MUS 507

History of Rock Music
Syllabus, Module II, Summer 2006

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GEORGETOWN COLLEGE
Department of Music 507A
History of Rock Music (3 hours credit)
Syllabus, Summer Graduate Module II, June 19 - July 7, 2006; 9:00 a.m. - Noon
Dr. Sonny Burnette, Office:  NMB 12
Office phone:  502-863-8112;  Home phone:  502-863-4152
Web study guides:  http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/music/burnette/index.html 
E-mail:  Sonny_Burnette@georgetowncollege.edu

(Please, no dancing in class ;-)

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Study of the origins, characteristics and stylistic development of rock and roll music from the early 1950s through the 1990s.

TEXTBOOK
Stuessy, Joe.  Rock and Roll:  Its History and Stylistic Development, 4th edition.  Upper Saddle River, New Jersey:  Prentice Hall, 2003.  ISBN 0-13-099370-0  (Text is optional.  A couple copies will be placed on Reserve in the library.)

REQUIRED MATERIALS
Optional:  3-ring binder for your web print jobs.  (Listening Guide CD must be returned by the last day of classes.  Thanks.)

COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to:  (1) describe the origins of rock and roll from existing musical styles of the early '50s, (2) associate music artist with various rock styles and by decade, (3) describe the musical characteristics of various rock styles, and, (4) aurally identify rock styles and major rock artists.

This course emphasizes the following goals of the Georgetown College Education Program:  Critical Competencies and Understandings: A. General Competencies:  1. Broad-based knowledge, 3. Effective communication. B. Professional Competencies: Instruction: 2. Teach students of multiple ages, abilities and styles, 7. Use varied approaches to teaching, 8. Engage students in the learning process, 12. Encourage/support individual and group inquiry, 14. Create an environment that supports and enhances learning. Ethical Values. A. Value/affirm human dignity: 2. Belief that all students can learn. B. Expand human relations skills:  1. Multicultural, global perspective, 2. Sensitivity to diverse perspectives, cultures. Reflective Practice. 3. Encourage continuous professional development.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE COURSE
(1) reading assignments, (2) five tests, (3) final exam, (4) class presentation OR research paper (minimum of several pages, with bibliography)--your choice.  

COURSE OUTLINE

CLASS 1 Monday, June 19
Rock Music Pre-Quiz, Origins of Rock Music, 1950s
Read:  Chapters 1-2
CLASS 2 Tuesday, June 20
1950s continued
Read:  Chapters 3-4
CLASS 3 Wednesday, June 21
Test One:  1950s Rock (including aural identification)
Early 1960s, Folk Music, Surf Music, Dance Music
Read:  Chapter 5
CLASS 4 Thursday, June 22
Beatles
Read:  Chapter 6
CLASS 5 Friday, June 23
Test Two:  Folk/Surf/Dance Music, Beatles (+ aural identification)
British Invasion, Folk Rock
Read:  Chapters 7-8
CLASS 6 Monday, June 26
Folk Rock continued, Soul, Motown
Read:  Chapter 9
CLASS 7 Tuesday, June 27
Motown continued, San Francisco, Acid Rock
Read:  Chapter 10
CLASS 8 Wednesday, June 28
Test Three:  British Invasion, Folk Rock, Soul, Motown, San Francisco (including aural identification)
Jazz Rock, Art Rock
Read:  Chapters 11-12
CLASS 9 Thursday, June 29
1970s
Read:  Chapter 13
CLASS 10 Friday, June 30
Test Four:  Jazz Rock, Art Rock, 1970s (+ aural identification)
1970s continued; 1980s 
Read:  Chapter 14
CLASS 11 Monday, July 3
Test Five:  1980s
1980s continued; 1990s
(We may begin Class Presentations, depending upon need relative to class size.)
Read:  Chapters 15-16

NO  

CLASS

TUESDAY, JULY 4
CLASS 12 Wednesday, July 5
1990s continued (We may begin class presentations, depending upon the number of persons presenting.)
Research Paper Due (if you chose to do one--may be turned in at any time earlier)
CLASS 13 Thursday, July 6
Class Presentations:  Class presentations re your fave rock artist or rock group.  Provide brief background information--a one-page handout would be helpful, but is not required.  Play brief examples.  Time limit will depend upon the number of persons presenting--TBA.)
CLASS 14 Friday, July 7
Class Presentations continued
Final Examination (including aural identification)

EVALUATION
Grading scale for the course is :  A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, F = 0-59.  The final course grade will be computed as follows:
Five Tests = 75% (15% each)
Final Exam = 15%
Class Presentation OR Research Paper (your choice) = 10%
Class presentations/research papers will be graded as follows:  Excellent = 95, Good = 85, Average = 75, Poor = 65, Incomplete = 0.

ATTENDANCE
In that there are only 14 class meetings, you will be allowed one excused absence without penalty.  (If you have a professional commitment, we can deal.)  Attendance at all class meetings is encouraged, however.  For each unexcused absence, the final grade point average will be lowered by five percentage points.  (Please remember that each "class meeting" is actually three class periods ... roughly a week of normal classes ... hence, the stiff penalty.  If you would prefer to give up your first-born, we can deal.)

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