Description:

This course provides students with an introduction to the musical heritage of the world. Through an interdisciplinary approach targeting the arts, humanities and social sciences, the course fosters skills necessary to gain a deeper appreciation of both familiar and unfamiliar musical traditions. The course will survey a representative cross section of the major musical traditions of the world, which may include Native American, Black American, sub-Saharan African, Eastern European/Bosnian, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese and Latin American/Brazilian traditions. Note: The course does not require the ability to read music. 3 hrs. lecture/wk.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Prerequisites: NONE

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Define a variety of non-Western musical cultures (folk and popular).
2. Place music in a social and cultural context to reach a better understanding of its role in different societies.
3. Discuss how music defines, supports and enriches the human aesthetic experience and daily life.
4. Evaluate the relative hierarchy of fundamental music elements (including rhythm, meter, harmony, melody and form) in particular musical cultures to better understand the organizational principles behind applied musical examples.
5. Listen actively to music to explain analytical perspectives with musical terminology.
6. Describe music as human expression by borrowing methods from history and anthropology.
7. Apply investigative research methods to any music through an introduction to basic music references sources.
8. Examine the specific relationship between instruments, ensembles and musical functions in various cultures.
9. Demonstrate results of first-hand experience with ethnomusicological activity as a result of individual field projects.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Demonstrate a Written and Aural Knowledge of the Terms Common to
Folk and Popular Music Traditions
   A. Rhythm
   B. Melody
   C. Harmony
   D. Genre and form
   E. Performance context
   F. Text
   G. Composition/improvisation
   H. Transmission
   I. Movement

II. Construct a Working Definition of Music (and apply it to various
cultures) by Considering the Relative Hierarchy of Musical Elements
   A. Construct analysis guidelines for listening exercises
   B. Examine ideology behind music making: function, ceremony,
entertainment, etc.

III. Define Ethnomusicology and Demonstrate Written and Aural Knowledge of
Contextual Analysis
   A. Examine societal implications of cultural activity and identify
music as relevant to the human aesthetic experience and to daily life
   B. Find connections between primitive and evolved societies
   C. Define parallels between anthropology, history, literature and
music
   D. Examine basic reference tools and specific research methodologies
for ethnomusicological inquiry

IV. Define Selected Musical Styles and Identify Characteristic Sounds of
Traditions Relevant to Sub-Saharan Africa and Identify Cultures and
Subcultures of African Music Making Such As:
   A. Agbekor music of the Ewe people
   B. Drum language for Agbekor
   C. Music of the Shona people

V. Define Selected Musical Styles and Identify Characteristic Sounds of
Traditions Relevant to the North American Ethnic and Popular Styles
(specifically comparing to African origins) Such As:
   A. Blues
   B. Jazz

VI. Define Selected Musical Styles and Identify Characteristic Sounds of
Traditions Relevant to the Native North American Indian (specifically
targeting the Navajo culture) Such As:
   A. Yeibichai song tradition
   B. Circle dance songs
   C. the Native American Church

VII. Define Selected Musical Styles and Identify Characteristic Sounds of
Traditions Relevant to Eastern Europe (specifically targeting Bosnia) Such
As:
   A. Bosnian Highland Village Musical Traditions
   B. Bosnian Lowland Village Musical Traditions
   C. Popular Musical Styles of Bosnian Culture

VIII. Define Selected Musical Styles and Identify Characteristic Sounds of
Traditions Relevant to Southern India Such As:
   A. General theory of raga, tala, musical structure and improvisation
   B. South Indian Karnataka Sangeeta
   C. The influence of Indian music on the West

IX. Define Selected Musical Styles and Identify Characteristic Sounds of
Traditions Relevant to Indonesia Such As:
   A. Central Java and the gamelan (instruments, performance contexts)
   B. Shadow puppetry
   C. Indonesian popular music and transnational exchange

X.  Define Selected Musical Styles and Identify Characteristic Sounds of
Traditions Relevant to Japan (specifically the aesthetic sense of timbre,
pitch collections/scales; melody and harmony; rhythm; and form) Such As:
   A. Shakuhachi flute repertory
   B. Shamisen repertory
   C. Folk song
   D. Popular music
   E. Kabuki and Noh theater traditions

XI. Define Selected Musical Styles and Identify Characteristic Sounds of
Traditions Relevant to Latin America and Identify Cultures and Subcultures
of Latin American Music Making Such As:
   A. Quichua of Ecuador
   B. Nueva cancion of Chile
   C. Brazilian candomble
   D. Brazilian carnival traditions: samba

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

Examinations                                  60% of grade
Field Project                                 25% of grade
Weekly Assignments/Participation/Attendance   15% of grade
  Total                                      100%

Grade Criteria:
  A = 90 - 100%
  B = 80 -  89%
  C = 70 -  79%
  D = 60 -  69%
  F – Below 60%

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.