Music Appreciation – American Music
LESSON 1
Hello everyone and welcome to my class. I always enjoy teaching this class because there is so much to what makes up "American" music. Our melting pot of a nation has given us musical treasures that the entire world is richer for.
A few things before we start the lesson...
By the time you’re reading this, you should have filled out the syllabus form, so you should understand a bit about what we’ll be doing in this class and what’s expected of you. Each week will pretty much be the same. Read the chapter(s), take the quiz, and complete the assignment, or discussion question. Simple.
Important: If you’re reading this and you haven’t yet submitted your syllabus, you’re not "in the class". I don’t put students in my roll book until they’ve submitted their syllabus. Not submitting your syllabus means you didn’t “show up” to class. I always send a welcome email to all students who submit their syllabus. Students who don't submit their syllabus within the first week of class are dropped from the course.
Besides the textbook, you also need the 4 CD set that goes with it. You will be asked, in the book, to listen to specific songs as we study each type of music.
Each quiz will be 5-20 questions…it just depends on what we studied for that lesson. All quizzes will be timed. Don’t think you can walk away from the computer after you start the quiz…you can’t. And once you click on the quiz link, you can't change your mind. I've had students click on the link to try and see how many questions there are and then click out, intending to take it later. Don't do that. The quiz will come to me as having been taken but scoring "0". If you've looked at the test, then you'll have the advantage when you decide to take it and that's not fair. Some of the questions will come from my lecture but many of them may come from the book, as you're expected to read it. Also, remember to save all of your quizzes. You'll need them when you study for the final. AND VERY IMPORTANT…don’t hit "enter" during the quiz. Wait until the end and press "submit." If you press the wrong button, the computer will think you’re done with the test. I can’t help you if that happens. This is your warning.
Please make sure to check the Instructor’s Area on the discussion board often. I will be posting bulletins as well as posting what to study for when it comes time for the final.
When you post the answers to your discussion questions, don’t assume you’re done and never visit that board again. It doesn’t work that way in this class. I will be reading your answers and posting questions, my thoughts, or asking you to expand on yours. If you don’t answer, I will assume the assignment is incomplete. The discussion boards are just that…DISCUSSION. It’s about participation. Since we can’t talk verbally with immediate feedback as we would in a classroom, I must utilize the discussion boards for this purpose. And please feel free to engage in dialogue with each other, not just me.
Each week, you will take a quiz. Some weeks you will also have an assignment to complete. Some weeks you will have a discussion question to complete. You won't always have an assignment or discussion question. Make sure to follow the instructions at the bottom of each lesson. The only assignment you have besides the usual weekly ones is the review. You have eight weeks to see a concert or musical production. Read the link on the homepage for a guideline for what I want in the review. I will also try and post concerts I know are happening in San Bernardino County and other areas. And to be honest, I won't easily accept excuses about why you can't see one. There are free concerts happening almost every night of the week if you check out coffee shops, dance clubs, restaurants, etc. However, if there is a real problem, please read the syllabus for your alternative and its instructions. And no, you can NOT review something you saw in the past. Please don't wait until the last minute to do your review.
You may work ahead. I have no problem with students who want to turn work in early, so if you have the time and you want to do so, please feel free. Just know that you can't complete the final until the last week of class.
If you ever have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email or call me, but please understand that I won't be available on weekends or holidays. Also, keep track of your scores and assignments. As soon as I grade them, I input them into my grade book, but I AM human and mistakes can be made. Check with me as often as you want to for an update on your grade. I'll be glad to let you know.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: I understand that students take online classes for a variety of reasons. Please understand that this is a nine-week class. That means it's accelerated. If you took an online class because you thought it would be easier, then you may be surprised. It's a great way to get a lot of classes done in a shorter time and it's great that you can do things on your own time, at your own pace. But you must also be self-motivated and pay attention to deadlines. I try to make my class as user-friendly as possible, but you need to keep on top of things.
Now, some lessons will be long, covering many chapters. Some lessons will be very short and covering only one chapter. To keep each lesson focused, I won't always be going in order of the book. Keep that in mind.
This first lesson WILL be in order. We'll be studying folk and ethnic music...chapters 1 through 6. Let's go to it.
Now, I will go into a few key items I want to talk about in each chapter, but you need to read the book. It’s also a really good idea to outline the chapter.
Folk and Ethnic Musics
Chapter 1 - The Anglo-Celtic American Tradition
Much of what we think of as "folk" music comes from England, Scotland, and Ireland. It’s best epitomized by the "ballad." There are three strains of this.
Fiddle tunes have been important to the British American tradition as well. To understand a Quadrille, you need to understand 6/8 time. 6/8 time is the "time signature." To understand what this is, visit: Time Signatures. To give you an idea of how lively 6/8 time is, I'll try to explain it this way...You learned in your math classes that 6/8 is also 3/4. So, why isn't the music in 3/4 time? Well, because it gives a completely different feel and pace to the music. 3/4 time is also known as "waltz" time. You know waltz...1 2 3 - 1 2 3. Go to: Favorite Waltzes and scroll down and listen to number 5 ("You and You"). Well, 6/8 time would be counted like this: 1 2 3 4 5 6 - 1 2 3 4 5 6. Now, try and say the 6/8 time in the same amount of time you said the 3/4 time. Very different, yes? It gives the music a totally different feeling as well. For an example of 6/8 time, listen to America. Scroll down and listen to number 12.
