History of U.S. Folk, Pop & Jazz/FAMH-451

Syllabus & Class Schedule/Fall, 2006

Tuesdays/Thursdays, 10:50am - 12:05pm, Main Hall/Classroom #137

Professor: Dr. Mark Davenport Office Hours: 1^st & 3^rd Mondays 2:00-4:00pm

Office: Main Hall/Office #123C Tuesdays/Thursdays 1:15-2:15pm

Office Phone: (303) 964-3609 (other times by appointment)

Webpage: www.regis.edu/music E-mail: mdavenpo@regis.edu

Course Objective:

The History of U.S. Folk, Pop & Jazz is designed for Music Minors to explore folk and popular musics of the United States from the seventeenth through twentieth centuries. Major trends and developments in sacred and secular song, folk, country, blues, Tin Pan Alley, musical theater, and jazz will be examined from Anglo-, African-, Latin-, and Native-American perspectives. With an emphasis on writing, research, and basic field work assignments, students will come to understand the function and context within which America's music has been created.

Required Text and Listening:

Ferris, Jean. America's Musical Landscape, Fifth Edition (McGraw-Hill, 2006). Listening to music is a crucial component of this course. A pre-packaged 3CD set of recordings accompanies the Ferris text (available at the University Book Store). In addition, supplementary listening examples will be provided for students throughout the duration of this course.

Required Concert Attendance/Concert Reviews and Reports:

There are four required concert events outside of the classroom. One of these is an evening campus performance on Tuesday, November 28, and the two others will be of your choosing (I will help students identify an appropriate event in the Denver area). You will be asked to write a one-page reaction review of two concerts and a descriptive concert report (3-4 typed pages) for the other performance. Guidelines for concert reviews and reports will be distributed later in the semester.

Field Work/Research Paper/Presentations:

Students will select a research topic of their choosing. The projects may include simple field work assignments (attending concerts, interviews, participation in performing events) and will involve basic research methodology, using specific source materials. The projects will culminate in individual 20 minute paper/presentations that will take place on the last day of class and/or during final exams.

Quizzes/Exams:

There will be two quizzes, a midterm and a final exam. These will consist of multiple choice questions, listening identification, and short answer. Study guides will be handed out during quiz/exam review.

Special Topics:

Special topics include class reading assignments, in-class video questions and/or short informal essays.

Attendance Policy:

The course follows a lecture/listening format but classroom discussion also plays an important part of the activities that take place. Topics covered in class provide most of the questions for the quizzes and exams. “Special Topics” assignments as well as supplementary reading and listening materials are given during class time. Classes also provide opportunities for extra credit, making regular class attendance imperative.

Evaluation/Grading Policy:

An additive point system will be used to determine the final grade with a 1000-point maximum possible score (see page 3 of this syllabus). Quizzes, exams, and the required concert attendance may not be made up (with the exception of documented family and/or health emergencies). Late written assignments will be accepted for partial credit (one letter grade deducted for each class period the assignment is late).

Learning Support:

If you have a documented disability requiring academic adjustments for this class, please contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Room 118B, Life Directions Center, 303-458-4941. They will review your documentation with you and help determine appropriate, reasonable accommodations. Following this meeting, please make an appointment with your instructor to discuss your accommodation request in light of the course requirements. You may self-disclose and request an academic adjustment any time during the term. However, it is strongly recommended that you do so as soon as possible because accommodations are not provided retroactively and adequate lead-time is required.

Regis Writing Center:

The Writing Center is a free resource for Regis College undergraduates. Whether you are a proficient, okay, or struggling writer, you will benefit from working with a writing consultant. These peer consultants help at any point in your writing process, from brainstorming for ideas to organizing a draft to polishing the final version. You get immediate and personal feedback about your writing as well as answers to your questions. Appointments for this popular service are recommended. Drop by the Writing Center in Loyola 1 or call (303) 458-4039 for more information.

