MUSI 3322.

55A
Blues, Jazz, and Rock
Course Syllabus - Summer 2011
Course Information:
Classroom: JO 2.604 (Jonsson Performance Hall)
Tuesday and Thursday 5:30pm-10pm May 24- June 23, 2011

Instructor Contact Information:

Winston Stone, Ph.D.
Arts and Humanities: Office JO 4.620 Mail JO-31
Office Hours: By appointment.
Email: Winston.Stone@utdallas.edu
Phone: 972-883-6398

* For email communication with Instructor and/or Teaching Assistant you must
use UTD email

Course Pre-requisites:
MUSI 1306, ARTS 1301, MUSI 2322, or permission of instructor

Course Description:

This course will explore the political, social, and economic conditions that led to the
creation of American popular music. A survey of this music will begin with a study of
the development of the blues form in the Mississippi Delta, Deep Ellum, Chicago, and
New York City. We will then continue this study of the blues form as it was adapted
and emulated in Jazz during the Harlem Renaissance, and then again in Rock a few
years later in the Deep South. The course will conclude with a look at popular music
and its use of the blues form in the latter half of the 20th Century. This discussion
will include a critical review of recordings and readings from the texts.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes:

 Students will be able to identify artistic movements and terminology, as well

as selected works and/or artists.
 Students will be able to identify the relationship between artistic movements
and culture.

 Students will use music-related vocabulary in written responses and

evaluations of recordings, readings, and performances.
 Students will complete a presentation project relating significant works,
movements and/or artists to contemporary and historical life and culture,
and/or other artists and artistic movements.

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Required Textbooks and Materials:

The Foundations of Rock: From "Blue Suede Shoes" to "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"
Walter Everett
# Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 9, 2008)(or 2009)
# ISBN-10: 0195310241
# ISBN-13: 978-0195310245

Lift Every Voice: The History of African American Music (African American
History (Rowman & Littlefield)) (Paperback)
Burton W. Peretti
# Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc. (July 16, 2009)
# ISBN-10: 0742558126
# ISBN-13: 978-0742558120• Ten (10) 3x5 index cards for quizzes

• Notebook
• (10) 3x5 cards
• Class Readings and other materials posted on eLearning

Laptops and cell phones: In order to promote academic interaction without distraction, our class
is a computer-free and cell phone-free zone. If your electronic device interrupts the class,
you will be asked to leave and will be considered absent.

MUSI 3322.55A
Blues, Jazz, and Rock
Assignments & Academic Calendar*:
***Reading assignments are to be completed by class time on the “Due Dates” below***

Week 1: Tue: Introduction, Entry Exam, Syllabus, basic theory, Blues examples May 24

Thu: TFOR Chapters II, VI- Harmony and Form May 26

Fundamentals of musical elements
TFOR Chapter VIII, IX- Chords and Harmonic function
Jazz and Rock examples

Week 2: Tue: LEV Chapter I- West African music and slavery May 31
Thu: LEV Chapter III- Ragtime and Blues
Chapter II- Work songs, Gospel, Jubilee June 2

Week 3: Tue: LEV Chapter IV-Harlem Renaissance June 7

LEV Chapters V and VI Emergence of Jazz
Thu: TFOR Chapters I and III Early Rock Instrumentation June 9

Week 4: Tue: TFOR Chapters IV and V 50s and 60s Rock June 14
Chapter VII- Gospel & Motown *** Paper #1 Due***
Thu: TFOR Chapter XII, XIV Also: LEV Chapter VII June 16

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Week 5: Tue: ***Exam #1*** Final Presentations June 21

Thu: Final Presentations*** All Papers Due*** June 23

*This schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE: The Final Project Presentation and Paper will serve as the
final exam.

