Category: Music

Hi, I need help on talking pointers for a presentation that I have on Friday. It doesn’t have to be in an essay format just some pointers to talk about for my presentation. I have to relate my topic on the readings provided as well. This is the prompt : “Begin by picking a song from your assigned day. Then, read the assigned reading for your assigned day and subject. Consider the aspects (temporal, technological, socio-cultural) that made the music of that time unique. Do some further research on your assigned song, tying it specifically to the assigned readings, and further elaborating on the history and significance of the song.
Each student will present their song, playing a 60-second or so clip of the song, and discuss the song’s history in a 4-5 minute talk in front of the class. If the best 60-second clip starts in the middle of the song, please make sure to know where to start your clip.”
Looking forward to reading. Thank you!

In making music for “young America,” Berry Gordy and Motown created music that had influence in its own time and in the subsequent six decades. In 250 (minimum) words, describe another genre of music that you think has had as strong an influence as Motown. In your journal entry, explain your choice with some background of the genre and describe the influence of the genre you picked. Feel free to illustrate your entry with a musical example.

In making music for “young America,” Berry Gordy and Motown created music that had influence in its own time and in the subsequent six decades. In 250 (minimum) words, describe another genre of music that you think has had as strong an influence as Motown. In your journal entry, explain your choice with some background of the genre and describe the influence of the genre you picked. Feel free to illustrate your entry with a musical example.

For this assignment you will listen to three contrasting classical works, analyze them, and write a description of the three works. The listening you do will help you learn to listen actively, which will improve your enjoyment of all different styles of music. It will introduce you to some interesting classical music and prepare for your concert review next month. No special format is required for this assignment.
HERE ARE ALL THE LINKS TO THE YOUTUBE VIDEOS. ALSO ALL INSUTRUCTIONS FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT ARE IN THE INCLUDED PDF FILE.
IF POSSIBLE TRY NOT TO USE SO MANY ADVANCED TERMS KEEP IT TO THE BASICS IF POSSIBLE BUT IF NEEDS SOME ADVANCED TERMS MAYBE USED.
Julia Wolfe : Believing

Julia Wolfe is an American composer. Her style blends minimalism (a simplistic contemporary musical technique that concentrates on repetition and gradual changes) with rock influences.
Does this music concentrate more on storytelling, singing, or dancing?
How do Wolfe’s and Copland’s use of repetition compare?

Fanfare for the Common Man, New York Philharmonic, James Levine

Born in 1900, Copland was a statesman of American classical music. HIs Fanfare for the Common Man was commissioned during World War II. A fanfare was special music that announced the arrival of royalty. Copland turns this idea upside down by writing a fanfare for every ordinary person.

John Adams: Short Ride in a Fast Machine – BBC Proms 2014

John Adams is a California composer. This short energetic work is an audience favorite.
To consider:
In what ways is it like Fanfare for a Common Man? Believing?
How does the title influence your listening experience?

The song is Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
1. Analyze the song referencing the basic elements of design (pick 2 of the following) as they are called in music (melody, harmony, rhythm, tone/color, structure/form, etc).
2. Describe the compositional elements that stand out and make the piece successful artistically.
3. What are the influences that are present and the characteristics of the genre that best fits the piece.
4. Is the piece defining of the artists style or is it uniquely different to his/her music.
5. Observe and describe the emotional content of the piece of music.

Your journal should include a sentence or two about five (or more) of the recordings listed below and a paragraph that addresses the unit’s recordings as a group. Each individual track response must include a specific observation that points to a particular musical event in the recording. Timestamps pointing to these specific moments should be used to make the point you are referring to as clear as possible (i.e. “At 1:32 in the recording we hear a guitar responding to the vocal line / an abrupt change in tempo / the first of a series of riffs / etc”). You may also discuss a particular recording in more depth or make any other observations you would like in regard to the assigned listening for this. The responses in your listening journal should demonstrate evidence of critical listening and engagement with the course materials more generally.
The tracks you are required to address are as follows:
Victor Minstrel Company – “Mobile Minstrels” (1909)
Arthur Collins – “The Preacher and the Bear” (1908)
The Victor Military Band – “Memphis Blues” (1914)
Morton Harvey – “Memphis Blues” (1914)
The Original Dixie Land Jazz Band – “Livery Stable Blues” (1917)
Mamie Smith – “Crazy Blues” (1920)
Ethel Waters – “Down Home Blues” (1921)
Lucille Hegamin – “Arkansas Blues” (1921)
Alberta Hunter – “Down South Blues” (1923)
King Oliver and his Creole Jazz Band – “Dippermouth Blues” (1923)
“West End Blues” – Louis Armstrong’s Hot Five (1928)

