VHS Course Catalog

American Popular Music Section AD

Prerequisites
An open mind and a love of music.
Students will need computers with the ability to watch on-line streaming video
Students will need computers with the ability to listen to on-line audio files.

Students must be able to access streaming audio files for this course. Widgets are embedded in course files which link to US Copyright compliant music streaming websites such as http://www.grooveshark.com.

Description
*Please Note: This course may not be appropriate for students with specific accessibility limitations as written. Please refer to the VHS Handbook policy on Special Education/Equity for more information on possible modifications. If you need additional assistance, please let us know at service.goVHS.org.

Are you an avid music fan, enthralled by the songs and interested in the stories behind them? Do you believe that art reflects life or do you think it's the other way around? Well, American Popular Music is where you can find the answer.

In this course we will look at the evolution of pop music from early American folk music through the Rock -n - Roll of the 1960's, in an effort to understand the unique relationship between music and society. Of course we won't be able to cover all of the music in between, but we will look at representative periods and artists along the way. We'll also look at how the business of music works, taking into consideration the recording industry, radio, and performing.

Coursework will include listening to and analyzing music, researching various topics, discussing opinions and working with others to simulate different music industry scenarios.

Students must be able to access streaming audio files for this course. Widgets are embedded in course files which link to US Copyright compliant music streaming websites such as http://www.grooveshark.com.

*This course may be appropriate for Gifted and Talented middle school students that meet all course prerequisites.*

Course Objectives
· Exploring and evaluating the cause and effect relationship of music and society
· Identifying different types of American popular music and becoming familiar with the characteristics of each
· Exploring careers in the music industry, necessary preparation, benefits and drawbacks of each and appropriateness to students in the course
· Examining the development of the radio and recording industries in America and the effect of each on the music and society of the time
· Becoming familiar with the developmental history of American music (from c. 1900 - 1960) and its influential events and people
· Acquiring knowledge of the basic elements of music and how they effect a composition
· Developing personal listening skills necessary for critical evaluation of a composition.
· Develop individual creativity in regard to writing original song lyrics.