College of Alameda : INTRODUCTION TO WORLD MUSIC
MUSIC 9 ONLINE (A1-30519) 3 UNITS
Summer 2016 : June 20th to July 28th
Instructor: David H. Sparks, M.M. (Ethnomusicology), M.L.I.S.
Contact & Office Hours: <>
I will check email and forums daily (M-F only)
If you have any questions, or are having any difficulties with access, technology, understanding assignments, or turning in and/or completing assignments or the course please don't hesitate to contact me!
Biography: I teach both music and library research at the College of Alameda. I have a Masters of Music in Musicology/Ethnomusicology from the University of Texas @ Austin and a Masters of Information and Library Science from San Jose State. Focus of studies: African music in the American Diaspora, Music and Gender, Music and Dance/Gesture, Music and the Sacred and the organization of knowledge. Besides teaching music and humanities in community college, I have published scholarly articles on various topics in Ethnomusicology and participated in numerous scholarly conferences and panel discussions.
Content and Objectives of the Course: To explore the rich history and diversity of the musics of the world’s peoples. We will take an ethnomusicology (anthropological) approach that studies music as an expression of people and their cultures. In doing so we will not only consider the music, musicians, and performance of global music traditions, but also the personal, social, political, aesthetic, and sacred dimensions of music. We will cover a variety of styles (including popular, folk, and traditional music) to reach an understanding and appreciation of world music and its performance. This course does not require any previous musical training or special knowledge of music. There are no prerequisites for this course.
Learning Outcomes: This course is transferable to four year colleges for all majors and may be used for Area 3 (Humanities) Requirements. You will need to demonstrate proficiency in general reading, writing, and musical listening and analysis. At the end of this course you will be able to:
· demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of world, especially non-western, music and its performance;
· define and describe the various forms and terminology of music (elements, styles, practices and composition)
· differentiate and categorize different styles of music and the cultures from which they are derived;
· identify the sounds produced by a variety of instruments considered indigenous to particular cultures.
· Required Text: What in the World is Music? by Alison E. Arnold and Jonathan C. Kramer. Routledge, 2016. Enhanced E-Book & Print Book Pack. ISBN: 9781138790254. Available at the COA bookstore and at the Library’s Reserve Textbooks. If you order online be sure to get this package edition with online access.
· E-book Edition: available with mp3 files from the Taylor eBookstore at http://www.tandfebooks.com/
Required Listening: Online music examples and videos provided online in the enhanced e-book text are essential to passing this course. Listen to the assigned chapter examples outlined on the Moodle class page. Other internet-based required listening will be included in each lesson within the Moodle course pages.
Online Required Course Materials: See complete weekly schedule, assignment details, readings, exams, forums, and due dates are found online at the Moodle online course page @ eperalta.org/summer2016 . Lessons will be available on the Monday of each week, but the first two weeks will be available now. All assignments will be due at 11:55pm on each Sunday night.
Once you’ve officially enrolled in the class using Passport, you must log-in into Moodle using your Passport username/student number to see the course materials. See instructions below. You are responsible for all lesson materials presented in the lessons.
The summer version of Music 9 is a condensed course. This means that you are expected to complete in one week’s assignments, what would take approximately three weeks during a regular semester. Be prepared to dig into and enjoy new musical experiences. All assignments must be turned in by the due dates. Late papers will be graded down one letter grade per week overdue.
There are FIVE basic elements to each online lesson for this course:
1. READING/LISTENING: Textbook readings and listening examples; other online reading including encyclopedic websites, and additional listening examples and materials. There is a major online resource provided by your textbook publisher. Use link in the Important Resources section.
2. FORUMS: Each lesson will have a FORUM to keep in touch with me
and other students and counts as class participation. This is your online classroom for discussion! You will be asked to comment on specific ideas and topics.
3. EXAMS: There will be one midterm exams and one final exam over any and all materials assigned.
4. FAMOUS ETHNOMUSICOLOGISTS – Bios of scholars and performers
5. PROFESSION/FUN ACTIVITIES: Learn about Ethnomusicology as well as learn new musical feats and ideas related to the lesson (Yes, you might be tested on these!)
Accessing the Course Online:
· Login to the course (in Moodle): http://eperalta.edu/summer 2016
· Login Password = Username = PASSPORT User ID (lowercase if letters)
o Password = date of birth in the format – yyyymmdd
· THE DEFAULT EMAIL ADDRESS IN PASSPORT AND MOODLE IS YOUR PERALTA STUDENT EMAIL.
o If you wish to use a different email in Moodle: You must redirect your Peralta student email to a personal email account, you may do so, but remember that Peralta always sends emails only to your Peralta email account.
o See instructions for redirecting your Peralta student email to a personal email account at http://web.peralta.edu/de/.
· After logging in, you will see your courses listed on the right side of the Moodle homepage under My Courses.
· Click on the link for this class, Music 9 – (A1-30081) Introduction to World Music (Online). You are now logged into the course.
· The first time you enter the course, you will be asked to agree with the Site Policy. Read the policy and click on yes.
· Also, the first time you enter the course, you will need to update your Profile for the class. Click on Profile on the left side of the course screen, click on the Edit Profile tab. Update as needed the required information (only the fields with an * are required). Also, you may want to add a photo of yourself to your profile. The photo will appear next to your posts in the Forums. When done, click on the Update Profile button at the bottom of the screen.
Technology, Software & Email Needed to Successfully Complete Course & communicate with the Instructor. If you need technical support please contact
You will need:
1. Latest version of Explorer, but Firefox often is better
2. Latest version of Adobe Flash Player for the YouTube videos
3. For all written assignments use either Microsoft Word (.doc or .rtf rich text), DO NOT USE .DOCX!
4. Access to and use of Peralta Student email is required; no personal email. If necessary please forward from student email to your personal or another email you will check daily as directed above.
