College of San Mateo

Mus 250: World Music Online!

Professor Krys Bobrowski

Course Description

A course in comparative music styles of various cultures of the world. Each semester will explore one or more of the musical styles (popular, folk or classical) of Western Hemisphere, European, Asian and African cultures.

Course Materials

Instead of a traditional textbook, we will be using a web-based resource called “OnMusic of the World” (2nd Edition), published by Connect For Education. This includes texts, recordings, images, videos, interactive maps and a class website. You will need to purchase an Access Code to view and make use of all this material.

Students have two options to purchase the course Access Code:

1) Directly from the Connect For Education online store:  http://www.student.connect4education.com/online_store/index.htm

2) At the campus bookstore (the code is located under the tear-strip of the Access Card sold at the store). The Access Cards are being stored at the front of the bookstore, behind the counter. Ask the cashier for a copy.

Course Email

All students have an @my.smccd.edu email account. This is the account I will use to send class messages. Please check your email regularly or, better yet, redirect your email to the address you use most. Instructions and information can be found here: http://my.smccd.edu

When emailing me please put   "Music 250" in the subject line along with any other info that way it is sure to get to me. For example if you couldn't hear any sound you might send a message like this (Subject: Music 250 Problem with Sound) 

Course Topics

• Music of Africa
• music in community life
• the language of African drums
• instrumental and vocal music
• popular modern music
  
  
• Music of the Carribbean and Brazil
• folk, ritual and dance hall music
• carnival music
• dance music: meringue, samba and rumba 0
  
  
• Music of North America
• Native American music
• jazz and blues
• country music
• pop music
  
  
• Music of Korea
• music and dance
• philosophy of music
• sprituality of music

• Music of Latin America
• Peruvian and Mexican music
• vernacular genres of music
• concert music
• Music of South Asia
• Indian classical music
• oral transmission
• history, religion and society

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Describe how music reflects and expresses various cultural phenomena throughout the world.
  
  
• Compare the folk, popular and classical approaches to music of each of the cultures studied.
  
  
• Extrapolate from these studies general views of the ethos of the peoples studied.
  
  
• Demonstrate the necessary musical knowledge to compare the music, social function, and instruments of different cultures.

Student Responsibilities

• Visit the class website often, twice a week at a minimum.
  
  
• Spend the appropriate time on course work (a 3 unit course averages 6 hours per week)
  
  
• Participate in online class discussions in the Forum
  
  
• Complete all assignments on time. This is not a self-paced course. Late assignments will be marked down 10% each week.
  
  

• Attend one world music concert during the semester and write a review about your experience.
  
  
• Turn in your Final by the due date! No exceptions!
  
  
• Know all college administrative deadlines.

Evaluation

9 Quizzes           18%

6 Short Written Assignments      18%

Concert Report     7%

Discussion Forum Participation    8%

Midterm Exam     26%

Final Exam              26%