Music of the Rock Era • FAC-225• Syllabus/Spring 2008
Tuesday & Thursday,
10:50am-12:05pm, Room #137 (Main Hall)
Professor:
Dr. Mark Davenport Office Hours: Tue. & Thurs.,
8:15-9:15am/1:30-2:30pmpm
Office:
#123C (Main Hall) (other
times by appointment)
Office Phone: (303) 964-3609
E-mail: mdavenpo@regis.edu Website: www.regis.edu/music
Course Objectives:
This course explores music of the
Rock Era (1945 - Today). Major trends and developments will be investigated by
examining the music of important songwriters or recording artists and the
cultural context that helped foster such developments. Analysis of the music
itself, its basic stylistic elements, will help clarify the numerous categories
and sub-categories of popular music during this period. Focusing on the decades
between 1950-1970, we will discover the musical
foundations of Rock that lead us to the music of the 80s and 90s, and into the
21st century. We will also develop a working vocabulary and understanding of
musical terms, develop listening skills, and work towards enhancing your
ability to articulate relevant observations about music through independent,
objective, and critical musical thought.
Required Textbook:
Joe Stuessy
and Scott Lipscomb, Rock and Roll: Its
History and Stylistic Development, 5th Edition, (
Required Listening:
Listening to music is the
crucial component of this course. A set of six CD recordings has been prepared
for this class to accompany the text. The CDs will be on reserve in the library
and available for 4-hour check out.
Concert/Events Attendance:
Students will attend at least
three concerts of their choosing. Concert attendance is one of the requirements
of all music classes. The instructor will help students identify appropriate
concerts that fulfill the requirements of the written reviews and concert
reports. There is one required movie screening that takes place on the Regis
campus (Tuesday, February 27, 7-8pm) and is free and open to the public. Students
enrolled in this class should check this required date to make sure they do not
have conflicting schedules that prevent them from attending.
Concert Reviews/Concert Report:
You will be asked to write one
concert review (2 typed pages) and two descriptive concert reports (3-4 typed
pages) covering performances attended over the semester. Specific guidelines
for written assignments will be distributed early in the semester.
Special Topics:
Periodic “Special Topics”
assignments will be given throughout the course of the semester. These will
include some short reading and writing assignments, a movie screening, and a
song analysis.
Quizzes/Exams:
There will be two quizzes, a
mid-term and final exam. These will consist of multiple choice, listening identification,
short answer, and short essay. Study guides will be handed out during quiz/exam
review time. Quizzes and exams are generally not cumulative in regard to
specific historical information and musical examples studied in class (and in
the text). You will, however, be expected to use appropriate musical
terminology learned over the course of the semester.
Extra Credit
All students are encouraged to
keep a Scrap Book Journal with notes
on concerts attended and clippings from articles of interest. These can be
handed in near the end of the semester in conjunction with your concert report
for up to 20 points of extra credit.
Attendance Policy:
The course will often follow a
lecture/listening format but classroom discussion will play an important part
of the activities that take place. The topics covered in class provide the
majority of questions for the quizzes and exams. Classes will also provide
opportunities for "Special Topics," extra credit, and supplementary
reading and listening materials. This makes regular class attendance
imperative.
• Make-ups and late hand-in policy: Quizzes and exams may not be made
up unless there is a valid medical emergency (in which case a signed doctor's
note is required). Late written assignments are accepted but a full letter
grade will be deducted for each class period assignments are handed in late.
Grading System:
An additive point system will be
used to determine the final grade with a 1000-point maximum possible score.
Quizzes (20%):
Quiz 1 =
100pts.
Quiz 2 =
100pts.
Written Assignments (40%)
Concert Review =
100pts.
Concert Report #1 =
100pts.
Concert Report #2 =
100pts.
Special Topics =
100pts.
Exams (40%):
Mid-term Exam =
200pts.
Final Exam =
200pts.
Total Score - 1000pts.
Extra Credit :
Scrap Book Journal =
up to 20 pts. (to be handed in with concert
reports)
(Extra credit
points may not be made up)
Point To Grade Conversion:
930 - 1000 = A
900 - 929 = A-
870 - 899 = B+
830 - 869 = B
800 - 829 = B-
770 - 799 = C+
730 - 769 = C
700 - 729 = C-
670 - 699 = D+
630 - 669 = D
600 - 629 = D-
000 - 599 = F