Unit 6 – Take a Musical Trip

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Identify music that represents a specific cultural heritage outside of mainstream American and European culture. CLO#6, CLO#7
2. Examine and present research related to a specific culture. CLO#4
3. Present two performances related to the specific culture. CLO#14,  
4. Define basic information for the two musical compositions presented in the selected performances. CLO#7
5. Identify and analyze prominent musical elements in the presented performances. CLO#3
6. Explain how identified elements contribute to a distinctive sound that defines the music’s cultural differences from mainstream American or European music. CLO#3, CLO#4, CLO#6
7. Express an aesthetic opinion related to the analysis of the musical elements.   CLO#8, CLO#5
8. Present research with an appropriate citation in MLA format. CLO# 16
9. Describe their own opinion on the works presented by other students. CLO#15
10. Propose other musical elements, research, or musical selections that could be examined in response to analysis by other students. CLO#15, CLO#3

1. Review Instructor Lecture.
2. Browse Suggested Topics.
3. Read Assignment Instructions – Take a Musical Trip.
4. Research music from another culture that is not American or European mainstream culture. LO# 1, 2
5. Select 2 or more musical performances that represent the culture selected. LO#3
6. Read Blog Requirements – Take a Musical Trip.
7. Create a Take a Musical Trip blog post
8. Submit the URL of your blog post on Canvas.
9. Read Assignment Instruction – Take a Musical Trip Comments.
10. Comment on 2 classmates “Take a Musical Trip’ posts offering your opinions and additional learning. LO#  9, 10, 11
11. Copy your comments and submit them via Canvas.

Take a Musical Trip Checklist   – a downloadable copy

Suggested topics…

• Music of Japan
• Music of Trinidad
• Music of Mexico
• Music of Africa
• Music of Cuba
• Lt. American Dance Music
• Music of India, including Bollywood
• Music of Thailand
• Inupiaq Music
• Songs of the Tlingit
• Saami Music
• Music from any one of the Polynesian Islands
• Australian Aboriginal Music
• Klezmer Bands
• Traditional Korean, or a really good case why KPop is different.

Do be aware, that Western Music can be found in most parts of the globe. Just because the lyrics are in a foreign language, doesn’t make the music necessarily global. You will need to focus on the aspects of music that are particular to a region AND culture.

I created a sample of a video blog based on this assignment – VIEW HERE

Download (DOCX, 14KB)

 Click on the link for a downloadable copy.

Pick a Topic

For this assignment, you are going to explore the music of another culture. The links in the  Instructor Lecture for this assignment are a starting point. You are encouraged to explore further. The internet is great — but periodicals and books are also wonderful sources. You have been given some topics in the Instructor Lecture, but you are not limited to those topics. There is so much to explore!!! Follow your own inclinations. Ask your instructor if you aren’t sure your topic is a good one.

Why Does This Music Sound Different?

Use the elements of music to explain why the music you selected has a distinctive flavor that sets it apart. Timbre, harmony, texture, rhythms, etc. all lend themselves to creating a distinctive sound. Is there a social or cultural aspect? Music serves different functions in different cultures. Make sure you address this important aspect.

It’s All About the Music — of course

Reading about music only gets you so far. Your blog is going to need to provide some “real’ music. You will need at least 2 selections of music for this blog. Your readers and instructor need to be able to get to these examples with ease.

Your Opinion

Use your musical elements vocabulary to describe your personal reaction to the selections you provided.

Scholarship

Like your previous blogs, you will need at least two cited sources. What reputable sources did you use? Who wrote the music? Make sure you include the basic information about each work you feature in your blog.

Editing

Good writing counts. Penalties for poor editing will be applied. Same thing for video. Don’t ramble. Have a script or an outline to follow.

In this analysis assignment, you will be graded on the following:

1. Basic Information — Title (in italics if necessary), date, composer, country of origin — 10 points
2. Describing and illustrating the distinctive sound found in the genre you selected, and specifically in the works you presented. Social/cultural aspects need to be included, and your opinion— 50 points
3. Citing your research, and utilizing quality sources — 20 points
4. Presentation — 20 points

1. A clear title presents the blog, which includes “Global” or “Musical Trip” in the title.
2. A link to the songs or works being analyzed. A minimum of 2 are required.
3. Titles of the songs or works (usually in italics), composers (if unknown – state this), the date (again – it might be unknown, but that should be stated) it was written or released, and country of origin clearly supplied in the text of the blog post.
4. A summary presentation of the research conducted into your chosen topic. A minimum of two reputable sources required.
5. A clearly formatted analysis of at least two musical elements found in each of the musical selections chosen that contribute to the distinctive cultural sound.
6. A statement of your  personal  aesthetic reaction related to the analysis of the transformation of the musical elements presented
7. Carefully edit your blog post.
8. Sources are cited below the article in  MLA style. All internet sources must include a working hyperlink to the source material.
9. The blog has visual interest. An image or an embedded video is included
10. The blog post URL is submitted through Canvas, Assignment Submit link ‘Unit 6 – Take a Musical Trip Blog’ with a working hyperlink.                                            General Blog Requirement Checklist

    Download (PDF, 101KB)

Comments – Take a Musical Trip

You can learn a great deal by reading what your fellow students wrote.  You might hear music you’ve never experienced before.  You might hear something you already know in a different light.  As part of the EXPLORATION component in this course, you are required to comment on 2 of your fellow student’s blog posts.  Your comments  need to include the following:

1. Agreement or disagreement. Did you like the same things that they liked? Why or why not. Be polite. If we all liked the same things, music would never evolve.
2. Add to the discussion. Did you notice something was missing from the assignment? Did you notice another musical element that wasn’t considered? Could you direct them to another work or style? Maybe there is an article that would be helpful?
3. Submit your comments on Canvas for grading  using the Assignment Submit link ‘Unit 6 – Take a Musical Trip Comments’
4. Proper submission formatting.
   1. Use the  Assignment Submission section of Canvas to submit your comments.
   2. Do not use the  Add Comments  area of Canvas.
   3. Submit the URL of each blog you commented on and hyperlink it in Canvas.
   4. Cut and paste your comment below the hyperlinked URL.

Click Here to see an annotated guide to comments.

1.  All comments must be submitted properly. If not, then you will receive a zero, with a request to resubmit properly – 1 point.
2. Opinion stated – 4 points for each comment.
3. Explanation of opinion – 4 points for each comment.
4. Adding to the discussion/exploration/learning – 4 points for each comment.