Tunes for Twangers

Music 305A

Fall 2010

Twanger Assignment Summary
to be referred to as TA [aka Twanger Assignments]
(to be completed using the Assignment Submission Form)

Twanger Assignment Submission Form

TA 1 [Twanger Assignment One]
”Successful Access & Sending”
Points Possible – Ten (10)
Due Date – 08/26/09

For this first assignment – the goal is to simply ensure that you may access our Twanger Web and use the Assignment Submission Form. To successfully complete this project – please punch up the ASF [aka Assignment Submission Form] and write in the text box “Yes, I have successfully accessed our Twanger Web, can use the ASF and love country music”

With TA 1 and all subsequent TA – when completed – simply push the submit button.

TA 2 [Twanger Assignment Two]
“Early Influences”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 09/09/09
For this assignment – please select one of the three early influences discussed and briefly elaborate on how you feel it has affected country music. Additionally select a current, favorite country selection of yours – and describe which of the “influences” impacted it the most.

TA 3 [Twanger Assignment Three]
“Instruments of Country Music”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 09/13/09
For this assignment – please select one of the instruments of country music discussed to which you personally
resonate most – briefly describe the history of the selected instrument and describe what it is that you like about the sound or contribution of that particular instrument to country music.

TA 4 [Twanger Assignment Four]
“Influences of African-American Artists”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 09/27/09
For this assignment – please select one or two or three of the great, early African-American artists whom you admire [and who have greatly impacted that which we know as country music] – provide a brief biographical sketch, indicate what you admire about this particular artist(s) and briefly describe how their work has influenced other artists

TA 5 [Twanger Assignment Five]
“Social Reflections – Prior to 1940”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 10/07/09
For this assignment [first of two] please select a “significant” social or political event in the history of our country [prior to 1940] and then select a country song that “reflects” this event. Briefly describe how perhaps all music – but country music in particular is highly reflective of the times.

TA 6 [Twanger Assignment Six]
“Carter Family – Mini-Report”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 10/18/09
For this assignment – please select one member of the “original” Carter family [i.e. A.P., Sara or Maybelle] and briefly describe their life and times. Then please select one descendent of these original Carters [i.e. June Carter Cash, et al] and describe their role in country music. The Carters truly represent the “first family of country music”.

TA 7 [Twanger Assignment Seven]
“Kentucky & Bluegrass Music”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 10/25/09
For this assignment – please discuss in the most general of terms – the impact and influence of eastern Kentucky on country music. Why do you think this impact is so strong? What about eastern Kentucky makes it “special”? As mentioned on the “Driving Tour” is there something in the water?

TA 8 [Twanger Assignment Eight]
“Hank & Roy – Mini-Report”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 11/01/09
For this assignment – select either Hank [Hank William Sr.] or Roy [Roy Acuff]. Briefly describe their life and times. Then upon careful reflection – indicate how, whom and why they have had such a great impact on country music.

TA 9 [Twanger Assignment Nine]
“Influences of Women Artists”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 11/08/09
For this assignment – please select one or two or three of the great women artists whom you admire [and who have greatly impacted that which we know as country music] – provide a brief biographical sketch, indicate what you admire about this particular artist(s) and briefly describe how their work has influenced other artists

TA 10 [Twanger Assignment Ten]
“Social Reflections – after 1940”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 11/22/09
For this assignment [second of two and very similar to TA 5] please select a “significant” social or political event in the history of our country [after 1940] and then select a country song that “reflects” this event. Briefly describe how perhaps all music – but country music in particular is highly reflective of the times.

TA 11 [Twanger Assignment Eleven]
“The Man in Black”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – 11/29/09
[disclaimer – please remember I am an enormous admirer of the work and contributions of Mr. Cash – I feel that the epitaph “icon” is most-appropriate as his influence and impact on 20^th century music can scarcely be assessed – I might be wrong]
For this assignment – please briefly describe how or why so many were influenced by his work and efforts. Why do a group of disparate artists such as Sheryl Crow or Kid Rock or Bono sing his praises? Why did he and June maintain strong relations with a personage such as Billy Graham? What is it about Johnny Cash – a man who fought many, many demons his entire life – that made him loved in life and beloved in death?

TA 12 [Twanger Assignment Twelve]
“Country Music – Past, Present & Future”
Points Possible – forty (40)
Due Date – 12/09/10 [Reading Day]
For this final TA – please write [and I know – you always ask “how long” well I never answer that question – it needs to be “just enough” – without being “too much” – but probably would take at least a page or two to address] a bit about the past of country music – why it gained such popularity in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. Why did country music have such an enormous “renaissance” in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Why is country music so popular today? What specifically about country music do you love and cherish? Then [put on your Nostradamus hat] make some predictions – offer some thoughts on where you think country music will go in the future.