MUS 334/LAS 326/AFR374F Music of Mexico and the Caribbean
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MUS 334/LAS 326/AFR374F Music of Mexico and the Caribbean Instructor: Dr. Robin Moore [email protected] Meeting times: T-TH 11AM-12:15 PM Classroom: virtual Instructor’s office: virtual Instructor’s telephone—512 471-0373 Office hours: by appt. Wed or Thurs 1:30-2:30 PM Teaching Assistant: Elisa Alfonso [email protected] Office: virtual Office Hours: Zoom sessions by appt., Wed 1:30-3:30pm or Thurs 1:30-3:30 MUS 334 22195 (lab Mon 5-6PM, virtual) 22200 (lab Mon 6-7PM, virtual) AFR 374F 30105 (lab Mon 5-6PM, virtual) 30110 (lab Mon 6-7PM, virtual) LAS 326 38680 (lab Mon 5-6PM, virtual) 38685 (lab Mon 6-7PM, virtual) MUS 380 (graduate) 22470 (lab optional) Description This course provides an introduction to the history of Mexican and Caribbean music within a broad cultural and historical framework. All inquiries are framed by a range of terms and concepts pertinent in Latin American contexts such as colonialism and its repercussions, hybridity, migration, diaspora, and cultural exchange. Class meetings are divided into lecture/discussion segments, videos, listening, and performance/ demonstration. It is hoped that students will leave the course with a better understanding of the history, musical styles, and local meanings of numerous Latin American musical forms and their impact on the United States, as well as with stronger listening skills and new ways of discussing music. Instructional mode: virtual. This course is designed to be 100% online. Students will be able to complete all required course activities remotely. Global Cultures and Cultural Diversity Flags The course carries Global Cultures and Cultural Diversity flags. Global Cultures courses are designed to increase your familiarity with cultural groups outside the United States. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from assignments covering the practices, beliefs, and histories of at least one non-U.S. cultural group, past or present. Cultural Diversity Flags ask students to explore the shared practices and beliefs of one or more underrepresented cultural groups in the US subject to Music of Mexico and the Caribbean, p. 2 persistent marginalization. In addition to learning about these diverse groups in relation to their specific contexts, you’ll also reflect on your own cultural experiences. Reading Materials One book will be used in conjunction with the second half of the class, Music of the Hispanic Caribbean (Oxford University Press, 2010). Online access to the book is currently free through the UT Libraries site and the Hathi Trust (https://search.lib.utexas.edu/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991028660739706011&c ontext=L&vid=01UTAU_INST:SEARCH&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&ad aptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,music%20in% 20the%20hispanic%20caribbean&offset=0), though the interface is a bit clunky. The ebook is also available on loan for $19.50 through Redbook (https://www.redshelf.com/book/1605318/music-in-the-hispanic-caribbean-1605318- 9780199974009), or for purchase used (paperback) through Amazon.com for about $25. Readings for the first half of class consist of a selection of articles from various authors. They are available on our Canvas site, along with assigned listening for the entire semester. Please check the site soon and let us know if you have any problem accessing materials there. The UT administration has the following policy: No materials used in this class, including, but not limited to, lecture hand-outs, videos, assessments (quizzes, exams, papers, projects, homework assignments), in-class materials, review sheets, and additional problem sets, may be shared online or with anyone outside of the class unless you have my explicit, written permission. Unauthorized sharing of materials promotes cheating. It is a violation of the University’s Student Honor Code and an act of academic dishonesty. Any suspected unauthorized sharing of materials will be reported to Student Conduct and Academic Integrity in the Office of the Dean of Students. These reports can result in sanctions, including failure in the course. Listening Students are asked to listen to assigned musical selections each week and will be responsible for recognizing and identifying them; two or three songs per lecture will be expected of you. All listening is available on Canvas; your TA will help you explore the music in section by creating low-stakes group and individual exercises. For each musical example assigned, consider making a list for test review that includes as much of the following information about it as possible: —The title of the piece and the composer, if known —The approximate date it was written, within a decade —The culture area/country with which it is associated — The lyrics of the piece, what they discuss — The instrumentation of the piece — The typical contexts in which it is performed — The formal musical characteristics that