Class Notes for Wednesday and Friday

Hello class. Due to meetings for the successful operations of Homecoming Week, I will not hold class this week. However, these are the notes that you are responsible for having in your posession concerning Ragtime...

• Originally an American musical genre which enjoyed popularity from the late 1800s to around 1920.
• Ragtime fell off when Jazz hit the big scene
• Ragtime is a descendant of jigs and musical marches played by black bands.
• Many Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) Bands got their start from the ragtime era...
• "Novelty Ragtime" involved the use of a rolling scroll on old pianos allowing the performer almost complete creative freedom, since the music was nothing more than hollow chords or what is now refferred to as fake sheets.
• Ragtime has several sub-categories: (You will need to familiarize yourselves with these)
• Cakewalk- A pre-ragtime dance form popular until about 1904. The music is intended to be representative of an African-American dance contest in which the prize is a cake. Many early rags are cakewalks.
• Two step- A pre-ragtime dance form popular until about 1911. A large number of rags are two-steps.
• Coon song- A pre-ragtime vocal form popular until about 1901. A song with crude, racist lyrics often sung by white performers in blackface. Gradually died out in favor of the ragtime song. Strongly associated with ragtime in its day, it is one of the things that gave ragtime a bad name.
• Ragtime song- The vocal form of ragtime, more generic in theme than the coon song. Though this was the form of music most commonly considered "ragtime" in its day, many people today prefer to put it in the "popular music" category. Irving Berlin was the most commercially successful composer of ragtime songs.
• Foxtrot- A dance fad which began in 1913. Fox-trots contain a dotted-note rhythm different from that of ragtime, but which nonetheless was incorporated into many late rags.

Composers that you will need to be familiar with are:

• Scott Joplin- the most famous ragtime composer by far. Famous for "Maple Leaf Rag" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAtL7n_-rc)and the "Entertainer."(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPmruHc4S9Q&feature=related)
• Jelly Roll Morton- jazz pianist, bandleader and composer. Famous for Black Bottom Blues and Buddy Bolden's Blues
• Tom Turpin- African-American composer of ragtime music. He was so large in stature (6'4", 300lbs.) that his piano had to be raised on bricks to accomodate his stomach. He is also a Savannah, GA native

In addition to these notes, your quiz grades are available for viewing if you wish to stop by my office (Kennedy 106). Good luck students and I will see you on Monday at 11 AM. Happy Homecoming!!!

Prof. Bratcher

TESTING ON FRIDAY (PLEASE READ)

Hello class,

Due to Regents Testing on Friday, there will be no class. During this time, if you are not testing, I strongly encourage all of you to go to the bookstore and purchase the textbook for the course. They have arrived and are now available. I hope your weekend is great and let's prepare to start jazz on Monday. Good Luck on your testing and endeavors!!

9 AM CLASS ONLY STUDY GUIDE

Hello to my 9 AM students. I hope that each of you are either studying for your REGENTS EXAM, or this test on Monday. By the way, the 9 AM will not meet on Friday. Here are your sample open-ended questions (I will choose 4 out of the 5):

1) How is jazz music considered to be born right here in America?

2) Compare and contrast classical music to jazz music.

3) If you had the opportunity to ask (insert jazz pioneer here) a question concerning their time, what would you ask and why?

4) Jazz is a free-flowing form of music. Today, however, there are many institutions that offer doctoral degrees in jazz music. Do you feel that this is right, or do you feel that this stiffens the creative aspect of the performer?

5) Given the knowledge you have acquired concerning minstrel shows, how do you feel about them, and the possibility that they still exist in today's media?

You will have 6 multiple choice questions that you shall recieve the day of the quiz. Good luck and study well...

More Links to Classical Musings!!

Check out some more of these links to classical pieces used in operas, or other aspects of media:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8UtojJT8ts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8At8zfh_o3E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcKRgY4-uJU&feature=related

Quiz Study Guide

Good evening class. In preparation for your exam on Wednesday I have equipped the following question bank. The multiple choice questions are not on this BLOG...just the open-ended questions. Remember to prepare. This is college... Your actual quiz questions will be selected from the questions below, so be sure you are well prepared. Good Luck!!

1) How is classical music still used in today's time?

2) Between (insert composer here) and (insert composer here), which one do you like the best and why? (Be able to support statement with facts about the composers. They will be random so make sure you are familiar with all of them that have been covered)

3) What is "opera buffa", and which composer is most famous for the notion?

4) How do you feel about the noble art of classical music being used for children's cartoons, candy commercials, etc.?

5) If you could speak to (insert composer here), what would you ask them concerning their inspirations and why?