Chapter 2 - The African American Tradition
African music is vast and complex with its greatest influence in the US from West Africa. There are certain places in North and South America that African culture survived the most. It had a difficult time surviving in the US for a few reasons, but it still persisted because of some very specific reasons as well. The music itself is dominated by rhythm, and short vocal phrases that are repeated and varied.
African American music can be identified by backbeat and call and response. Regarding backbeat, Caucasians have historically accented the beats 1 and 3 in their music. African Americans accent beats 2 and 4. Try it...count 1, 2, 3, 4. Clap on the 1 and 3 a few times, and then clap on the 2 and 4. You get the difference? The blues 7 is something you will find in spirituals and gospel, as well as jazz. To explain this, I would need to sing you a major scale and then sing it again with the 7th note lowered by half a pitch. Since I can't do that, the only thing I know is to tell you to sing "Do Re Me Fa Sol LaTi Do"...just like Maria teaches the children in The Sound of Music. After you sing that...do it again, but when you get to "Ti", sing it a little lower than you did the first time.
African American religious music came about in the spiritual. Spirituals were an African response to Methodist and Baptist hymns. The discovery, adaptation, and publication of the spiritual happened after the Civil War when schools and colleges were built in the south to educate freed Blacks. They were heard predominantly through choirs like the Fisk University Jubilee Singers and soloists. There were whites who were singing spirituals, but not with the same effectiveness or meaning as people like Paul Robeson, who was a noted actor, singer, and activist. For more information, visit We Shall Overcome - Paul Robeson .
African American secular folk music also had a great deal of influence. There are commonalities with religious music, but tended to focus on different types of expressions.
Video of interest: Field hollers et work songs (it's in French, but still good stuff)
Chapter 3 - The American Indian Tradition
American Indian music was never meant to be listened to passively. It is about accomplishing specific results.
Types of songs of purpose include:
1. Dream Songs - For healing the sick
2. Ceremonial Dances
3. Songs for Success in War, Hunting, or Agriculture
4. Love Songs
5. Social Songs (Welcome, bid farewell, honor people)
There are specific vocal and instrumental characteristics that you will read about and there are attempts at preserving the art form today.
Video of interest: Native American Indian Cherokee War Dance
Chapter 4 - Latino Traditions
Music from Mexico was first influenced by religious music like that performed with missions and widespread performances of "Los Pastores." Spanish church music reached California in the late 18th century but after Mexican independence, mission music was destroyed or forgotten.
Secular music from Mexico has been more influential to US culture than sacred music. It's a blend of Spanish, Indian, and African elements (in fact, it's estimated that in the 17th century, there were more Africans in Mexico than Spaniards). Dance and song are closely related. For Musica Nortena, visit: Handbook of Texas Online - MUSICA NORTENA
The Latin tradition has brought us Latin dance. Please read and study what types of dances come from what country. You'll be quizzed on that.
Chapter 5 - Diverse Traditions: French, Scandinavian, Arab, and Asian
The dominant cultures in Louisiana are French and African. Many of the French settling in Louisiana were "upper class" and looked down on French refugees coming from Acadia (now Nova Scotia). They wouldn't let them settle in New Orleans so the Acadians had to settle upstream. This was nicknamed the Acadian Coast which eventually got shortened to "Cajuns". Cool trivia, right? Now, Cajun music is African music mixed with French ("Creole") music. How much more lively is the Zydeco music? The rhythms of African music really affect it.
Scandinavians settled in the upper Midwest (Minnesota, North and South Dakota, etc) and we got Schottische, Waltz, and Polka.
There is a large Arab-speaking population in Detroit. The nations representing the Arab immigrants include Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
The Asian influences came mostly from India, Indonesia and Japan.
Videos of interest:
Chapter 6 - Folk Music as an Instrument of Advocacy
Folk music became "folk" (for the people) music in the 1930's when the Depression brought about a need for "music of advocacy". It was used for political purposes with songs like "I Am a Union Woman" and by influential singers like Woodie Guthrie ("This Land is Your Land") and Pete Seeger.
In the 1960's, folk music was used for protest. Bob Dylan was a very influential artist at this time. There were songs that advocated freedom and civil rights like "We Shall Overcome".
In the 1970’s (and through today), folk music was used to advocate women’s rights.
Interestingly enough, who are popular folk singers now and what are they singing about? Check out the following:
Ani DiFranco (scroll and listen to number 9)
Fiona Apple (scroll and listen to number 3)
Can you think of others?
Something I find interesting here is how many of our "folk singers" of today or those with folk elements in their music happen to be women. Why do you think that is?
Assignments
Okay. That's it for the lecture on this lesson. Now you have two things to do... (click on the links)
1. Take Quiz 1
 |
 |
 |
 |