Course Outline for Music Literature 3
World Music

Effective: Fall 2020
SLO Rev: 10/09/2019
Catalog Description:

MUSL 3 - World Music

3.00 Units

This course presents a survey of world music and introduces the field of ethnomusicology. The cultural contributions and influences of music and traditions in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Indonesia, India, Latin America, and Native America are emphasized. Historical, cultural, philosophical and social conditions in which music exists, its relationship to cultural continuity and/or change, as well as the artistic conditions in which musics and cultures develop are explored through three primary lenses: sound, concept, and behavior. Attendance at world music concerts is required.
1004.00 - Music
Optional
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Total 3.00 54.00 108.00 162.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Compare and contrast musical construction, performance, and reception through critical thinking about the role of the arts within selected, varied world cultures and practices.
  2. Express aural, oral, and writing skills while focusing on writing, reading, listening to, and discussion of non-Western music
  3. Recognize and articulate about material and functions of music in selected cultures and cultural settings, based on ethnomusicological practices
  4. Articulate the influences and effect that “outside” music has on any given culture’s musical practices and products
Course Content:
  1. Ethnomusicology and music analysis
    1. Rudiments
    2. Rhythm
    3. Pitch
    4. Notation
    5. Texture
    6. Timbre
  2. Field work techniques
  3. Methodolgy for investigating musical expression
  4. Native American (Sioux, Zuni, Iroquois, nad Navajo)
    1. Modern expressions of traditional culture
  5. African (Ewe, Mande, Dagbamba, Shona, BaAka, Agbekor)
    1. Styles
    2. Elements
    3. Form
    4. Terms
    5. Context
  6. Asian (Japan, China, Korea)
    1. Traditional
    2. Court
    3. Contemporary music
  7. Indian
    1. Hindustani
    2. Carnatic
  8. Indonesian
    1. Balinese
    2. Javanese Gamelan
  9. Latin American
    1. Examples of musical acculturation
    2. Change in the New World
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Conferencing
  2. Lecture/Discussion
  3. Performance
  4. Distance Education
  5. Reading and listening assignments from the text and accompanying audio.
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Write a comparison paper discussing two of the musical traditions covered in the course.
  2. Identify characteristic sounds of the music covered in the course.
  3. Concert reports on "live" world music concerts.
  1. Exams/Tests
  2. Final Examination
  3. Daily/weekly contributions to the discussions
  4. Listening Examinations
  5. Concert reports
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Distinguish unique musical characteristices and styles of non-western music;
  2. identify and compare cultural contexts of different "music-cultures";
  3. demonstrate aural identification and differentiation of musical styles.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Bakan, M. (2019). World Music: Traditions and Transformations (3rd). McGraw Hill.
  • Access to a computer with internet.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
This course presents a survey of world music and introduces the field of ethnomusicology. The cultural contributions and influences of music and traditions in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Indonesia, India, Latin America, and Native America are emphasized.Attendance at world music concerts is required.