Syllabus MUS 250 World Music SKYLINE COLLEGE FALL 2007

 

Professor: David Meckler, Ph.D.,

Office: 3-242, Cañada College.  office hrs TBA

Email (start subject header with “250” to get my attention)

 

Voice-mail:  (650) 306-3439

 

Our goals are to listen to many different types of music from around the globe, to be able to use basic musical terminology in describing that music, and to relate music behaviors to the cultural contexts that surround them.  Equal emphasis will be placed on music and culture.  Instruction is primarily by class lecture, supplemented by reading, listening, and viewing.  Assessment is primarily through multiple choice and short answer exams and two writing assignments.

 

This syllabus is flexible and may change. 

 

We will slightly re-order in the book, averaging about 4-5 hours of class time per section in the book. 
Part One, Elements of Music
Part Two, Sub-Saharan Africa;
Part Seven, Japan  (bunraku performance 13-14 Oct at UC Berkeley)
Part Three, The Middle East and North Africa
Part Six, China
Part Eight, Indonesia
Part Nine, Eastern Europe
Part Four, Central Asia; Part Five, India

 

Concert review due last class meeting 13 Dec; NOT the final exam date, 20 Dec

 

Grades: Autobiography, 10%;  concert review or research project, 10%;8 question sets, 50%; final exam, 25%.    Last term’s final exam is posted on the class website; your final exam will be similar.

Cell phones & gadgets off, please.  If you miss an exam, a written and signed (by you) excuse will be required for you to make up the exam.  Exams are organized around listening examples.

 

REQUIRED TEXT: Music of the Peoples of the World, William Alves, with CDs.  Handouts and posted material on the course website (http://www.smccd.net/accounts/mecklerd/MUS250/MUS250.htm) are supplemental reading.   Additional CD listening may be required, and will be available in the Library and in the Learning Center.

 

Academic & Personal Integrity – they are the same thing!

You must do you own work unless specified.  Severe penalties, outlined in the Student Handbook, will be used in case of cheating or copied work without proper attribution.  Plagiarism on minor assignments or exams will result in zero credit for the assignment and lower the final course grade by one letter; cheating or plagiarism on the final exam or museum & concert reviews will result in an F in the course.

 

Attendance is absolutely vital.  Miss a class for a good reason?  Only WRITTEN excuses accepted.  It is your responsibility to drop the class if you miss more than 4 class meetings.