Syllabus MUS 334/AFR 374/LAS 326 Musics of Latin America Instructor: Robin Moore Instructor's office: MBE 3.210 Office Tel.—512 471-0373 Email: [email protected] Office hrs: Tues-Thurs 3:30-4:30pm, or by appt. Class times: Tues-Thurs 11am-12:30pm Class location: MRH 2.634 Teaching assistant: Katie Chapman [email protected] TA office hrs: TBA Lab location: MRH 2.610 Unique numbers and labs for Music (MUS 334): Lab Mon 5-6pm (22275) Lab Wed 5-6pm (22280) Lab Mon 6-7pm (22285) For African and African American Studies (AFR 374F): Lab Mon 5-6pm (30605) Lab Wed 5-6pm (30610) Lab Mon 6-7pm (30615) For Latin American Studies (LAS 326): Lab Mon 5-6pm (40565) Lab Wed 5-6pm (40570) Lab Mon 6-7pm (40575) Description This survey course considers Latin American musics within a broad cultural and historical framework. Latin American musical practices are explored by illustrating the many ways that aesthetics and society are embodied in and contested through performance. These inquiries are framed by a range of theoretical concepts that become particularly pertinent in Latin American contexts such as diaspora, neo-colonialism, mestizaje, hybridity, migration, and globalization. Readings One textbook has been ordered for the course, Musics of Latin America (W.W. Norton, 2012); it is available for purchase in the Coop East across from the Law School. In addition, a few assigned readings have been assembled from others sources. These are available through the course Canvas site. Music of the African Diaspora, p. 2 Listening Students are asked to listen to musical examples each week and to be responsible for recognizing and identifying them on exams; approximately three songs per lecture will be assigned and should be reviewed before class. You will be asked to remember something about the histories, contexts, functions, and social significance of assigned music. Assigned listening can be downloaded for .99 cents a song, or the music can be heard for free via streaming access on Canvas, or by checking out the CDs on 2-hr. reserve in the Fine Arts Library. For each example, consider making a list that includes the following information: —The title of the piece and the composer, if known —The approximate time 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 it —Any broader issues discussed that relate to the piece Grading Policy Students are required to attend classes and labs, to keep up with the required reading and listening, to participate in discussion, to take exams on the assigned day, and to complete all other work punctually. Grades for undergraduates will be determined on the basis of three in-class exams, two small assignments (a group song analysis, a concert review), a final brief oral presentation, and class participation/attendance. The three exams will constitute 70% of the student’s overall grade, the minor assignments 10%, the oral presentation 10%, and class participation/attendance 10%. In-class exams for students will consist of three parts: (1) the identification of key terms, ideas, or people; (2) discussion of assigned listening examples; and (3) a short essay on a topic related to class discussion. Students will be provided with a review sheet prior to a given test that lists key terms they are to be responsible for, and possible essay topics. The essay will be evaluated in terms of the following five categories: clear organization, clear grammar/syntax, reference to assigned musical examples in support of arguments, use of relevant musical terminology from readings or class discussion, and full response to all aspects of the question posed. Undergraduates may opt to write an 8-10 pp. paper instead of taking one of the midterm exams or the final, or to replace a midterm grade they were unsatisfied with. If they choose the paper option, they should refer to the writing guidelines below for graduate students. Those planning to write a paper should provide the instructor and TA with a proposed topic and bibliography no later than week 5, and an outline by week 7. Concert Reviews Music of the African Diaspora, p. 3 As noted above, 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 live and develop an appropriate vocabulary with which to describe/discuss it. Please consult at least two written sources (at least one from the Fine Arts Library in addition to class readings) in order to acquire background information on the styles of music heard at the concert; they should be formally cited and referenced in the review. You should also conduct a brief interview with one of the performers following the event and incorporate what you learn from them into your review. See the “Extra Credit Options” section below about concerts for a listing of possible events to attend. Other concerts may be appropriate, but require approval in advance from either the Instructor or TA. Please hand in your review no later than Tuesday of Week 15 unless special arrangements are made with the instructor. Attendance Regular attendance is important because various activities that take place in class (the screening of video clips, musical demonstrations or performance opportunities, 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 will be assigned 30 points, and after the first 3 unexcused absences by a given student, each absence will result in 3 lost points. Assignments and Grading for Graduate Students Graduate students enrolled in MUS 334 as an independent study (MUS 385J) should expect to write a research paper on a topic of their choice that relates to the focus of the course. Individual written projects should be approximately 12-15 pp. in length, double- spaced. In addition, graduate students must complete two additional assignments: First, they are to transcribe and analyze at least one minute’s worth of music from one of the examples provided on their class listening tapes. This work may be incorporated into and/or support their final written project, or it may be separate. Second, they must learn to play and/or sing a representative piece or rhythm of Latin American traditional repertoire unfamiliar to them. This may be accomplished on their own, or with the help of private instruction. The piece may relate to their final project or not, as they choose. Students may either demonstrate their performance abilities to the class if they wish. A two-page description/outline for the written project and an accompanying bibliography is due during week 5, and a draft of the project is due week 11. The final version of the paper (assuming additional revisions are necessary) as well as the transcriptions and recording of musical performance (in the case of graduate music students) will be due on the last day of classes. This schedule will ensure that I have time to interact with you as you conduct your research. For graduates, the exams will constitute 30% of the overall grade, the individual project 30%, the transcription and performance/recording 10%, the final oral presentation 10%, postings and other assignments 10%, and attendance 10%. Extra Credit Options Music of the African Diaspora, p. 4 Performance Ensembles. It is the intention of this course to encourage active participation in musical experiences to the greatest extent possible. Therefore, any student interested in enrolling and participating in a one-unit world music performance ensemble at the University of Texas in conjunction with this course will have their lowest test score raised to an A. If you decide to pursue this option, please notify your instructor and TA as soon as possible. You will need to formally enroll in the ensemble by the 12th day of classes. Ensembles in the Music School: (1) Mariachi Ensemble, (meets W 6-9pm in MBE 2.106, unique #25915) (2) Steel Pan Ensemble (meets MW 5-6pm in MRH 6.222, unique #25955) (3) Hispanic Caribbean Ensemble (meets W 5-8pm in MRH 6.252, unique #25890) (4) Conjunto Ensemble (meets T-Th 5-6:30pm in MRH 6.252, unique #25870) Students may also opt to join a group outside of UT for the semester, or to take private lessons on an instrument related to course subject matter, subject to approval by the instructor. If participation or instruction of this sort is duly documented, you will receive substantial extra credit depending on the extent and length of the commitment. Students must attend rehearsals regularly or take at least five private lessons as part of this commitment. Note that those pursuing individual study must present a 2-3 pp. written summary at the end of the semester that describes their participation in the group/lessons, the material covered, and provides contact info for someone who can vouch for their involvement. A list of possible contacts for such activity is included below. —Academicos da Opera (samba batucada: www.austinsambaschool.org) —Buscando el Monte (Cuban comparsa: http://www.myspace.com/buscandoelmonte) —Gerard Villanueva offers Latin hand drumming lessons: [email protected] —Puerto Rican Folkloric Dance (http://www.prfdance.org/) Extra Credit Concert Reviews. Although one concert review is required, those interested in attending additional concerts of music related to the music of Latin America and writing reviews of their experiences will receive up to seven additional points added to one of their exam scores.