The Music Appreciation class has Learning Outcomes that ask students to develop skills in “identifying and describing musical elements,” and “listen to music examples from various world cultures.” To succeed at this task, students first work at understanding how to talk about musical elements, like pitch being described as “high/low,” or an Aerophone being the different instruments around the world that use air-vibrations to make a sound. Every week we spend time exploring world cultures and listening to music examples to practice talking about the elements.
This Winter Quarter the Music Appreciation class requested that we make the topic of the activity “Exploring World Cultures.” The musical culture of Sub-Saharan Africa was a student favorite this quarter. We first discussed the types of instruments and musical element characteristics from this world culture. Then we would listen to music examples from the textbook/CD set used to develops the class content (Excursions in World Music, 2008). We listened to an example of BaMbuti vocal (Aerophone) music that highlighted a characteristically common descending pitch pattern in this culture’s music. Other favorite cultures we explored this quarter include East Asia-Japan, Western European music, and North American-Native American music.
Student Quotes:
– “It is interesting to learn how music cultures around the world have their unique characteristics, yet they share much in common and have all influenced today’s society.”
– “As you began to realize that every different type of music has its own rhythm, life, language and heritage, you realize how life changes and you can be more adaptive to what is around us.” -Yoyo Ma
– “One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain. – Bob Marley ”
Resources:
Course Content Text: Nettl, Bruno, et al. Excursions in world music. Routledge, 2008.
Music Appreciation is one of the many courses OLS Students take to obtain their associates degree from OLS. More information about our curriculum is available on our website. To learn more about our program register for an upcoming Information Session.
Last Updated May 16, 2018