MUS 125 SYLLABUS(Spring 2016)
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SYLLABUS MUS 125 HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC - 3 CREDIT HOURS WESTERN NEVADA COLLEGE Monday and Wednesday at 11:00pm to 12:15pm First class: January 25, 2016 Final class and final exam: May 19, 2016 Last day to drop this class and receive a “W” is: April 01, 2016 Instructor: John Shipley, my email is: [email protected] I do not have an office at WNC to meet students in, but you can text or call my cell phone at 775/219-9434 and I will make time to assist you with anything pertaining to this class. Cell Phones And Other Electronic Communication Devices: As a courtesy to others, please turn off and store all cell phones and other electronic communications devices when in this class. Also, if you use a laptop to take notes in this class, please make sure the noise emitted by the keyboard does not disturb other students. *** NO CLASS IS TO BE RECORDED, BY ANY MEANS, WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF YOUR INSTRUCTOR. *** Required Materials: 1) Rock 'n Roll, Origins and Innovators by Timothy Jones and Jim McIntosh 2) A Pandora Apple Music or Spotify account or access to the music presented in class, i.e. your own or friend’s record/CD collection. Another resource is YouTube.com, much of the music used in this class can be found on that website. Remember downloading audio files from file sharing websites is illegal and is theft of the songwriters of this great music. COURSE DESCRIPTION: The History of Rock Music is open to all students at WNC with no pre-requisites. This course explores rock music’s significant performers, producers, recordings, performances, and cultural identity in the twentieth century. Following a loose chronology, we will trace the evolution of specific musical styles and investigate issues related to culture, performance practice, transmission, and reception. During the semester this course will critically evaluate rock's musical content and contemporary cultural role. The primary texts for our investigation will be the songs themselves. Extensive classroom listening will introduce the student to the distinct musical styles, voices, and performers that comprise the genre. Reading and listening assignments will cover the Rock Music styles from the early Blues to present trends, as well as the social implications of the art form, especially on youth culture, and its influence on other music. MUS 125: HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC Spring 2016 pg. 1 Upon successful completion of this course students should be able to: * List the prominent eras of Rock music. * Recognize the validity of important artists from each era. * Find relationships between the music and historical, social and economic factors of each era and the effect of these advances, pertaining to Rock music. * Describe technological advances since the beginnings of rock music (e.g. multitrack recording, digital synthesis, MIDI, etc.) * Understand the profound impact this music has had throughout the United States as well as the rest of the world. * Understand the differences of Western Swing, Hillbilly Boogie, Bluegrass, Honky-tonk, and Rockabilly. * Explain the phenomenon of Folk-Rock. * State the influence of Motown and other Soul artists and their music had on American social changes. * Explain the importance of mainstream popular (Pop) music. * Describe the significance of Surf Music. * Explain the changes that took place in the development of Rock because of the sudden emergence of British Rock musicians in the early 1960's. * Describe the styles of Psychedelic Rock. * Explain the development of the Heavy Metal sound. * Explain the importance of Art-Rock (Classical Rock or Prog Rock). * Describe how Punk Rock emerged & then died out, or maybe it just morphed into something else. Grading Procedures: Your grade will be determined in the following manner: Attendance: Class meets two times a week. Appropriate class attendance and class participation is expected. Successful completion of this course requires engaged listening and careful consideration of the issues and ideas that accompany the music presented. Failure to attend class regularly can result in failure of the course because we will cover a lot of material not discussed in the textbook. Remember most of what you will find about this class on the Internet is probably suspect do not depend on Wikipedia.com to tell you the truth!!! Grading: Grades will be determined as follows: • class attendance and participation • weekly reading assignments • weekly listening assignments • Two essay papers • Four Exams MUS 125: HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC Spring 2016 pg. 2 Tests: All of the four exams will be in two parts: #1-written exam – True or False, Fill in the Blank and Essays Questions #2-listening exam - you