Minds

Hip Hop and Rap Music

· Voices from the Margins: Rap Music and Contemporary Black Cultural Production

· “All Aboard the Night Train”: Flow, Layering and Rupture in Postindustrial New York

· Soul Sonic Forces: Technology, Orality, and Black Cultural Practice in Rap Music

· Prophets of Rage: Rap Music and the Politics of Black Cultural Expression

· Bad Sistas: Black Women Rappers and Sexual Politics in Rap Music

*** Extra credit for this course is available via an end-of-course project. Present your project ideas to your instructor. The amount of extra credit determined will be based upon the complexity of the project.