Music 109:
Rock and American Popular Music
Spring 2002 Syllabus

"Music has unique powers as an agent of ideology. We need to understand its workings, its charms, both to protect ourselves against them, and paradoxically, to enjoy them to the full." ~ Nicholas Cook

Easy Links
[Daily Work Schedule ] Proposal for honor's projects] [Essay Options] [Requirements and Grading Scale] [Readings] [Listening] [POLIS site][guidelines for the midterm][Template for Student Contributions] [guidelines for final exam]

Instructional Team

Dr. Janet Sturman, Email: Sturman@u.arizona.edu.Office: Room 160 Music Building, Office hours: M 4:00-5:00 PM; F 1:00-2:00; other hours by appointment. Office phone: 621-1255.

Ms. Stephanie Clifford, Email: srcliffo@u.arizona.edu. Office hours TBA or by appointment.

Mr. Mike Vercelli, Email: vercelli@email.arizona.edu.  Office hours TBA or by appointment.

Meeting Information

All students will meet as a full group from 10:00-10:50 AM on Mondays and Wednesdays in Room 130 of the new Integrated Learning Center (ILC). These days will feature lectures, presentations, and film viewings. On Fridays we will break into smaller discussion groups: Abrahams-Dye will meet in ILC 151 and be led by Dr. Janet Sturman; Elmer-Moody will meet in ILC Room 150 and will be led by Ms. Stephanie Clifford; and Morgan-Woon will meet in ILC Room 130 and be led by Mr. Mike Vercelli. On these days students will engage in focused listening or will discuss assigned readings. During these sessions students will be responsible for guiding the discussion by bringing in audio or visual examples to supplement or illustrate topics connected to the course material. Student contributions are mandatory and participation in these break-out session figures significantly into the final course grade.

Course Goals

Students should leave the course able to: 1) explain the development of popular music in the United States noting important contributors, controversies and contradictions; 2) outline the roots, influence, and impact of rock music; 3) identify influential individuals and representative songs connected with the development of American popular music; 4) identify and discuss aspects of musical sound that characterize different musical styles; 5) connect musical expression to a range of technical, social; and 6) demonstrate critical thinking regarding American popular music via written and verbal expression.

Required Text

Garofalo, Reebee. Rockin' Out: Popular Music in the USA. Second Edition.Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2002. (Available at the UA Bookstore).

Additional Readings will be available through the UA library's electronic reserves. You can access these materials easily via our POLIS homepage. The password for access is:109S02.

Expectations

Regular attendance is expected. Late arrivals, early departures, and other disruptive class behavior will not be tolerated and offenders risk losing participation points or being dropped from the class. Students will be expected to have completed the assignments indicated in the detailed workschedule BEFORE arriving in class (remember skimming is better than not reading at all). Students will be expected to locate audio or visual examples to bring in to amplify or illustrate points that arise in the course of our discussions or readings.

Assignment	Points Possible
On-line journal and weekly writing. See POLIS site for details.	10 points each; graded credit/no-credit. 100 point total.
Term Essay	100 points
Midterm exam	100 points
Class Participation and presentations	10 points each contribution; each student is expected to bring in 2 examples to share during the semester for a total of no less than 20 points.
Final exam	100 points
Total Possible	420 points

Grading Scale
378-420	A
336-377	B
294-335	C
252-293	D
0-251	E

Explanation of Assignments

Weekly Writing. Every week we will pose a question for all students to answer. Sometimes I will ask these questions during lecture and collect the answers after giving time in class for writing. Other times, I will post a question to the class POLIS site and ask for responses by a given date. Remember: these on-line writing assignments are required; they are not optional and failure to submit them will adversely affect your final grade.

Essay. In order to give you the opportunity to investigate material that interests you in more detail than we can devote in class, you are asked to write a carefully prepared essay. A list of suggested topics is provided. You may choose one of these topics or propose your own. ALL topic choices must be approved (see workschedule for proposal due date). You will be an option to re-write these essays should you and your section leader deem it necessary.

Exams. Both the midterm and the final exams focus on listening material. You will be expected to identify musical selections from a given listening list (drawn largely from the material listed below, but limited according to the works emphasized in class). You will be asked to identify selections by: title, performer(s), composer, genre or style, and date. In addition to listening questions there are always a set of questions regarding the other material covered in class (definitions, issues, people, etc.). The format for the exams is a combination of multiple choice, matching, and true/false questions.

Listening. Listening assignments have been compiled for your convenience on placed on-line. You will need Quicktime audio which can be downloaded for free. Entry to the individual examples is gained by typing: "Mus109" for user name, then "popmusic" at the password prompt (don't use quotes).

In many cases supplementary documentation accompanies these online examples. The collections are also available on CD which are on reserve in the music library (second floor of the Music Building). A documentation folder, with data about the recording examples and copies of the readings, is also on reserve in the Music Library; the accession number is YUMP109.1. You may listen to the recordings in the library, or at home (some of the recordings circulate overnight). You will be responsible for knowing the individual selections, however you obtain access to them (personal collections may be useful).

Sharing and in-class presentations. Your contributions ensure that this class connects with your special interests. As you read and listen think about what additional materials you'd like to see the class consider. Most students bring in a recorded example, or a video clip to share with the class. Some students choose to perform by playing, singing or dancing for the class. Others have brought in examples of album covers, zines, posters, programs, etc. Whatever your contribution, you will fill out a short form to hand in to your section leader. You should also be prepared to offer a brief verbal explanation of your contribution, offering identifying details, as well as noting how it relates to class material and why you like it. The skills to draw connections and to speak articulately in public (even in a public setting as closed as our class) are as important to cultivate as critical reading, writing, and listening. Remember: these contributions are required; they are not optional.

Honor's Option. Students desiring honor's credit for this course may earn it by completing a special project in lieu of the essay option. It is necessary to meet with the instructor prior to week 3 and file the appropriate papers. See the guidelines for project proposal to help you apply for this option.

Extra Credit. This semester there will be limited opportunities to earn extra credit for this class, one will occur before the midterm the other will take place before the final exam. Details will be announced.