Report Guidelines
Format
2.5 to 5 pages (not including citation page). This is typically between 750-1700 words.
Typed
Double-spaced
8.5 x 11 paper
One-inch margins
Report should include a title, a header with your student ID, class title and the date.
DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME ON ANYWHERE ON THE REPORT, including the file name. This helps me avoid any instructor unintentional bias. I will be grading your papers “blind” with your identities hidden. To help with this, you MUST NOT put your name on your report. Simply use your student ID.
Citation page (All reports should have a citation/bibliography as one cited academic source is required, PLUS your need to cite the video you watched)
Writing Voice and style
Academic Voice
Formal
No contractions, slang, colloquialism, or abbreviations.
Avoid first person statements when possible
Write as if your colleagues taking this class could read the report and gain a clear concept of your experience.
Do not define terminology we have covered in class,
Your audience will not HEAR this concert and will rely on a sense of the experience solely from your descriiptions.
Content
A successful report will address these 4 broad categories. Organizing your paper by this large structure is highly encouraged.
Introduction
Begin with an engaging first sentence that draws your reader in and makes them want to continue reading their paper. Provide any necessary transitions that relate this first statement to the topic of your paper.
Give the basics of the event; name of the concert and group performing, possible soloists and leaders (conductors).
Briefly describe your expectations for the experience- feeling free to point out any observations about our unique to an online experience.
What type of performance did you watch (symphony, opera, solo, chamber, ballet, etc)?
What pieces did you hear, who were the composers, and what were historical eras of these pieces?
Narrow down your focus
Introduce the two movements you will explore in detail.
Provide brief background information about the composer and/or piece including historical information that is of interest. This might include why the piece was significant to history or the composer.
If you choose ballet or opera, you should provide a brief, broad synopsis of the story told (less than 3 sentences, if possible). Same thing if your piece is programmatic (such as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6)– give a brief introduction to the programmatic aspects of the piece.
Body of Report: Musical Analysis
Musical Analysis of two movements or short pieces from your concert
Some pieces of art, such as opera and ballet, are formatted as one long story. It might be difficult for you to delineate movements. Instead, you will describe the music at two ‘action points’ in the story.
Example of how to narrow down your focus for opera or ballet: “This paper contrasts the music for the love duet of Lady Carla and Don Giovanni (1:30:20 in video) and during Don Giovanni’s death (2:20:19 in video)”
The main body of your report focuses on accurately and interestingly applying the knowledge gained in this class to the specific music you heard at the concert.
Use YOUR ears and listen for the basic elements discussed in class; you do not need to use all the elements, but a good paper will try to notice a minimum of 7 musical observations.
Use timings from the video stream to help orient your reader to descriiptions (example: “At 0:2:40, the orchestra made a dramatic crescendo…”)
If you choose to use citations in this section, make them brief and only use them to support your own observations, not in place of your observations.
Here are a few approaches to this section that might help you get started. DO NOT ATTEMPT ALL OF THESE IDEAS.
Contrast/compare your two works with references to specific musical elements.
Give an overview of their characters- what types of moods or feelings they evoked, then back that up with references to specific musical elements.
Choose the music composition you liked best and describe why using specific musical elements. Contrast it with the music you liked least and describe why using musical elements.
Conclusion
For an academic paper about art, you will provide either a synthesis or evaluation to conclude your paper. This might be a good spot to bring back ideas associated with your engaging introductory sentence or title.

The authors of the textbook state that “music is universal, but it is not a universal language” (Miller & Shahriari, 2021, p. 18). What does this statement mean?
You may not be familiar with many of the types of musics we will listen to in this course. What are some things you can do to make it easier for you to learn as you listen to unfamiliar music?

The authors of the textbook state that “music is universal, but it is not a universal language” (Miller & Shahriari, 2021, p. 18). What does this statement mean?
You may not be familiar with many of the types of musics we will listen to in this course. What are some things you can do to make it easier for you to learn as you listen to unfamiliar music?

Watch the two short videos on Minstrel shows and write a 1-2 page, double spaced paper (include your name, and course # at the top) using Arial 12 pt. font that answers the following:
1. What is your initial reaction to watching the videos of early minstrel shows?
2. How have minstrel shows affected the way America treats slaves, freemen, and African Americans?
3. Provide examples of modern day minstrelsy that you have seen on tv, film, or music videos.