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General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
MUSI D001D
Course Title (CB02)
Music Appreciation: Rock - From Roots to Rap
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
An introduction to music through rock music, tracing its beginnings in the early 1950s to the present. Various rock styles will be related to the historical trends and events of the time period being studied; listening techniques; use of fundamental concepts including form, style, musical media, and textures; acquaintance with and comparison of musical examples from various styles.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course belongs on the Music AA degree. It is UC and CSU transferable. This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSUGE and IGETC. It adds diversity and breadth to the music program, and a multicultural, popular music perspective.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
Yes
Foothill Course ID
MUS F007.

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GC1°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area C1 - ArtsApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGC1CSU GE Area C1 - ArtsApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG3AIGETC Area 3A - ArtsApproved

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Homework and extended projects

Mid-term examination review performed in class

In-class music demonstrations by the instructor or students

In class listening of recorded examples

Assignments

  1. Required reading from the textbook
  2. Written reports on two live Rock or Rap-related music concerts, with objective description and subjective reaction, including background research on genre and artist(s)
  3. Written completion of definitions and terms for the seven worksheets covering the material in the course.

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Mid-term and final exams; objective and essays questions with listening where students demonstrate comprehension and analysis of course material
  2. Two concert reports with objective description and subjective opinion to show knowledge of musical elements and concepts
  3. Completion of definitions and terms from seven worksheets evaluated for accuracy

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • Audio recordings of selected musical examples from the text
Essential College Facilities:
  • Classroom with piano, high fidelity audio-video playback system (for audio cassette, record, compact disk, mp3, VHS tape, DVD)
  • Extensive collection of audio and video recordings

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
*Charlton, Katherine. Rock Music Styles, a History, 7th ed. Boston: Mc Graw Hill, 2015
Larson, Thomas. History of Rock and Roll, 5th ed. Kendall Hunt, 2016
Campbell, Michael. Rock and Roll: An Introduction. 2d ed. Belmont: Thompson/Schirmer, 2008

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Barkley, Elizabeth. Crossroads: Popular Music in America, 2nd ed. Prentice Hall, 2006
Chambers, Iain. Urban Rhythms: Pop Music and Popular Culture. St. Martin's Press, 1985
Clarke, Donald. The Rise and Fall of Popular Music: A Narrative History from the Renaissance to Rock n' Roll. St. Martin's Press, 1995
Frith, Simon. Rock and Popular Music : Politics, Policies, Institutions. Routledge Press, 1993
Gillett, Charlie. The Sound of the City: The Rise of Rock and Roll. Da Capo Press, 1996
Macan, Edward. Rocking the Classics: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture. Oxford University Press, 1997
Marsh Dave. Sun Records: an Oral History. Avon Books, 1998
Nager, Larry. Memphis Beat: the Story of America's Musical Crucible. St. Martin's Press, 1998
Potter, Russelll A. Spectacular Vernaculars: Hip-Hop and the Politics of Modernism. State University of New York Press, 1995
Pratt, Ray. Rhythm and Resistance: Explorations in the Political Uses of Popular Music. Praeger, 1990
Raphael, Amy. Grrrls:Viva Rock Divas. St. Martin's Griffin, 1996
Reyes, David. Land of a Thousand Dances: Chicano Rock 'n' Roll from Southern California. University of New Mexico Press, 1998
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. I Want to Take You Higher: The Psychedelic Era 1965-1969. Chronicle Books, 1997
Tawa, Nicholas. A Music for the Millions: Antebellum Democratic Attitudes and the Birth of American Popular Music. Pendragon Press, 1984
Video Resource: Lomax, Alan. The Land Where the Blues Began. Vestapol Video, 1991

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the common functions and elements of Western popular music
  • Identify and distinguish between various rock and related genres, musical elements and instrumentation
  • Demonstrate knowledge of representative important writers, producers and performers of rock and rap music.
  • Identify historic elements in the development of rock and rap music and their contributing styles.
  • Identify social aspects reflected in, and contributing to, musical styles and song lyrics

CSLOs

  • Employ a basic vocabulary of common music terms to describe observations of recorded and live music.

  • Recognize individual instruments and voices and the various ensembles in which they are used.

