Time Schedule:
Christina Sunardi
MUSIC 250
Seattle Campus
Introduction to world musical traditions, including both sound and socio-cultural dimensions of music. Topics include instruments, rhythm, melody, form, composition, improvisation, music in the family and community, politics, economy, religion, and case studies of major world musical traditions. Prerequisite: MUSIC 201; MUSIC 204.
Class description
This course examines how musicians negotiate tradition—that is, how musicians define, create, uphold, challenge, and recreate tradition—in different parts of the world. More specifically, we will investigate traditions of performance in Trinidad, Indonesia, Cambodia, Egypt, and the United States, examining both performance practice as well as complex cultural factors that contribute to artists’ creative decisions. Such factors include socio-political circumstances, pressures from audiences, and artists’ senses of their identity (e.g., socio-economic, national, ethnic, racial, gendered, religious, etc.). Students will explore these topics and issues through weekly reading, listening, and written assignments as well as through a final project that may be research and/or performance oriented.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
