How to Use This Digital Textbook

Welcome. This textbook has been designed to work with standard screen readers for the
visually impaired. If you encounter any problems, please contact Web Support so that we
can work to address your needs.

This page, How to Use This Digital Textbook, provides you with directions on how to
navigate through the textbook. At the bottom of this page is a link to a ten-question quiz
based on this material.

Step One:

On the first page below the Crossroads The Music of American Cultures banner, there is
a horizontal menu bar that includes the following four links:
1. Welcome
2. Travel Tools, which consists of 10 links to PDFs such as Table of Contents, Glossary and
Index, Listening Examples, and so forth.
3. Content
4. Gradebook
Your first step is to click on the Content link.

Step Two:

Clicking on Content will take you to the books four parts. Use the Choose Page pull
down menu (or click on the Part One Compass image) to take you to the portal for Part One,
which includes Chapters 1-3. Use the Choose Page pull down menu (or click on the
Chapter 1 Human Head image) to go to Chapter 1.

Step Three:

Each chapter involves seven components. You can access these seven components either
through the upper horizontal navigation menu titled Choose Page or through the vertical
navigation menu that is down the middle of the page.

Component 1. Travel Journal/Reflect: For each chapters Pre Reflect, you will be asked to
reflect on what you already know about the chapters topic based on your own life
experiences. Respond to the prompt in appropriate college-level language and grammar
and using a minimum of 75 words. If you know little about the chapters topic, challenge
yourself to reflect deeper to find related knowledge. For example, you might know little
about the roots of Asian American music, but you can probably offer some insights or
observations regarding Asian culture or Asian immigration into the United States. [As a
point of reference, that explanation consisted of 92 words.] After you submit your reflection,
you will receive a copy to your e-mail for confirmation. At the end of this document, you will
find Appendix 1 which is a list of the Pre-Reflect prompts for all chapters.

Component 2. Read: Read the chapter PDF and listen to the corresponding listening
examples on the Chapter Rhapsody Playlist. Familiarize yourself with the tools at the top
of the PDF viewer, which allow you to move quickly through the pages or print or download
the reading. The first 10 questions in each chapters Component 5 Assess quiz will be
based on material from this reading.]

Component 3. Apply: Read the Apply (Lab) PDF and listen to the corresponding examples
provided on the Chapter Playlist. At the end of the PDF, you will find questions that address
the labs reading and listening material. The last 10 questions in each chapters Component
5 Assess quiz will be drawn from these questions, and you will find it easier to score well if
you determine the answers prior to taking the quiz.

Component 4. Review: There are flashcards here for you to check your recall and
understanding of basic vocabulary and concepts.

Component 5. Assess: Take the 20-question Chapter Quiz, which will include 10 questions
on material in Component 2 Read followed by 10 questions on material in Component 3
Apply (Lab). To take the quiz:

1. Read the instructions, and click Click here to begin located beneath Your Status.
2. Click on the Numbered Question Icon (which will then turn gray).
3. Choose your answer and click Submit Answer to save your choice, after which the Icon
will turn orange.
4. Click I Am Finished when you are done with the quiz, after which you will see correct
answers (green) and incorrect answers (red).

Component 6. Share: Click on the topic (Chapter 1) which will take you to the discussion
board where you will click Post Subject to answer the question. In the Subject header,
choose Ch. 1. Write a thoughtful, substantive response to the question in your own words,
using college-level language and grammar and a minimum of 75 words. As a point of
reference, this paragraph is 80 words. Click Submit to post your message, after which you
will see a green bar with the words, Forum Message Information Saved. Also read your
classmates answers and, if you wish, respond. The post is required, but the response is not.
At the end of this document, you will find Appendix 2, which is a cumulative list of all the
chapters Share prompts.

Component 7. Reflect/Travel Journal Part 2: Reflect on what you want to remember, clarify,
or learn more about the chapters topic. For example, was there a song that you found
particularly interesting? Was there something about the historical context in which a
particular genre of music developed that you found intriguing? Or did you find some aspect
of a key musicians life surprising? Then, using your own words, post your response to the
question in college-level language and grammar and in a minimum of 75 words.
(As a point of reference, this explanation was 80 words.) At the end of this document, you
will find Appendix 3, which is a cumulative list of all the chapters Post-Reflect prompts.


Repeat this seven-step process for the remaining chapters.