6) Did opera buffa destroy the classical music world, or was it just what the doctor ordered?

Quiz Set for Wednesday 10/21/2009

Your quiz on the classical music section will be on 10/21/2009. I will post a study guide for the examination on this BLOG before 5:00PM on Monday. Please check back after that time so that you are duly prepared for this exam. I would like to start jazz either after your exam on Wednesday or first thing Friday. Good Luck, and have a great weekend!!!

More Classical Links

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh11A41klL4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtxpHVHWA8I&feature=related

These clips are originally by Johannes Brahms and Johan Strauss. Enjoy them.

Classical Music 1

Hello class. Today we started down the intriguing venue of classical music. Here are some links for your enjoyment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrupqdGvsoc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHivHuPFBqA&feature=related

See you on Friday

Syllabus

Savannah State University
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Department of Liberal Arts
MUSC 1101-01 Music Appreciation
Fall II 2009
M/W/F 11:00AM-12:40PM

Instructor: Prof. Bratcher
Office: Kennedy 106
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: bratchern@savannahstate.edu

Student Learning Outcomes: To gain an appreciation of Western Classical Music including Jazz and its influence throughout today’s musical spectrum.

Course Goals: Students will lean the historical origins of Classical and Jazz music by reading assignments and listening to various musical works in and outside of class.

Course Goals: Students will learn the historical origins of Classical and Jazz music by reading assignments, listening to various musical works in and outside of class, and several projects.

Course Objectives:

· To demonstrate or articulate an understanding of the elements of music
· To demonstrate or articulate an understanding of how elements combine to create music
· To recognize and compare various style periods including composers
· To recognize a specific style period of music through listening
· To clearly identify instrumental groupings visually and aurally

Course Description: A historical survey of the development of music, intended to provide a background for the understanding and application of music. Music to be studied will include American Popular Music (Blues, Jazz, Rock) as well as the different style periods of Classical Music.

Text/Workbook Materials: Perspectives on Music, Donald C. Meyer (text comes with a CD set for listening assignments), 978-1877761508 ISBN $45

Attendance: “Credit may or may not be awarded for any course if the number of absences exceeds the number of times that the class meets per week. Students who exceed the allowed number of absences in any course may receive a grade of “F” Savannah State University Catalog 2002-2006

2 Tardies = 1 unexcused absence

Grading:
90-100% A
80-89% B

70-79% C

60-69% D

59& Below F

Grading Policies:

Class assignments: 15%
4 Tests: 15% each
Final exam: 20%
Attendance: 5%

Class preparation: Students will come to class having read the assigned material listed on the course calendar. If the calendar changes, the instructor will assign the reading for the following class. This information will be listed on the Music Appreciation BLOG at http://ssumusicapp.blogspot.com and will be updated regularly. Please be sure to check back frequently.

Make-up exams: I have a “visual” policy for make-up exams. If I can “visually” see your legitimate excuse (i.e. doctor’s note, obituary, wedding program, letter from fraternity/sorority sponsor, bar mitzvah program, etc.) then we can work a make-up exam out. This, however, is left to the discretion of the instructor.

Listening Assignments: Each class will cover the reading material for the day as well as the listening examples in the book. Students will be expected to listen to music examples as part of the homework. CD’s are included as part of the purchase of the textbook. Listening guides are provided in the book and it is recommended that the student follow along in the book while listening to the assignment.

DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS: If a student has a documented and/or declared disability or any significant learning or health impairment, reasonable accommodations (support) will be provided if requested by the student according to the recommendations of The Office of Counseling and Disability Services: (912) 356-2202, Room 233, 2nd Floor King Frazier Annex.

Honor Code: All students are expected to do their own work in class. This includes homework, tests, projects and other work assigned by the instructor. Any work deemed not to be the student’s own will be treated as an honor code violation. Refer to the Savannah State University 2006-07 catalogue for further clarification.

CELL PHONES AND MP3 PLAYERS OF ALL KINDS WILL BE TURNED OFF AND PUT AWAY, INCLUDING BLU-TOOTH HEADSETS AND EAR PHONES OR BUDS. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN POINT DEDUCTION FROM QUIZZES AND TESTS.

Introduction

Welcome to Music Appreciation Fall II semester. This course will help you to appreciate music throughout the ages and gain a better knowledge and understanding of music in general. Throughout the mini-mester, you will need to check this BLOG frequently for instructions, news, and assignments given in this course. If necessary, my office is available for help and musical conversation. However, due to my position as Assistant Band Director, please schedule an appointment. Refer to the syllabus for office hours.

Once again, welcome to the BLOG and I look forward to working with each and every one of you.