COURSE NUMBER: |
MUSI 351 |
COURSE TITLE: |
Popular Music |
NAME OF
INSTRUCTOR: |
Dr Charles Stolte |
CREDIT WEIGHT
AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION: |
credits 3(hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 1 - hrs lab 0) |
COURSE
DESCRIPTION: |
This course takes students through the development of
Western popular musical styles such as blues, gospel, jazz, folk,
country-and-western and rock-and-roll. The course examines the musical
elements that define these common genres, how those elements have
changed over time and how popular music has both reflected and
influenced social change. Fulfils requirements for music majors through
a weekly 50-minute seminar, specialized assignments and modified
examinations.
Students with credit in MUSI 251 cannot receive credit in MUSI 351.
Prerequisites: MUSI 216, 217
|
REQUIRED TEXTS: |
Starr, Larry and Waterman, Christopher, American
Popular Music. OUP: New York, NY. 2018.
|
MARK
DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT: |
|
Exam 1, written and listening |
25% |
Exam 2, written and listening |
25% |
Chapter Listening mini-exams (5 x 5%) |
25% |
Class Presentation |
15% |
Comprehensive Essay |
10% |
|
|
|
100% |
|
COURSE OBJECTIVES: |
- Through reading, writing and general analysis of
music, students will demonstrate a broad understanding of American
popular music, its styles and formats and the issues and concepts that
proceed from the music
- Through listening, students will be able identify a
broad sampling of popular music and artists from the 19th century to
the present
- Students will be knowledgeable about the worldviews
that inspire expression in popular music
- Students will be knowledgeable about political and
social trends and events that transpire within—and inspire—popular
music and its musicians
|
COURSE OUTLINE: |
The three-hour Monday evening classes are divided into
two sections: A=6:30-7:50 PM; B=8:00—9:20 PM.
Good luck surviving both!
- 1: 14 September
- A: Introduction; Textbook introduction; Chapter 1:
Themes
- 2: 21 September
- A: No-pressure student favourite music
presentations; Chapter 2: “After the Ball”: 19th and early 20th century
pop
- B: Chapter 3: Social Dance and Jazz
- 3: 28 September
- A: Listening mini-exam #1: Chapters 2-3; Chapter 4:
Tin Pan Alley
- B: Chapter 5: Blues and Hillbilly Music
- 4: 5 October
- A: Listening mini-exam #2: Chapters 4-5; Chapter 6:
Swing
- B: Chapter 7: Post-WW2. C&W, R&B,
Sinatra, the Mambo etc.
- 5: 19 October
- A: Listening mini-exam #3: Chapters 6-7; Chapter 8:
Early rock n’ roll: covers, business, styles and stars
- B: Review and/or catch-up
- 6: 26 October
- Examination #1: Chapters 1—8
- 7: 2 November
- A: Chapter 9: the 60’s, British Invasion, Motown,
Beach Boys etc.
- B: Chapter 10: the 60’s, Country, Soul, Folk and
Rock
- 8: 9 November
- A: Listening mini-exam #4: Chapters 9-10; Chapter
11: the 70’s, Rock and Disco
- B: Chapter 12: the 70’s, Country, Reggae, Salsa,
Punk, Funk and early Rap
- 9: 16 November
- A: Listening mini-exam #5: Chapters 11-12; Chapter
13: the 80’s, early digital technology, MTV, MJ, Prince and Madonna
- 10: 23 November
- A: Chapter 14: the 90’s, Hip Hop, Alternative and
business
- 11: 30 November
- A: Chapter 15: the 00’s, Internet, New music
economics, Rock, Hip Hop, the Diva and globalization
- 12: 7 December
- A: Catch-up/wrap-up/review
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