Outline

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the common functions and elements of Western popular music
    1. Fundamentals of musical sound
      1. Pitch: frequency, intervals, scales, definite and indefinite pitch
      2. Rhythm: Duration, tempo, meter, syncopation, polyrhythm
      3. Tone color: Describing tone color, musical uses of tone color
    2. Basic concepts of musical organization and structure
      1. Scales: major, minor, pentatonic, chromatic, modes
      2. Melody: pitch and rhythm components, phrase structure
      3. Harmony: chords, progressions
      4. Key: major and minor
      5. Texture: monophonic, polyphonic, homophonic, heterophonic
      6. Form
        1. Strophic, verse-refrain, through-composed song structure
        2. Blues: eight-bar, twelve-bar, other blues forms
    3. Application of music terminology through description and discussion of musical examples, both recorded and performed live
      1. Objective descriptions of musical features
      2. Subjective reactions, particularly as related to music features
  2. Identify and distinguish between various rock and related genres, musical elements and instrumentation
    1. Essential rhythmic elements that distinguish stylistic differences
    2. Essential musical instruments that characterize various styles and reflect technological advances
    3. Vocal styles that are emblematic of various musical styles, as well as individual styles that lie outside of, or become models for later artists
    4. Lyrical, thematic and production elements that distinguish various styles
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of representative important writers, producers and performers of rock and rap music.
    1. Popular music before rock: Irving Berlin, Stephen Foster, Alan Freed, Benny Goodman, Scott Joplin, Glenn Miller, John Phillip Sousa
    2. Blues musicians: Phil and Leonard Chess, Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Leadbelly, Memphis Minnie, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Howlin' Wolf
    3. Other Rock music roots, such as Boogie Woogie, Gospel, Rhythm and Blues, Folk, Country: The Chords, Sam Cooke, Bo Diddley, Darrell Glenn, Woody Guthrie, Edwin Hawkins Singers, The Ink Spots, Mahalia Jackson, Alan Lomax, Professor Longhair, The Mills Brothers, Pete Seeger, Soul Stirrers, Willie Mae Thornton, The Weavers, Hank Williams, Sr.
    4. Early Rock and Pop styles: Paul Anka, The Archies, The Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, Pat Boone, Chubby Checker, Dick Clark, Dick Dale, Dion and the Belmonts, Fats Domino, Duane Eddy, The Everly Brothers, The Four Seasons, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Joe Turner, Ritchie Valens, Gene Vincent
    5. Soul: Booker T. and the MGs, James Brown, Ray Charles, The Commodores, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Four Tops, Berry Gordy, Jr., Holland-Dozier-Holland, The Impressions, Michael Jackson, Rick James, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The O'Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, The Supremes, Johnnie Taylor, Jackie Wilson
    6. Motown: Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, the Supremes, the Tempations, Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder
    7. Folk Rock: Bob Dylan, The Byrds, The Turtles, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Mamas and the Papas, Simon and Garfunkel, Paul Simon, Barry Mcguire, Sgt. Barry Sadler, Janis Ian, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, and Nash (and Young), Donavan, Richard Thompson, Fairport Convention
    8. Psychedelic Rock: The Doors, The Grateful Dead, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, The Steve Miller Band, Van Morrison, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Santana
    9. British Music of the 60's
      1. Invasions I and II: the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Searchers, Graham Nash and the Hollies, Herman's Hermits, the Kinks, the Who
      2. British blues revival bands: Chris Barber, Cream, John Mayall's Blues-breakers, the Spencer Davis Blues Quartet (later, the Spencer Davis Group), the Yardbirds, Rod Stewart, eric Burdon and the Animals
    10. American Reaction to the British Invasion: the Monkees, the Raspberries, the Kingsmen, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Paul Butterfield, Janis Joplin, Canned Heat, Jimi Hendrix, the Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Raitt, George Thorogood, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny and Edgar Winters, Robert Cray
    11. Country and Southern Rock: The Allman Brothers Band, The Band, The Buffalo Springfield, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Charlie Daniels Band, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, John Fogerty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Gram Parsons, Poco, Pure Prairie League, Linda Ronstadt, Hank Williams, Jr., Neil Young, ZZ top
    12. Singer/Songwriters: James Taylor, Carly Simon, Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Suzanne Vega, Tracy Chapman