Appendix 1: Cumulative Textbook Chapter Component 1 Pre-Reflect Prompts
Chapter 1. What do you already know about the way you learn?
Chapter 2. What do you already know about America being a multicultural nation?
Chapter 3. What do you already know about the vocabulary associated with musics structural

characteristics of rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, instrumentation, and form?
Chapter 4. What do you already know about Native American music?
Chapter 5. What do you already know about European American music?
Chapter 6. What do you already know about the roots of African-American music?
Chapter 7. What do you already know about the roots of Hispanic music?
Chapter 8. What do you already know about the roots of Asian American music?
Chapter 9. What do you already know about the music genre called the Blues?
Chapter 10. What do you already know about the music genre called jazz?
Chapter 11. What do you already know about the music genre called Gospel?
Chapter 12. What do you already know about the music genres called Cajun and Zydeco?
Chapter 13. What do you already know about the music genre called Country?
Chapter 14. What do you already know about the Urban Folk Revival?
Chapter 15. What do you already know about the music genre called Rock n Roll?
Chapter 16. What do you already know about Motown, Soul or Funk?
Chapter 17. What do you already know about Caribbean and Salsa music?
Chapter 18. What do you already know about Tejano, Banda and contemporary Mexican music?
Chapter 19. What do you already know about hip-hop and rap?
Chapter 20.
What do you already know about the contemporary music scene (e.g., current top artists)?

Appendix 2: Cumulative Textbook Chapter Component 6 Share Prompts

Chapter 1. Please take the time to find a song or piece of music in the Rhapsody digital music library that
is from your past and that you believe you will always remember. Then share its title/artist(s) with a brief
description of why it made sense and has meaning for you.
Chapter 2. If you feel comfortable in doing so, please share your background and how you or your family
came to America. If not, describe the experience of a neighbor, co-worker, or friend.
Chapter 3. Listen again to the piece you chose as being meaningful to you in Chapter 1, and now choose
at least three structural characteristics (rhythm, melody, harmony, instrumentation, texture, and form) to
describe it.
Chapter 4. Native American musicians have a particularly poignant challenge in balancing tradition with
innovation. In what ways are you innovative in your own life? In what ways do you adhere to tradition?
Chapter 5. Music notation is one of the most important contributions of Europeans to the development of
music. One of the byproducts of this development is the potential for separation between composer and
performer. Describe the different attributes required to be effective in each role (composer/songwriter
vs performer). Identify and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses regarding the roles of
composer/songwriter and performer in a musician you listen to in contemporary music. If you had to
choose between one or the other of these roles for yourself, which one would you choose and why?
Chapter 6. Traditional West African music performance is very different from European music
performance practice. Compare the idea of masterpiece with master improvisation. What skills do
you think are important for each one? If you had to choose between becoming a renowned

composer/songwriter or a renowned improviser/performer, which one would you choose and why?
Chapter 7. Mestizo music reflects its background of cultural fusion. Identify a musician who you like who
you think particularly exemplifies fusion today, and describe the characteristics that reflect this fusion.
Chapter 8. In this chapter you read about the challenges and issues in discussing Asian Americans and
Asian American music. Either based on your own knowledge or research on the web, identify a
contemporary Asian or Asian American pop star that you believe is (or should be) in Americas popular
music mainstream.
Chapter 9. Here's a chance to be creative as you demonstrate your understanding of the essentials of
blues form: write your own blues lyrics that contain a minimum of three stanzas (each set of 3-lines
represents one stanza) using standard 12-bar form. Specify instrumentation and the specific stylistic
category of blues to which you would like your lyrics set.
Chapter 10. What is your opinion on the debate as to whether or not jazz is primarily African American or
European American? In general, what do you think about a music genre being owned by an ethnic/racial
group?
Chapter 11. The basic issue in early gospel music was whether African American religious music should
support attempts by Blacks to assimilate into mainstream White culture, or if their religious music should
be distinctly their own and celebrate their African roots. Consider describing a situation in your own life
where you needed to make a choice between staying true to your own identity or modifying your
behavior in order to fit into the group. How did you deal with this, and why did you make the choices you
did? Knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently given the same situation?
Chapter 12. Amedee Ardoin and Dennis McGee had an unusual partnership that defied the racial barriers
of the day. Have you ever had a friend of a different race or ethnicity (or who was just really different)
and what impact, if any, did that difference have on your friendship and/or the way you interacted with
the rest of the world?
Chapter 13. Traditionally, country musicians have stressed their rural, working class origins and their
commitment to old-fashioned family values and political conservatism, often acknowledging and
honoring past artists and styles. What does this approach provide for the listeners of country music?
What is your personal reaction to country music?
Chapter 14. Pete Seeger, an iconic influence on the Urban Folk Revival, once stated, There is a big
beautiful world that could be destroyed by selfishness and foolishness. We musicians have it within our
power to help save it. In what ways can music be used to save the world? Do you think music is really
that powerful? Explain your answer.
Chapter 15. Rock n roll developed within the context of a new, powerful and rebellious youth
culture. Do you think todays teenagers are as rebellious against adults and authority? Why or why not?
Chapter 16. Berry Gordy, Jr. was committed to creating crossover music music that appears on more
than one record chart because it appeals to a broader audience. Identify an artist in contemporary music
that you believe also creates crossover music and explain your choice.
Chapter 17. What are your thoughts regarding the number of people emigrating from the Spanish
speaking Caribbean islands both legally and illegally to the U.S. each day? Do you think they should be
required to speak English? To what degree do you think this is influencing American popular music?
Chapter 18. What do you think of Time Magazines phrase, Welcome to America?" and their observation
that the border is disappearing due to the hundreds of thousands of individuals who legally or illegally
cross it each day? How does this effect and influence American popular music?

