GISDepartment of Global and Interdisciplinary Studies

What is the relationship between music and culture? How does culture shape music? How does music express culture? In this course we will investigate these and other questions surrounding music as a culturally defined phenomenon. Each week students will participate in directed listening or music-making activities related to a specific topic, drawing on examples from various musical traditions and practices from around the world.

Students will be able to:
(1) develop vocabulary to talk about music;
(2) develop an awareness and appreciation of various musics of the world;
(3) develop an ability to recognize the role of music in their own cultural identity;
(4) think critically about the complex cultural workings within a piece of music or musical practice.

Will be able to gain “DP 1”, “DP 2”, “DP 3”, and “DP 4”.

英語 / English

The course is taught through a combination of lectures, documentary-viewings and group discussions. The course will facilitate self-learning through required weekly reading and listening assignments that will be assessed through short writing assignments, as well as collective learning through a final group presentation. Feedback will be given collectively in class or through the Learning Management System (Google Classroom), depending on the nature of the assignment.

あり / Yes

なし / No

授業形態/methods of teaching：対面/face to face

※各回の授業形態は予定です。教員の指示に従ってください。

1[オンライン/online]：Introduction: Music and Culture / Music and Identity

Overview of the course and requirements;
selection evaluation (questionnaire)

2[対面/face to face]：Basic Concepts of Music 1

Approaches to understanding melody, modes and scales.

3[対面/face to face]：Basic Concepts of Music 2

Ways of thinking about rhythm, timbre, texture

4[対面/face to face]：Music and Ritual 1

The role of music in religious rituals and traditions; Music as an expression of spirituality

5[対面/face to face]：Music and Ritual 2

Music and modern-day rituals; reflections on personal uses or experiences of music as ritual.

6[対面/face to face]：Music and Ethnicity 1

Expression of ethnic identity through traditional forms of music-making

7[対面/face to face]：Music and Ethnicity 2

Complex expressions of ethnic identity or national culture through contemporary forms of music-making

8[対面/face to face]：Music and Gender 1

Traditional gender roles for music-making; Culturally defined roles of 'masculine' and 'feminine' as expressed in music.

9[対面/face to face]：Music and Gender 2

Counter-cultures, subcultures and culture-clashes involving music and gender.

10[対面/face to face]：Music and Globalization 1

Impacts of global trade and human migration on music; musical diasporas.

11[対面/face to face]：Music and Globalization 2

Music as an expression of local traditions and community vs. music as a global commodity.

12[対面/face to face]：Group A Presentations

Final presentations by students in Group A with follow-up discussions

13[対面/face to face]：Group B Presentations

Final presentations by students in Group B with follow-up discussions

14[対面/face to face]：Final Review and Wrap-Up

review of topics and materials

Students are expected to read assigned texts, listen to assigned recordings, and complete assigned writing tasks. Students are also expected to find music examples to share with the class. Preparatory study and review time for this class are 2 hours each.

Required weekly reading and listening assignments will be made available by the instructor.

Bakan, M. (2007). World Music: Traditions and Transformations, Second Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Cornelius, S. and M. Natvig. (2018). Music: A Social Experience, Second Edition. New York: Routledge.
Milioto Matsue, J. (2016). Music in Contemporary Japan. New York: Routledge.

Class Discussion and Activities: 20%,
Questionnaires for Weekly Reading and Reflection: 30%,
Short Essay Assignments: 30%,
Group Presentation: 20%

- More time added for learning and review of technical terminology;
- Number of topics decreased to allow for deeper focus;
- More opportunities added for practical music-making.

Some in-class activities may require the use of computers, tablets or smartphones for the creation and/or playback of sound.

Class materials and assignments can be accessed through Google Classroom.

None.