MUS-1120 Survey of American Popular Music

Credits 3
A survey of the evolution of jazz, blues, latin, country and rock styles, contributions of important performers, and musical techniques involved in the creation and performance of blues-based music. This course will introduce students to the history of American music as it evolved in the United States and spread throughout the world. In addition to providing a historical perspective, this course will also consider the aesthetic and sociological issues that have influenced the various developments within the genre.
Course Outcomes

Become familiar with the sound of the many variants of music focusing primarily on American & British performers in the categories of Jazz, Blues, Country, R&B, Gospel, Rock ‘n Roll, Contemporary Christian, Latin and Rap.
Develop the ability to “LISTEN, “not just hear” when participating in the musical experience.
Acquire a musical vocabulary that will enable concise, intellectual discussion about any music. -gain experience in communicating with others about music, clearly expressing one’s own opinions and beliefs.
Learn about individual’s integral to the evolution of popular music (e.g., composers, performers, etc.), circumstances surrounding their lives, and style elements common to the various sub-genres.
Gain a historical perspective including listening to and discussing primary musical, social, and aesthetic influences on the emergence & development of popular music.
Identify musical examples from repertoire covered in this course to illustrate the various concepts presented and discussed in class.
Gain a clearer understanding of one’s own current musical preferences and the basis for this selection.