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Course Syllabus

MUSC 3030 Jazz and Popular Music I

  • Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
  • Department: Music
  • Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0
  • Prerequisites: Admission into the Bachelor of Music degree program.
  • Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Semester Approved: Spring 2020
  • Five-Year Review Semester: Fall 2025
  • End Semester: Fall 2025
  • Optimum Class Size: 20
  • Maximum Class Size: 30

Course Description

This course is a survey of the history of Jazz and American Popular Music from the 19th Century to the present day. This course chronologically introduces musical components of jazz and popular music and the contributions of its major artists. Jazz styles to be studied include blues, ragtime, and New Orleans Jazz. Popular music styles to be studied include parlor songs, spirituals, and Tin Pan Alley, Country, Rock, Rhythm and Blues, Hip Hop, and Modern Pop. This course chronologically introduces musical components of jazz and the contributions of its major artists. Students will further develop listening skills that help them identify and intelligently talk about jazz styles.

Justification

This course serves students who are completing the Bachelor of Music with Emphasis in Commercial Music degree, providing them with a substantial foundation in American vernacular music traditions.

Student Learning Outcomes

  1. Students will be able to aurally identify important styles, genres, composers and artists in Jazz and American Popular Music.
  2. Students will be able to transcribe important works harmonically, melodically and rhythmically.
  3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the historical contexts of Jazz and American Popular Music.
  4. Students will demonstrate and understanding of the cultural contexts of Jazz and American Popular Music.
  5. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the music industry from its creation to the present day.

Course Content

This course will introduce the roots of Jazz and American Popular music. It will trace the development of Jazz, Country, Blues, Rhythm and Blues, and American Popular song from the 19th Century to the present day. The course will also locate American vernacular music in the contexts of race, politics, culture, and commerce.