UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE
African
American Music
African
American Music
African
American Music
MUS 326/ETHN
326 --- 3 credits --
INTERIM SESSION 2000
MONDAYS, TUESDAYS,
WEDNESDAYS & THURSDAYS 6:00-8:30 PM
COMMUNICATION ARTS
BLDG. ROOM D-118
Dr. James Benjamin Kinchen, Jr., Professor of Music
African American Music: introduction & objectives...
African American Music: introduction & objectives...
Welcome to our African
American Music web page. Please email me
if you have questions, comments, or need further information. Be
sure to include your email address so that I can respond!
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Survey
and study of development and evolution of African American music
17th century to present with attention given historical,
sociological, political, and humanistic contexts.
THIS COURSE: African descendants have contributed richly to American music. Black people have given this country and the world a sizeable, significant, and distinct body of music. Moreover, it is virtually impossible to listen to American popular music, even the music that we encounter on a daily basis, without hearing African influence.
Divorced from frameworks of history, social condition, struggles for freedom and equality, cultural value system, etc., African American music has provided entertainment almost from the arrival of the first slaves in 1619. Considered within these necessary contexts, however, the study of African American music provides both a richer, deeper understanding of this great cultural heritage and a fuller, more intelligent appreciation of the human source of this music.
This human perspective is essential to this course. Certainly, music can be studied on an analytical level. We can seek to better understand how the various elements or ingredients of music, such as rhythm, pitch, timbre, form, harmony, etc. are being used. This kind of study is helpful. And music can be experienced on an aesthetic level. Attentive listening that facilitates enjoyment and fosters appreciation for music as a manifestation of beauty is also an important part of a music study. But our course goes beyond analysis and aesthetics to take a more anthropological approach. Because music as an art product does not simply exist as "unattached," objective sound, and because any music is a product of the people who create it and of their lives and times, it is absolutely necessary for us to consider human factors in our study. We must know something about African Americans and the African American experience if we want to fully understand and appreciate African American music!
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
1. To become acquainted with musical creations and
contributions of African Americans.
2. To study the evolution of African American music.
3. To
understand how that evolution represents a synthesis of African and
European musical and cultural values.
5. To learn how this music grew out of the lives and
social conditions of those who made it.
4. To gain an objective understanding of the use of
musical materials (rhythm, pitch, timbre, form, etc.) in African
American music.
6. To experience the aesthetic dimensions of this music.
7. To understand more fully through this study the
African American experience.
| African American
Music: course learning activities... African American Music: course learning activities... African American Music: course learning activities... MUSIC STUDIED IN THIS COURSE:
LEARNING ACTIVITIES: POSSIBLE IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES:
POSSIBLE OUT-OF-CLASS ACTIVITIES:
EVALUATION: Five "Ps" are essential for success in this course -- 1. PRESENCE. The shared listening experience, the discussion, the lecture, etc. are absolutely essential! The condensed nature of the interim session makes attendance all the more necessary. Excessive absences are penalized. 2. PUNCTUALITY. Class activities begin promptly at six o'clock. Persons who are late will miss important class activities. 3. PARTICIPATION. Willing participation in class discussion and other listening/learning activities is integral to this experience. 4. PRODUCTIVITY. It is so important to complete and pass in all assignments, to do in-class and outside work as assigned, to do all assigned readings, and to do all required listening. 5. POSITIVITY. Members of the class will hear a lot of music that is new to them. Keeping an open and inquiring mind will help make this course an exciting learning experience for each student. THE CLASS BEGINS WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT ALL STUDENTS WILL DO WORK DESERVING OF THE GRADE OF "A"!! LATE WORK -- WORK THAT IS TO BE PASSED IN MUST BE TURNED IN WHEN IT IT DUE! LIFE BEING AS IT IS, HOWEVER, THERE MAY ARISE A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT PREVENTS SOMEONE MEETING A GIVEN DUE-DATE. I WILL WORK WITH EACH STUDENT ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS WHEN SUCH A SITUATION ARISES, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT A STUDENT WHO WILL NEED TO MISS A DUE-DATE DISCUSSES HIS/HER CASE WITH ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THAT WE WORK OUT A NEW DUE-DATE FOR THE LATE WORK. IN NO INSTANCE CAN AN ASSIGNMENT BE SUBMITTED LATE WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT! |
African American Music: class texts...
African American Music: class texts...
The two course textbooks are --
Before the Mayflower -- A History of Black America, sixth revised edition, Lerone Bennett, Jr., Penguin Books, 1988 ("Landmarks and Milestones" section updated, 1993).
The best concise African American history book I know, Before the Mayflower first appeared in the early '60s, and has been regularly updated and revised. Bennett, who understands that history is really story, and who has a real talent for storytelling, is Senior Editor of Ebony Magazine.
The Music of Black Americans -- A History, third edition, Eileen Southern, W.W. Norton, 1997.
The most extensively documented, comprehensive, and respected book of its kind, The Music of Black Americans is the "Bible" insofar as African American music is concerned. Framed chronologically, this book deals with the development of African American music in great detail, yet remains very readable for musician and non-musician alike.
(text books can be purchased from the campus bookstore; email address: 0164mgr@fheg.follett.com)
African American Music: syllabus...
African American Music: syllabus...
UNIT ONE UNIT TWO UNIT THREE UNIT FOUR
