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American Popular Music 1: The History and Development of Jazz (MUSC 1010)

Total Credits: 3
Lecture Credits: 3

Description: This course traces the evolution of the “classical” music form of the United States known as jazz. Beginning with its European and African roots, you will study the precursors of work songs and the blues, to the many sub genres found today. You will gain an understanding of the immense diversity found in jazz and be able to identify key performers, composers, arrangers and performances of these styles. This course is suitable for those who consider themselves musicians, as well as for those who only play the radio. The course is taught through audio/video examples, lectures, and discussions with an emphasis on the interrelatedness of jazz 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 Jazz from its precursors to Acid Jazz
4. Socio-political events that shape and are shaped by the evolution of musical genres and styles found in Jazz

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