Music Studies Elective

WHAT IS THIS CLASS ABOUT?

What is music? Why and how has it shaped human history? What shapes our taste in music? What is the relationship between music and the human body, mind, and spirit? These are just a few of the essential questions we will explore as a learning community this semester. Come prepared with curiosity, an open mind, and the courage to [participate/ fail/ try new things] in our class! We will learn to critically analyze forms of music from around the globe, as well as engage in performance-based opportunities. This elective is open to grades 9-11, and will likely include cross-curricular collaboration with other subject areas.

WHAT IS THE CONTENT OUTLINE FOR THIS CLASS?

• UNIT 0: Community Building, Social Emotional Learning (week 1)

• UNIT 1: What is Music?

  • UNIT 1.1: What is Music? A philosophical approach (week 2)

  • UNIT 1.2: Listening with Understanding (week 3)

  • UNIT 1.3: Intro to Music Theory: Recognizing Patterns and Engaging in Improvisation (week 4)

  • UNIT 1.4: Analyzing Music (week 5)

• UNIT 2: Music and its Relationship with the Body, Mind, and Spirit

  • UNIT 2.1: Understanding the Body as an Instrument (week 5)

  • UNIT 2.2: How Music Impacts the Body (week 6)

  • UNIT 2.3: How Music Impacts the Mind and Spirit (week 7)

• UNIT 3: Music and Culture

  • UNIT 3.1.: What shapes our individual taste in music? (week 8)

  • UNIT 3.2: Global styles of music (weeks 9-10)

  • UNIT 3.3: Music and Gender (week 11)

• UNIT 4: Musicology: what is “Applied Musicology”?

  • UNIT 4.1: Hip Hop and Social Change (week 12)

  • UNIT 4.2: Music and Social Movements around the World (week 13)

• UNIT 5: Music and Nature

  • UNIT 5.1: What is the relationship between music and the natural world? (week 14)

  • UNIT 5.2: Sustainability in Music (week 15)

• UNIT 6: Individual Research Topics (weeks 16-17)

WHERE DOES CLASS TAKE PLACE?

Music Studies will occur in my room (153) and occasionally outside in the OASIS.

There will also be many optional after-school dance events, cultural festivals, and guest workshops throughout the semester that I will share with the class during week 2.