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American Popular Music 2: The History and Development of Rock 'n' Roll (MUSC 1020)

Total Credits: 3
Lecture Credits: 3

Description: This course surveys America's popular musical form, Rock and Roll, from its European and African roots through its precursors found in the blues, to the many sub genres such as Heavy Metal, Neo-Soul, Punk, and Hip Hop. By tracing the evolution of rock and Pop music, you can expect to gain an understanding of the immense diversity found in these forms and to be able to identify key performers and performances of the styles included. The course is taught through audio/video examples, lectures, and discussions with an emphasis on the interrelatedness of Rock styles and United States history and culture.

Topical Outline:
1. Musical Elements – the vocabulary of music
2. Perceptive listening: developing active and critical listening skills
3. Historical styles periods in the evolution of rock and Pop music
4. Socio-political events that shape and are shaped by the evolution of musical genres and styles found in rock and Pop music

Learning Outcomes:
1. Describe musical events using appropriate terminology
2. Connect the music they experience in this course with parallel developments in art, science, and political and social movements
3. Differentiate music of different style eras, in terms of performance practices, context, musical elements, innovations, technological advances, and the influences of culture and history
4. Communicate their perceptions and responses to the music and its context with others using appropriate terminology

Prerequisites:  Placement into READ 1300 or completion of READ 0200 or ESOL 0052

MnTC: Goal 6: The Humanities and Fine Arts