Cañada College

Music of The Americas

(MUS 240)  This course will explore the exciting world of music from South, Central and North America as we listen to how indigenous, African and European traditions blend to create an amazing buffet of dance, folk and art music.  Attending one concert is a part of the course.  Students will present their favorites in the second part of the class, so we get the latest trends in Latin music

SYLLABUS

Introduction and definition of course coverage: what is "Latin American music"?

Multicultural Mexico – examples:  Mariachi, Conjunto Jarocho of Veracruz, and corridos from the border.

Cuban and Caribbean music

Andean music

Central American Marimba music (skipped)

Student Presentations [October]

Other national styles (Colombian and Cumbia) (skipped)

Classical music, from Baroque to contemporary choral music; Golijov

Sex, Class, Race, Music and Politics – Brazil (PowerPoint) and Argentina (PowerPoint)

Bringing it home – Spanish-language pop music in the USA

Activities (Assignments)

1 (1.1) Your music interests & the status and place of mariachi music (.doc format).

2 (1.2) Corridos and other web-based questions (.doc format).

3 (1.3) Profiles of Mexican Musicians (.doc format)

4 Schechter’s 4 Common Themes in Latin American Music (.doc format)

5 Why Study Caribbean Music; Rumba (.doc format)

6 Haiti (rara and Manno Charlemagne) (.doc format)

- Presentation Guidelines (.doc format)

7 – presentations

8 – peer comment sheets on presentations

9 Brazil Questions (.doc format)

10 – Brazil Documentary Questions (The Spirit of Samba: The Black Music of Brazil)

11 – Listening Quiz

12 – Argentina Tango Questions (.doc format)

- Outline of Course Themes (blank, for note-taking) (.doc format)

Final Exam (.doc format)

Sep 2006

David Meckler

mecklerd@smccd.edu

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