Chapter 19. From its humble origins as a Jamaican immigrants party music, hip-hop and rap became a
global phenomenon; in your opinion, why? As a genre, it is now almost 35 years old. Is it still relevant?
What do you see as the future of American popular music?
Chapter 20. What trends do you see emerging in todays popular music that you believe will become
stronger and more influential in the future?

Appendix 3: Cumulative Textbook Chapter Component 7 Post-Reflect Prompts

Chapter 1: What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the way people learn?
Chapter 2. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the multicultural context that
shaped the development of American music?
Chapter 3. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about in terms of musics structural
characteristics (rhythm, pitch, harmony, texture, instrumentation, and form)?
Chapter 4. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about Native American music?
Chapter 5. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about European American music?
Chapter 6. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the roots of African American
music?
Chapter 7. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about Hispanic music?
Chapter 8. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about Asian or Asian American
music?
Chapter 9. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the music genre called the
Blues?
Chapter 10. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the music genre called jazz?
Chapter 11. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the music genre called Gospel?
Chapter 12. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the music genres of Cajun and
Zydeco?
Chapter 13. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the music genre called
Country?
Chapter 14. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the Urban Folk Revival?
Chapter 15. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the music genre called Rock n
Roll?
Chapter 16. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about Motown, Soul or Funk?
Chapter 17. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about contemporary Mexican music?
Chapter 18. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about Tejano, Banda and
contemporary Mexican music?
Chapter 19. What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about hip-hop and rap?
Chapter 20.
What do you want to remember, clarify, or learn more about the contemporary music scene
(e.g., current or emerging top artists)?

Avoiding and Solving Common

Problems

Problem 1: General Problems

At the bottom of each textbook page there is a link to ask questions or report concerns or
problems. It is easiest for the textbook company to solve your problem if you report it
through this mechanism, as the reporting form contains the information they need to look
into the issue and to contact you. You will be sent a Help Ticket to your e-mail that will
provide a time-stamped receipt of your report.

Problem 2: Rhapsody Playlist Examples are only 30

seconds.
A full Rhapsody subscription comes bundled with your purchase of this textbook. If you are
getting only 30 second excerpts, then your subscription information hasnt been submitted
correctly or you entered an invalid code. Use the general report form above to resolve this
problem.

Problem 3: You believe a quiz answer was marked wrong

incorrectly.
All of the textbook quiz questions and answers have been field tested for correctness and so
it is unlikely that your answer was marked wrong incorrectly. Nevertheless, if you truly
believe there was an error, use the general report form above to notify the textbook
company. If the question is from the Read section (Questions 1-10), copy the question as
well as the material from the Read PDF that you believe supports your belief that the
question was marked wrong incorrectly. If the question is from the Apply (Lab) section
(Questions 11-20), then you may not be listening to the correct music example; make sure
you are answering the questions based on the chapter playlist listening examples.

Problem 4: A quiz date has expired.

Your instructor will have a policy regarding extending deadlines. If the quiz has expired prior
to your instructors syllabus deadline, use the general report form to notify the textbook
company.