define the music —The broader social’ issues discussed that relate to the piece Music of Mexico and the Caribbean, p. 3 Grading Policy Students are required to attend classes and labs, to keep up with the reading and listening, to respond with comments on Canvas posts, to participate actively in discussion in class, to take exams on the assigned day unless prior arrangements are made, and to complete all assignments punctually (online posts are intended to support discussion in class on specific days). Grades for undergraduates will be determined on the basis of three in-class essay exams, other small assignments (postings to Canvas, a review of an online concert), a final oral presentation in groups, class participation, and attendance. The three exams will constitute 45% of the student’s overall grade, the minor assignments 35% (postings 20%, lab section activities 10% concert review 5%), the oral presentation 10%, attendance 5%, and class participation 5%. Students may opt to write an 8-10 pp. paper instead of taking one of the midterm exams or the final. If they choose the paper option, they should refer to the writing guidelines below for graduate students. Those planning to write a paper must provide the instructor and TA with a proposed topic and bibliography no later than week 5 and an outline of the paper by week 7. Missed Test Policy You are asked to keep track of scheduled test days on the syllabus and to take tests when they are offered. Students missing tests without a medical excuse or making prior arrangements will not be allowed to make them up, so please make a note. Attendance Regular attendance is important because various activities that take place in class (the screening of video clips, musical demonstrations or performances, collective discussion, guest presentations, and so on) cannot be experienced through individual work at home. The same is true for attendance in discussion section. For that reason, attendance in both class and sections is mandatory and will be monitored. Attendance will be assigned 45 points (5% of your grade) and after the first three unexcused absences by a given student each absence will result in 3 lost points. Class participation Your participation grade will be based on meaningful contributions in collective discussions. Meaningful contributions are taken to be analytic engagement with the texts and course themes. Each student is to come to class prepared to participate. Those who take the initiative to engage critically with the readings and themes of the class and share their thoughts on a regular basis will graded highly in this area. Those who participate infrequently in class discussions will be graded down. Configuring your Computer for Our Class We will occasionally try singing melodies together, learning song lyrics together, even playing together or demonstrating particular instrumental parts as feasible online. In order to do this, a few settings on Zoom need to be configured appropriately. First, under “settings,” go to “audio” and “advanced.” Make sure the “enable original sound” option box is checked. Also, make sure the “suppress persistent background noise” and “suppress intermittent background noise” options are disabled. For those who plan to Music of Mexico and the Caribbean, p. 4 play music: in order to give you the best sound without clipping, it is best to uncheck “automatically adjust microphone volume” on the main audio setting page. Then you’ll need to manually set the gain volume on your mic based on the sound of your voice/instrument. Most people suggest using headphones when connecting to class, to avoid feedback problems. Concert Reviews As mentioned, one written concert review is required of all students. The review should be 3 or 4 pages in length, typed and double-spaced. The overall goal of the assignment is that you experience music making as it is performed and develop an appropriate vocabulary with which to describe/discuss it. Please consult at least two authoritative written sources (in addition to class readings) in order to acquire background information on the styles of music you hear at the concert; the sources should be formally cited and referenced in the review. You may choose any online concert related to class content to view. If you’re not sure what to watch, we can provide suggestions. Please hand in your review no later than Tuesday of Week 15 unless special arrangements are made. Individual Projects You will prepare a final class presentation on music by researching a particular musical artist, genre, composition, or national or regional musical style of your choice in small groups. Focus on particular aspects of Mexican/Caribbean music making as appropriate and discuss them briefly with the class for 15 minutes. Some portion of the presentation should discuss or analyze music per se: instruments, sounds, rhythms, etc., and the remainder can focus on topics such as historical background/development, contemporary social meanings of the repertoire, changes in style, accompanying dance, etc.