GRADING:

Your grade will be determined from the following:

Five (5) Quizzes 25 points (5 points for each quiz)
Paper #1 25 points
Exam #1 25 points
Final Project Presentation 15 points
Final Project Presentation Paper 10 points
TOTAL 100 Points

Grading Policy:
98 – 100 A+
93 – 97 A
90 – 92 A-
88 – 89 B+
83 – 87 B
80 – 82 B-
78 – 79 C+
73 – 77 C
70 – 72 C-
68 – 69 D+
63 – 67 D
60 – 62 D-
Below 60 F

***Quizzes***
There will be seven (7) unannounced quizzes, each worth five (5) points. You may not make up
a quiz. These quizzes will be based on the reading assignments and given in class during various
times during the semester. Of these, only the top five quiz scores will count towards your final
grade (5x5=25). At times, your quiz may also be a record of your Attendance; if you arrive late
or leave early and miss the quiz, you may be marked absent that day.

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***Paper***
There will be an 8-10 page paper which will consider a specific artist. By way of a clear thesis
statement this paper must include a discussion of the cultural contribution this artist has made to
American Popular Music by examples of specific works and should include any political, social,
historical, or economic conditions that played a part in the creation of works by this artist.

***Exam***
The exam will consist of 50 multiple choice questions based on the readings, lectures, and class
discussions.

***Final Project***
The Final Project will be an in-class presentation. This presentation will be a close look at a
specific work of music in the genre of blues, jazz, or rock. The presentation should be
approximately 10-15 minutes. This work must be an example of, or an extension of, the 12
measure form discussed in class and studied in the readings. This close look should include, but
not limited to, a discussion of basic music elements used such as rhythm, melody, tempo,
dynamics, instrumentation, harmony, interpretation, form variations, and if applicable, lyrics and
improvisational techniques. The specific work of music can also include an analysis that
compares and contrasts the elements of this work with that of another appropriate work used as a
model. The accompanying 5-7 page paper should be a thorough analysis of these elements and
include any conclusions discerned from your research.

Course & Instructor Policies:

1. Attendance is required for this course.

2. Excessive/Negligible Absences: Your final grade will reflect excessive absences, lateness, as
well as exemplary attendance. More than three absences will be considered excessive. All
excused absences must be documented. Bring documentation to your TA before the start of the
class session following your absence. Absences from UT Dallas approved events must be
documented in advance in writing by your faculty member of record.

3. Email: All official student email will be sent to the students UT Dallas email address. UT
Dallas provides each student with a free email account. The Department of Information
Resources at UT Dallas provides a method for students to forward email from other accounts to
their UT Dallas address. Students may go to the following URL to establish or maintain their
official UT Dallas computer account https://netid.utdallas.edu/

4. Academic integrity is an expectation in this course. For official UTD policies, go to:
http://www.utd.edu/judicialaffairs/ and read policy below.

5. We work closely with Student AccessAbility. If you have a disability, let me know now so
that I can accommodate you.

6. Incompletes in this course are strongly discouraged. Please note the drop dates below
carefully. Incompletes can only be granted when 70% of the class work has been completed.

7. There will be no make-up exams without prior consent except as noted.

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8. Laptops and cell phones: In order to promote academic interaction without distraction, our
class is a computer-free and cell phone-free zone. If your electronic device interrupts the
class, you will be asked to leave and will be considered absent.

Technical Support:
If you experience any problems with your UTD account, email account, elearning you may send
an email to: assist@utdallas.edu or call the UTD Computer Helpdesk at 972-883-2911.

Student Conduct & Discipline:

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations
for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and
each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern
student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained
in the UTD printed publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each
academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and
Regulations, Series 50000, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, and in Title V,
Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.
Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391) and online at
http://www.utdallas.edu/judicialaffairs/UTDJudicialAffairs-HOPV.html

Laptops and cell phones: In order to promote academic interaction without distraction, our
class is a computer-free and cell phone-free zone. If your electronic device interrupts the
class, you will be asked to leave and will be considered absent.

UT Dallas Syllabus Policies and Procedures

http://coursebook.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies/

Decorum, Classroom Citizenship, and Extra-curricular matters: All written work and class discussion
for this course must employ gender-neutral, nonsexist language, and rhetorical constructions. Such practice
is part of a classroom environment according full respect and opportunity to all participants by all others.

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.