Instructor: Dr. B. Salwen

Office: CA (Cultural Arts) 1058

Office phone: 962-3890; E-Mail: Salwenb@uncw.edu

Office Hours: By appointment, during hours to be posted, or otherwise if needed

Simply see me after any class, call, or email me to make a time.

Course Goals

To absorb the very varied music of America and learn about the people who created it

To learn basic terms and concepts for discussing music, and develop active listening skills

To grasp the historical context in which America’s musics flourished

To discuss music in class and hopefully elsewhere as well

To enjoy (we hope!) the breadth of our nation’s musical creativity

Required Text: America’s Musical Landscape, by Jean Ferris, 5th ed., along with a set of 3 CDs.

Course Overview

Welcome to American Music! This is a course intended to introduce you to a sampling of the wide variety and large

quantity of music produced in the U.S. Our earliest music will be that of the Native Americans, followed by the

European story from the 1600s. From there we will move forward, exploring a wide spectrum of styles. Along with composers, we will explore who was performing music, and the music they used. Publishers, preachers, pianists,

bands, and the history behind them, these and more form the panorama of the field. Our end point will be the music of

today – the performers offered for hearing by you, the class.

This is a basic studies course. Previous musical background is not required. Note, however: this course is not an easy A. Music is an emotional experience, and it is also a discipline. Expect to apply yourself seriously to the material, just as you would in a history class, for instance. If you want a good grade, plan to work!

Reading: Please keep up with the assigned readings, which are modest in quantity. These are the framework for the material. They will provide essential facts that you need for class presentation, discussion, and tests. The book also contains good summary sections and listening guides to the music, so you should find it very practical.

Listening: This is a music class, so of course we will hear music. Again, the amount is fairly modest. Some will be familiar, much will not be. It is crucial that you spend enough time listening to the assigned music that you will learn and know it. Repeated listening is the key. Tests will include listening questions, multiple choice and/or essay.

Concert Attendance: Hearing music in front of speakers is very different from hearing it live. In the summer there is a very limited selection of music on campus. For concert attendance, pick one of the following:

ComposerWorks (music of living NC composers): Sunday, 29 June, 4:00 PM. It will take place in the recital hall here in the Cultural Arts building. Free. I will be performing part of this program.

Ending concert of the Summer Jazz Workshop. Friday, 18 July, 7:30, also in the recital hall and also free.

Whichever concert you attend, be sure to get a program. Turn that in to me at the class after the concert. This will be your record of attendance.

Paper: One paper for the term, due Tuesday, 22 July . You may choose any topic with a reasonable connection to American music. The idea is to give you an opportunity to explore an American-music related subject of interest to you. Perhaps a composer discussed in class piqued your curiosity, or you have always wanted to know more about where a favorite tune came from. Your topic could be a composer, a performer, a type of music, or even a polemic. You can study an area from any period, 17th century to the present. Topics going beyond popular music of the present are definitely encouraged! Whatever the topic, the essential characteristics are 1) there will be a research component; 2) you need to write at meaningful length (at least half a page) about a specific piece of music using musical terms.

Specifications. Length: 3 – 4 pages. Font: Times New Roman 11 (the font in which this syllabus is written). Format: One-inch margins on all sides, double spaced text, left justified. Use a cover page with your name and the title of the paper; text begins at the top of the following page. Citations for quoted or paraphrased text are expected; failure to cite will reduce your grade. Bibliography: in any standard format on a separate last page. Research sources: At least three, besides our textbook and any sound source(s). No more than one source may be the internet. Please adhere to all the guidelines accurately. I reserve the right to deduct from your grade if you do not. The only exception is length. If your paper is longer, I’ll happily read every word!

*Please be attentive to the quality of your writing. Full sentences, a logical flow to the material, and clarity of expression contribute to a good paper. Also, be sure to proofread. Spelling mistakes and confused grammar detract from a paper. Spellcheck on its own is not sufficient! You need to actually read through carefully. If you feel you need help in crafting a good paper, do not hesitate to consult Writing Services. Their web address is http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/uls/writing.htm

An excellent starting point for any topic: The New Grove Dictionary of American Music (4 vols.). This will give you an article and bibliography for most any topic in the field. It is in the reference section of the library; its catalogue number is ML101.U6 N48. The reference librarians can be very helpful in leading you to books and articles. I may also be able to give you research source ideas individually if you need further guidance.

Class Attendance: It is up to you to take your study seriously and come to class. For this reason, I have no graded attendance requirement; you do not lose points for absences. However, if you are absent, you will need to get notes

from a classmate, rather than expect me to go over missed material with you.

That said, attendance is highly recommended. Just as important: consistent attendance - and attentiveness - mean you are serious about learning and are likely to do your best. Hearing and seeing the material presented adds a great deal to reading on your own. Furthermore, your text is a condensed history, and I will often amplify on its contents. Material will be regularly presented in class that is not in your book. People who create and perform music are affected by the larger world, and I will often provide historical context to the works and composers we consider. (I often give dates, but only a few key ones need to be remembered precisely.)

The only exception to voluntary attendance is tests. Missing a test without a documented emergency = 0 for that test.

Tests: Four. The dates are: Wednesday, 2 July ; Midterm: Thursday, 10 July (cumulative); Thursday, 17 July; Final Exam: Friday, 25 July, 2:00 PM , same room. Please enter these dates into your schedules and plan to keep them.

Tests will be principally multiple choice, approximately 20 to 30 questions. Normally there are also short answers, a few fill-ins, or short lists of events for chronological ordering. There will always be a listening section, which I typically give as an essay. Some questions may be easy, some not. Know your material. I might well ask you to think and synthesize.

The first and third tests last about 45 minutes each. The second (midterm) test will be cumulative to that point, and perhaps a bit longer. The final will be cumulative to the term, with some exclusions to be itemized in class; length, 60 - 75 minutes.

Please note carefully. Unless something specific and unavoidable forces a change, I will adhere to the scheduled dates. Therefore: Do NOT buy a plane ticket which will require you to miss any test date, unless you plan on getting a 0 for that test. The only exception will be an emergency. Should such a situation arise, I will handle that with you individually. You will need to provide documentation in order for a make-up to be considered.

Grading: +/-, 10 point scale. Tests 1 and 3 count for 15% each. Midterm and Final = 20% each. Paper = 25%. Concert equals 5%.

If you are interested in a grade bonus, then you will want to know that I especially value class participation, and will round up final grades for people who participate. Ask questions about the material, react to it, raise your hand and speak up when I pose a question to the class. Having 1 or 0 absences also gets you bumped up. By rounding up, I mean raising, for instance, a B average, if you’re within a point or so of B+, to that higher grade - in other words, a three-point grade level up. Once in a while I have even raised a grade two levels. Be present in class, and speak up!

End Notes:

1) Every student has a UNCW student email account. This is the official method of communication between faculty and students. You should check this account often. If I need to communicate with you, it will probably be via a message to this email account.

2) If you have studied the material and feel you need help beyond class, please feel free to make an appointment to

see me. Also, don't overlook a quick way of getting help: raise your hand in class and ask when you have a

question. Sometimes that can clear things up promptly and easily. For less elaborate questions, e-mail works too.

Statement Regarding Academic Honesty: “The University of North Carolina at Wilmington is committed to the proposition that the pursuit of truth requires...honesty among all involved...no form of dishonesty among faculty or students will be tolerated.” (From the "Academic Honor Code" in the UNCW Code of Student Life.) All students are encouraged to read this entire section, which contains definitions of plagiarism, bribery, and cheating, and the procedures for reporting and adjudication of any such claims and offenses.

ENJOY THE COURSE!