    13. Jazz and Rock Fusion: Blood, Sweat and Tears, Chicago, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, The Dixie Dregs, Herbie Hancock, Joni Mitchell, Thelonious Monk, Gerry Mulligan, Jaco Pastorius, Jean Luc Ponty, Carlos Santana, Steely Dan, Sting, Weather Report
    14. Art Rock: Ian Anderson, Laurie Anderson, The Electric Light Orchestra, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Robert Fripp, Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Kraftwerk, the Moody Blues, he Mothers of Invention, Pink Floyd, Procul Harum, Roger Waters, Yes, Frank Zappa
    15. Hard Rock, Heavy Metal: AC/DC, Aerosmith, Bad Company, Pat Benatar, Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, Bon Jovi, Boston, Deep Purple, Dio, Guns N' Roses, Heart, Iron Butterfly, Iron Maiden, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Ted Nugent, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, Living Colour, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Rush, Scorpions, Slayer, Steppenwolf, Stryper, Van Halen
    16. Glam Rock: Marc Balan, David Bowie, Alice Cooper, Elton John, Kiss, The New York Dolls, Poison, Queen, Roxy Music, The Velvet Underground
    17. Punk and New Wave: The B-52's, Black Flag, Blondie, The Cars, Elvis Costello, The Clash, The Damned, The Dead Kennedys, Devo, the Jam, Malcolm McLaren, The MC5, Minor Threat, The New York Dolls, Iggy Pop and the Stooges, The Pretenders, The Ramones, Lou Reed, The Sex Pistols, Patti Smith, Social Distortion, talking Heads, The Velvet Underground, X
    18. Ska and Reggae: The Clash, Jimmy Cliff, Desmond Dekker, King Tubby, Bob Marley, the Police The Skatelites, The Specials, Steel Pulse, Peter Tosh, UB40, The Wailers
    19. Funk and Disco: Average White Band, The Bee Gees, Chic, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Earth, Wind and Fire, Funkadelic, KC and the Sunshine Band, Kool and the Gang, The Ohio Players, Parliament, Sly and the Family Stone, Sly Stone, Donna Summer, Barry White
    20. Hip-Hop and Rap: Afrika Bambaataa, Arrested Development, The Beastie Boys, Chuck D, Coolio, De La Soul, Digable Planets, DJ Kool Herc, Eminem, Grandmaster Flash, Hammer, Lauryn Hill, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Kid Frost, The Last Poets, Notorious B.I.G., W.W.A., Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Monie Love, Run-D.M.C., Salt-N-Pepa, The Sugar Hill Gang
    21. Major Movements, genres and artists of the Eighties and Nineties
      1. MTV superstars: Paula Abdul, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Prince
      2. Alternative rock, post-punk, Industrial Rock: the Cure, Death Cab for Cutie, Fugazi, Husker Du, Mission, Morrissey, Napalm Death, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, R.E.M., the Replacements, Siouxie and the Banshees, the Smiths, U2, , White Stripes, Wilco
    22. Rock in the Nineties and Early Two-Thousands--No wave, grunge, Riot Grrrls: Bikini Kill, Ani DiFranco, Hole, Alanis Morissette, Mudhoney, Marilyn Manson, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Henry Rollins Band, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth, Soundgarden, Tool
    23. Techno music and rave culture
      1. Styles: Chicago house music, Detroit techno, hard-core
      2. DJ as artist
    24. Pop Punk, Rock Rap, and Jam Bands in the 2000s: Creed, Eminem, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black-eyed Peas, Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Beyonce, Lady Gaga
  4. Identify historic elements in the development of rock and rap music and their contributing styles.
    1. Musical landscape of Non-Western contributors to Rock music
      1. West African traditions
      2. Latin American music
        1. Mexico, South America
        2. Islands of the Antilles: Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad, Cuba
      3. Folk music from the British Isles
    2. Slavery and post-reconstruction conditions
      1. African musical esthetics
      2. Marginalization of African-Americans
    3. American popular music before rock
      1. Blues and Gospel music
      2. Folk and Country music
    4. Wars, especially Vietnam
    5. The Civil Rights Movement
    6. Media
      1. Radio
      2. Commercial recording
      3. Television
      4. Music Television (MTV)
      5. Computers and Internet with Mp3 downloads and file sharing
    7. Technology and musical change
      1. 45 and 33 rpm records
      2. electronic effects
      3. drum machines, synthesizers, samplers
    8. Recording industry and market forces
      1. Race records
      2. "Payola" in the rock/pop industry in the 1950's to the present
      3. Promoters: Bill Graham, Chet Helms
      4. The iTunes Store and other online purchasing sites
  5. Identify social aspects reflected in, and contributing to, musical styles and song lyrics
    1. Racism
    2. Gender issues: identity, sexism, misogyny
    3. Capitalism and materialism
    4. Conformity versus individualism
    5. Youth culture
      1. Generational conflict
      2. Identity construction
    6. Class conflict
    7. Anti-war, anti-Government protest
    8. Regional differences
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