Ideas About Music: Bruno Nettl

COURSE PLANS

PMW 374 Survey of World Music

Cincinnati Christian University, Spring 2012

T 6:00-7:50 room 271, 2 credit hours

Dr. Ken E. Read (280 PH, 244-8195, hm. 471-1131)

Catalog Description and Rationale for the Course

“A course in practical ethnomusicology, the study of the ethnic music of cultures around the world. Introduces principles for understanding another culture’s music and surveys some representative music of various people groups. Emphasizes individual research and practical experience. Prerequisites: PMW 170, 210 recommended.”

Jesus sent his disciples out to make disciples of every people group (Matt. 28:19). On the day of Pentecost, those who heard the apostles were amazed because they each heard them speaking in their own language (Acts 2:7). The apostle Paul said that he wanted to become all things to all men that he might by all means win some (1 Cor. 9:22). If we are to reach all people for Christ, we must learn to speak in their heart language, including music. This course is intended to present a survey of styles of music, as well as tools for understanding and proliferating a given culture’s indigenous music for Christ.

Instructional Objectives

The student who satisfactorily completes this course should be able to:

·  Aurally identify musical style of general people groups and of instruments.

·  Understand how to approach the new sounds of a different culture.

·  Distinguish between amoral form and moral content in a given culture.

·  Demonstrate familiarity with at least two musics of a non-Western people group.

·  Encourage indigenous Christian music, and to know where it is appropriate.

Outline of Subject Content

The course will be divided into two parts:

·  PART 1: Survey and Analysis (Introduction to general musical styles, instruments and people groups. Distinguishing between culture and content, how to learn and understand a new music system). Part 1 will conclude with an exam.

·  PART 2: Application and Strategy (Research and presentations from the class on their chosen music systems. At least three different musical systems will be explored by each student, both culminating in a written report and a brief oral presentation. The first report is on an American music, the next two on a foreign system). Part 2 concludes with a group plan for a strategy to encourage indigenous hymnody, including group participation in at least one style of music.

Major Requirements and Assignments

Each student will be expected to do the following:

·  Read the class materials for each session and be prepared for discussions.

·  Research and do three papers and oral presentations on the music of different people groups, completed by a strategy for encouraging indigenous hymn writing among them. Papers must be neat and typed, and in proper academic format, following the general outline provided.

·  Discover and learn from most of these sources for music: A movie (such as The Songcatcher), listening to CDs, MP3s or attending a concert, learning to play an instrument, or finding internet websites. Minimum requirement of 10 resources cited for each of the three presentations.

·  NOTE: Because the course meets only two hours per week, with relatively light homework, enculturation is up to the student. Immerse yourself in another culture for at least 15 hours during the semester, using at least one of the above sources.

·  Interview a musician of a different culture (a national or a missionary), with questions such as these: “What instrument would be appropriate for church use? For evangelism?” Then ask a series of questions of your own making about music, asking where styles would be used, what kind of music is spiritually powerful, what kind has neutral meaning, what kinds of songs have been evangelistically effective, etc. Provide an evaluation of what you think the effectiveness of music has been for that people group in reaching them for the Lord.

·  Extra credit--Compose as authentic a hymn as possible, according to your understanding and skill in that musical system.

Evaluation Procedures

This course is being taught in a seminar format, meeting once a week. Because of the importance of the in-class presentations, class attendance and participation are an especially important part (20%) of the student's grade. Attendance is expected at every class session, and the student is responsible for any material covered in classes missed. You will lose 1% of this portion of your grade for every hour missed. Upon the 3rd absence, I am required to drop the student from the course with a failing grade. Report all absences to the Academic Support Office, as required by the college. Absences being excused will affect reinstatement to the class, but will not affect the attendance and participation portion of the grade significantly. Three tardies equals one absence.

Approximate proportions of grade are as follows:

·  Attendance and participation 20%

·  Mid-Term Exam (survey) 20%

·  Analysis papers and presentations (10% each) 30%

·  Enculturation experiences 10%

·  Quizzes on textbook chapters 10%

·  Interview of a missionary 10%

If a student chooses to write a hymn text and tune, he or she must:

1. Show the professor his progress before the final product is turned in.

2. Meet the standards set in consultation with the professor.

3. Turn in the final product by May 1.

Completion of a satisfactory hymn text and tune could add as much as 8 points to the final grade.

Students who require academic accommodations due to any documented physical, psychological or learning disability should request assistance from the Academic Support Director within the first two weeks of class. The Academic Support Office is located in the Lower Level of the Worship and Ministry Building (room 153). You may also contact the office by phone (244-8420).

Required Texts:

·  Course Packet, available online.

·  Soundscapes, 2nd Ed, with CDs. 2006: W.W. Norton.

Class Sessions Plan:

Jan 17 6:00-7:50pm DEVELOPMENT OF MUSIC(S)

Jan 24 “ UNDERSTANDING CULTURES (handouts)

Jan 31 “ GUEST SPEAKER: DR. LENNARD MOSES (intro)

Feb 7 “ ORGANOLOGY (quiz) (ch1)

Feb 14 “ WESTERN MUSICS (ch2)

Feb 21 “ MUSIC AND MEANING (ch3)

Feb 28 6:00-6:50pm MUSIC AND MIGRATION (ch4)

Mar 6 SPRING BREAK

Mar 13 6:00-6:50pm MUSIC AND MEMORY (ch5)

Mar 20 6:00-6:50pm MUSIC AND MOBILITY (ch6)

Mar 27 6:00-6:50pm MUSIC AND DANCE (ch7)

Apr 3 6:00-6:50pm MUSIC AND WORSHIP (ch8)

Apr 10 6:00-7:50pm MUSIC AND POLITICS (ch9)

Apr 17 6:00-7:50pm GUEST SPEAKER: DR. MOSES (on Worship)

Apr 24 ? Concert Choir

May 1 6:00-6:50pm MUSIC AND IDENTITY (ch10)

May 8 6:00-7:50pm FINAL EXAM