FAMH-451/History of U.S. Folk, Pop & Jazz/Fall, 2006: CLASS SCHEDULE

Date Topic Chapter Pages

Prelude/The Basic Properties of Musical Sound

AUGUST:

Week 1 29 Introduction to class obtain text

31 Preface & Introduction xv-xxvii

Basic Properties of Musical Sound Prelude 1-15

SEPTEMBER:

Week 2 5, 7 Basic Properties of Musical Sound (cont'd)

Special Topics: Cultural Background Reports

Week 3 12 Finish Basic Properties of Musical Sound

Review/Quiz #1

14 Quiz #1: Basic Properties of Musical Sound Prelude 1-15

Unit I: Music in Early North America

Week 4 19 Music in Early North America 16-24

North American Indian Music 1 25-33

21 No Class Today (Mass of the Holy Spirit)

Week 5 26 Folk Music 2 34-48

Music Review #1 Due Today

28 The Tumultuous Nineteenth Century 78-85

Religious Music in the Nineteenth Century 5 86-96

OCTOBER:

Week 6 3 Religious Music in the Nineteenth Century (cont’d)

5 Popular Music of the Civil War Era 6 97-106

Review/Quiz #2

Preliminary Bibliography Due Today

Week 7 10 Quiz #2: Unit I/Music in Early N.A. 1-2, 5-6 16-48, 78-106

Unit II: Vernacular Traditions

Part 1: Country & Urban Folk

10 The Growth of Vernacular Traditions 142-144

Country Music 10 163-183

12 Ethnic Traditions & Urban Folk Revival 11 184-194

Concert Report Due Today

Week 8 17 No Classes/Mid-Semester Break

19 Finish Part 1

Week 9 24 The Rise of Popular Culture 9 145-162

Early American Theater 4 71-73

Music for Theater and Film 306-308

26 Musical Theater 18 309-333

Part 2: Tin Pan Alley & Musical Theater

Week 10 31 Musical Theater (cont’d)

NOVEMBER:

2 Finish Musical Theater

Revised Bibliography Due Today

Review/Midterm Exam

Week 11 7 Midterm Exam: Unit II 9-11,18 145-194, 309-333

Unit III: The Jazz Age

9 The Jazz Age 12 195-212

Week 12 14 The Jazz Age (cont’d)

Concert Report #2 Due Today

16 Special Topics/Video Q&A

Week 13 21 Finish The Jazz Age

23 Thanksgiving Holiday (No Classes)

Week 14 28 Jazz 1930-1960 13 213-232

Regis Jazz Concert 7:30pm/Berkeley Church (REQUIRED ATTENDANCE)

DECEMBER:

30 Finish Jazz 1930-1960

Special Topics/Miles Davis Report Due Today

Week 15 5 Jazz Since 1960 14 233-250

Concert Review #2 Regis Jazz Ensemble Due Today

Scrapbook Journals Due Today

7 Finish Unit III

Research Paper/Presentations Due Today

Last Day of Class/Review Final Exam

Week 16 12 Final Exam: Unit III/The Jazz Age 12-14 195-212

Thursday, Dec. 14: 10:10am

Grading System:

Quiz 1 = 100 pts.

Quiz 2 = 100 pts.

Concert Review 1 = 50 pts.

Concert Review 2 = 50 pts.

Concert Report 1 = 100 pts.

Concert Report 2 = 100 pts.

Special Topics = 100 pts.

Midterm Exam = 200 pts.

Final Exam = 200 pts.

Total Points - = 1000 pts.

Extra Credit :

Scrapbook Journal = up to 30 pts.

Scrapbook Journals. Scrapbook Journals should include clippings from a variety of sources (e.g., newspapers, magazines, periodicals, books, or information off the internet). To receive full credit you must provide the name and date of the source. The subject should relate to any area of folk, popular or jazz music in the U.S. Clippings should be accompanied by a paragraph or two about why you thought the article was interesting (I want to hear your ideas rather than a summary of the article).