will be required to know the title of song played and the names(s) of the artist(s) performing the song played during the exam. These songs will be from your listening excerpts from your weekly assignments. To reiterate, you will be asked to identify artist, song title, style, and any relevant historical information. Writing Assignments: I prefer that students use the MLA format and writing style. At a minimum your papers must be computer printed with a one-inch margin, double-spaced (don’t use 2 double spaces between paragraphs) and stapled together. Paragraphs need to be indented and for fonts use Times New Roman, Palatino, MS Serif (New York) or a similar font. Please remember to put your name on it! Paper #1 Subject: Write a 1-2 page essay discussing the type of music in which you directly participate as a performer, consumer, listener, or critic. You may choose any topic you wish but your paper should represent at least in one way that you yourself “Music,” using Music as a verb. This paper is due by class #3. Paper #2 Subject: Students will write a 2 to 3 page review of a Rock Music Concert. Students will need to attend a concert, rent or buy and then watch a rock concert video of one of the genres that we have talked about in class or in the textbook. Yes you will have to spend some money! Attach your ticket stub or payment receipt to your paper. Any paper turned in without either of these will receive a failing grade. You should reference the style of music that is played, the instruments are played and what era the music is from. I want you to give me your opinions about the concert not just a bunch of information about the band or what songs they played. Discuss how the concert made you feel, did you learn something from the concert and did the musicians do their job and entertain you? This paper is due Class #28. Study Guide: Write one or two sentences on each subject given in the study guide. This is due Class #27. MUS 125: HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC Spring 2016 pg. 3 Final Grades will be calculated in the following manner: Paper #1 -10% (How do you Music?) Test #1 - 15% Test #2 - 15% Test #3 - 15% Test #4 - 15% Paper #2 - 15% (Rock Concert Review) Study Guide 15% Total: 100% 95% -100% = A 89% – 94% = A- 85% - 90% = B 79% - 84 = B- 75% - 80% = C 69% - 74% = C- 65% - 70% = D 59% - 64% = D- Additional credit earning opportunities may be possible on an individual basis but cannot be used in place of course requirements. MUS 125: HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC Spring 2016 pg. 4 Make-up exams can be arranged but half a letter grade is deducted if a deadline is missed. Attendance: Not graded. But if you miss a class, it’s up to you to get the notes you missed. I give out lots of handouts so if you miss a class make sure you ask me if I gave out any for the class you missed. Any undeniable evidence of cheating or plagiarism (turning in work that is not your own) on the part of a student will result in non-acceptance of the assignment or examination. Requests for excused absences must be made before the scheduled class time and any subsequently missed tests or assignments completed before the next regularly scheduled class meeting. Students are expected to provide all note-taking materials as well as a storage/retrieval system for class handouts. Most handout materials will be punched for a standard three-ring binder ***Remember that starting with the Fall 2012 semester Instructors are no longer allowed give out W grades.*** MUS 125: HISTORY OF ROCK MUSIC Spring 2016 pg. 5 Tentative Class Schedule: This outline is subject to change. You should complete all reading assignments and listen to the music listed in the syllabus before the date listed on this syllabus in order to facilitate informed discussion in class. CLASS ONE Monday, January 25 Subject(s): Introduction, Syllabus and Overview, "What Is Rock" Popular Sounds of the 1940s: Crooners and Twang Listening: White Christmas, Irving Berlin It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing, Duke Ellington Over The Rainbow, Judy Garland I’ve Got you under My Skin, Frank Sinatra CLASS TWO Wednesday, January 27 Subject(s): Early Country Music Reading: Chapter 1 Listening: "In The Jailhouse Now", Jimmy Rodgers “I’m a Man of Constant Sorrow” from the movie soundtrack O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Written by Dick Burnett 1913) Turkey In The Straw, Eck Robertson Foggy Mountain Break Down, Flatt and Scruggs Can the Circle Be Unbroken, The Carter Family Happy Trails To You, Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans Ida Red, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys Wabash Cannonball, Roy Acuff Hey Good Lookin’, Hank Williams Ghost Riders In The Sky, Gene Autry CLASS THREE Monday, February 1 Subject(s): Early Blues Reading: Chapter 2 Listening: Memphis Blues, W.C.