Tunes for Twangers
Music 305A
Fall 2011
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 – August 31
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 – September 5 [Labor Day]
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 – September 11
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 – September 25
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 – October 2
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 – October 19
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 – October 30
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
TA 8 [Twanger Assignment Eight]
“Hank & Roy – Mini-Report”
Points Possible – Twenty-Five (25)
Due Date – November 6
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 – November 13
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 – November 20
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 – December 4
[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 20th
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 – December 14 [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.