World Music, MUS 111 Credit Hours: 3Fall Term 2015 M/W/F 9 Am 9:50 Am

Department of

Humanities

Plattsburgh, New York

World Music, MUS 111 Credit Hours: 3Fall Term 2015 M/W/F 9 am – 9:50 am

Instructor: Wanda J. Haby, MAM

Contact: or (210) 392-2135 cell phone

Office Hours: M – W – F 11 am – 12 noon or by appointment

Course Description:

This course explores several global cultural soundscapes from an ethno musicological perspective, emphasizing the role of music in culture, specifically how music both reflects and affects cultural identities. Emphasis centers on music of Sub-Saharan Africa, India, Asia, the Middle East, Indonesia, Latin America, Native Americans, and Europe. Assignments are combined with direct engagement with music and musicians. No prior musical training required

Course Goals:

The primary objective is to give the student an understanding of music from around the world as one of many interrelated cultural systems. Musical and anthropological principles and vocabulary will be discussed. Another purpose of this course is to provide an opportunity for the students to enhance their own musical knowledge.

Course Outcomes:

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

Understand each tradition in terms of its ways of organizing musical sound and its place both within its own culture and in the larger story of world music.
Understand the meaning of culture, relationships between music and culture and various processes of cultural change, including problems arising from ethnocentrism.
Frame a comparative context through which students can critically asses the ideas, forces, and values that have created the modern world. Musical styles and genres are placed in the context of the ideas, forces, and values that led to their creation and development.
Demonstrate proficiency in cross-cultural analysis.
Analyze significant primary music texts and as forms of cultural and creative expression.
Identify and understand through listening, features of cultures other than their own.
Explore global/cultural diversity.
Recognize the ways in which both change and continuity have affected human history as music through time and society is a reflection on new ideas, as well as the historical roots of new ideas and the way they endure through subsequent period s of history.

Required Text:

Music of the People of the World, 3rd Edition.,Alves, ISBN-13:9781133307945

Method of Instruction:

Primary methods of instruction are lecture, discussion, independent research, listening, and cooperative learning exercises using small groups toward the enhancement of critical thinking skills through the use of dialogues.

Course Requirements (General):

Regular class attendance. Perfect attendance will positively affect your grade and absences and tardiness will adversely.
Thorough reading, listening, and study of assigned materials.
Effective participation in class discussion.
Study material assigned for class sessions in preparation for class discussion.
Satisfactory completion of all exams or equivalent assignments as approved by the instructor.
All assignments are due on the assigned dates. Late assignments are accepted with conditions: 3 points removed from the final grade for EACH DAY the assignment is late.
Adhere to the academic honesty policy of CCC as stated in the Student Handbook.

Course Requirements (Specific): Class Participation (15%):

Attendance in this class is mandatory and participation is important. This includes class discussion groups. Only dire illness should keep you away. If you must miss a class, you must notify the instructor and explain.Topics in the text will promote a student-centered discussion platform and participation will follow a basic format as follows:

Be Courteous
Participate Responsibly
Build Ideas on What Others Say
Be Credible – Support your Statements Clearly
Stick to the Subject
Question the Opinions of Others
Listen Actively
Strive for Understanding

WRITING ASSIGNMENTand PRESENTATION – Music Culture (40%):

(Writing style - APA) Write an essay on a musical culture of your choosing from the provided list.

Define your chosen musical culture in terms of geography, history, and ethnic boundaries. Describe the musical repertoire from the what, where, and who. Describe the music and its context. The paper should be at least four (4) pages in CONTENT and not exceed ten (10) pages in length (double-spaced). You must include a cover page and reference page in APA format with a minimum of three citations.
Create a PowerPoint presentation which summarizes your paper for presentation to your classmates.
Choose recordings representative of your music topic to accompany your PowerPoint for class listening. Time limit on presentation – 12 minutes.

LISTENING EXAMS – 3 Unit Exams (30%):

Three section exams to complete in class on scheduled day. Listening exams require identification and discussion of musical excerpts, geographical identification of the countries being studied, and short answer questions relevant to class lectures and listening files. There are no make-up exams. Please note reference in CCC Student Handbook.

MUSIC ETHNOGRAPHY – Research Post (15%):

Ethno (meaning culture or people) and graphy(referring to something written) is an analytical description of a cultural setting, cultural event or subculture based on field research. Find an article relevant to your music research project on Wiki. Write an approximate 300 word post and submit your draft to me for feedback at least 3 days before the assignment deadline along with a required page signed by you, acknowledging your understanding of plagiarism, common knowledge, paraphrasing and direct quotation. Once draft is returned with feedback, post your research onto the WIKI site. Also, respond to at least one other classmates post. Provide submission and confirmation for both postings for grading.

Grade Determination

The grade for the course will be based on a weighted percentage. Attendance and participation will affect your final grade. Late Papers & Assignments: 3 points will be taken from the final score of an assignment for each day in which papers or assignments are late.

Academic Assistance:

Clinton Community College is committed to providing a supportive, challenging, diverse, and integrated environment for all students. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act Subpart E and Title II of the American with Disabilities Act, the College ensures accessibility to its programs, services, and activities for qualified students with documented disabilities. For more information contact the Academic Assistance Center by the first week of this course. You should also consult with the instructor during the first two weeks of classes to address modification needed to complete course requirements.

Course Continuity Plan:

In the event the college officially closes because of an emergency which causes a short term disruption of this course, we will utilize e-mail to continue this course in the short term (1-3 weeks). In the event of inclement weather, monitor TV and Radio stations as listed in the CCC Student Handbook. When possible, messages will be sent via campus email. Class cancellations due to instructor absence will be posted on the classroom door and emailed to students using the student’s email account provided by CCC. Room changes will be announced in advance whenever possible and posted on the classroom door.

This syllabus is a guideline and therefore, is subject to change with or without notice.