Instructor: Christopher Reynolds, Department of Music, College of Letters and Science
Description: This will be a hands-on survey course on American Song. Information will be presented through informal brief lectures, brief readings, some discussion, some listening to recorded music, and as much actual singing as possible. The goal is for students to experience songs as Song, to gain an overview of the breadth of American song, and to understand that songs are living historical artifacts.
Format: The seminar will meet for one hour each week. The time will be divided between informal discussion of songs, student presentations, and group singing. Reading material will be provided. I will put together two readers, one of articles about songs, and one of songs. Students will be required to present a song, which will involve research into the biography of the songwriter and the history of the song. They will present their findings orally to the class and on paper to me. Grading: The course grade will be based on the quality of their oral presentation (1/3) and paper, about 5 pages long (1/3) and on the quality of their participation in class discussion and singing (primarily group singing) (1/3).
About the Instructor: I am a Professor of Music who has taught History of Rock and Roll (Music 106 for 8 or 9 years) and also two seminars on American song. I have long wanted to teach a class in which students would get credit for singing and studying the songs that they sing. I will draw on my own extensive collection of songs and songbooks, as well as that in Shields Library.