5. The Message tab is at the left-hand side of the page. Check Message each time you log-in. This is how I will communicate one-on-one with students. It is your responsibility to regularly check for messages from the instructor.
Forum Postings
Forum postings are designed as your online classroom and to get you thinking about and discussing with other students about issues related to the class materials and readings. The Forums will count heavily towards your class participation, so treat these posts seriously. The instructor and all of the enrolled students for the class are able to view each others’ postings in the Forums.
In order to receive full credit, your post must
Ø address the questions posed by the instructor in such a way as to demonstrate critical thinking,
Ø make in-depth connections to the readings, music examples, and videos,
Ø present unique ideas
Ø and be posted well in advance of the deadline in order to give other students a chance to reply to your post.
You must also complete all of the topics and tasks required of you as stated within the instructor’s posting for each topic.
Forum postings (as with all other work) are due by 11:55pm on the due date. Late posts will not be graded. Don’t wait until the night of the deadline for your first post. Remember timeliness is considered as part of your grade (you must post early enough that other students have a chance to reply to your post). Remember to be polite and fair while posting. These comments should not be critical or negative, but provide either detailed agreement or disagreements. FLAMING (extreme, disrespectful, not useful, or critical remarks will not be tolerated. The Forum is to discuss the music, not other students or myself !
To Access the Forum:
1. Login to the course via Moodle
2. Click on the assigned forum link on the main course webpage
3. Read the Instructor’s posted message for that topic and then post a reply via the reply link at the end of the message, You should also reply to other students’ posts to help create a real class dialogue. As other students reply, their messages will appear in a list under the instructor’s post.
4. To Reply to a Student’s Post: click on their post title, read their post, click on the reply button, type your reply in the message box and click on the Post to Forum button.
5. After the forum has been graded, you may view your grade by clicking on Grades (on the main course webpage, left side of screen).
Exams
Exams cover the readings and listening examples and are accessed through Moodle. A handout with detailed instructions will be available on the Moodle class page along with library research handouts. Discuss any concerns with me at anytime.
· Exams are due by 11:55 pm on the due date. Late exams will NOT be accepted.
· Exams are timed (60 minute time limit) with only 2 attempts allowed. You will not be able to change answers or any part of the exam after the 60 mins. limit.
· You will have a 10 min. “grace” period to submit the exam. This is only if you have technical issues or network disruptions when submitting the exam. Exams are comprehensive and might cover ANY materials recently assigned, analyzed, or discussed.
To Access the Exams:
1. Click on the assigned exam from the main course webpage
2. Click on Attempt Quiz or Exam Now
3. Click on Ok and take the exam
4. Note that once you begin the exam the timer starts
5. To submit the exam, click on the Submit All and Finish button at the bottom of the screen. Click on Ok and the click on Continue. There is a 10 min. grace period to submit.
6. Exam grades will be released after the exam deadline has passed. Click on grades (on the main course web page to see your score). The exam will not be graded until after the deadline. Once the exam has been graded, you can review the exam (with the correct answers given) by clicking on the exam from the main course webpage and then clicking on your score (in the summary table).
SUMMARY OF REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS:
Final Research Paper (minimum of 5 pages. not including the references page) Choose a world music tradition we have studied and in which you are interested. You must describe your interest in this music and discuss this music in the context of it’s musical elements, cultural origins, and social function.
è You must get your topic/references approved and turn in your topic choice form to the instructor by July 10th no later than 11:55 pm (10 pts.).
è The final version of your research paper is due on July 28th by 11:55 pm (20 pts.).
Listening: Familiarity with all audio and visual examples used in the text or provided in each lesson is expected, and you might be asked to identify an example, or similar performance on a exam. Please listen to all examples in each chapter, paying attention to the explanations provided in the text.
Grading
Grades and instructor’s comments for each assignment can be viewed by clicking on the Feedback column on the Grades page.
The exams will not be graded until midweek after the deadline. Once the exam has been graded, you can review the exam (with the correct answers given) by clicking on the exam from the main course webpage and then clicking on your score (in the summary table).
Grading System: Your grade will be determined as follows:
Midterm Exam 20% / points
Final Exam 25%/ points
Forums (5) 25% / points
Research Paper Topic Choice 10% / points
& Summary Form
Research Paper 20% / points
100% / points
Grading scale: A=91-100; B=81-90; C=71-80; D=61-70; F=60 and below
Attendance: Attendance and participation in the class will be determined by posting weekly in Forum discussions (25% of your grade) and turning in all assignments on time. I will also monitor your log-in times to the class page.
Due dates & Tardiness: All homework (exams, assignments, forum discussion, etc.) are due by the posted date. Late work is not generally accepted. If you have emergency or extraordinary circumstances an official written excuse from an appropriate official (doctor) must be sent to the instructor via email. For Forums, your grade will be deducted one letter grade for each week late. Exams taken late must be negotiated with the instructor and are subject to lowered grades.
WITHDRAWAL / DROPPING: I DO NOT DROP STUDENT: THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! To drop the course send me a message as to your intention and then do the following:
· Contact a counselor on campus or at e-Counseling services at http://alameda.peralta.edu/counseling/e-counseling/ before June 26th to withdraw and not receive a “W”.
· Last day to withdraw and not FAIL THE COURSE is July 19th.
· See the Academic Calendar on the District webpage for more information.
at: http://web.peralta.edu/admissions/category/academic-calendar/
Incompletes: Incompletes will not usually be given for the Summer semester. Contact me in the case of a medical emergency. A doctor’s note will be required.
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