MUSC 305: Music History I: Introduction & Assignment

Not every source is useful for every type of information! For example, on the Find Articles tab, you'll see both Music Index and Grove Music Online; both are databases. But Grove Music will serve you better for background information about composers, musical styles, etc., while Music Index provides more analytical peer reviewed content. Both serve a purpose that might be useful to you, but only if you utilize them in the correct context.

ProQuest RefWorks is a citation management tool. It helps you keep track of all your sources. There are many different ones out there, but RefWorks is the only one supported by SU Libraries.

You can check out this guide for help or ask a librarian!

Presentation Two

Presentation (12 - 15 minutes)

• You will be assigned a topic from the Baroque era with corresponding music
• Present the topic as a lesson, providing the necessary terms and definitions, as well as historical and biographical information.
• Share examples of corresponding music related to your topic from the anthology. Pinpoint three key elements of the work through score study. 
• Present the music in full or excerpted with the score as a visual, utilizing repeated listening as necessary. Up to 3/5ths of your presentation time may be dedicated to listening.
• Organize your materials with or without a visual aid (Powerpoint, etc).
• Provide necessary citations, acknowledgements over the course of your presentation (MLA).

Resource Requirements:

• 2 books
• 3 scholarly articles

Timeline: 

Week 11: Selection assigned

Week 12: Library day and Literature Review due

Week 14: Prepare outline of your presentation, meet with instructor

End of Week 14: Submit rough draft of presentation

Weeks 14/15/16: Presentations, submit final draft day before presentation

Presentation One

Presentation (8 - 10 minutes) ---- 10 Hours ---- Mid-term

• You will be assigned a selection from the Voyager record from outside the Western and popular traditions

• Research, analyze the music and provide context you deem necessary (Who, What, Where, When, How, Why) to more greatly appreciate the piece.

• Prepare some form of graphical representation of the work to the best of your ability. This may range from traditional musical notation to something more abstract.

• Present the music in full or excerpted, utilizing repeated listening as necessary. Up to 3/5ths of your presentation time may be dedicated to listening.

• Organize your materials with or without a visual aid (Powerpoint, etc).

• Provide necessary citations, acknowledgements over the course of your presentation (MLA).

Timeline: 

End of Week 1: Selection assigned

End of Week 3: Rough draft of transcription due

Week 4: Prepare outline of your presentation, meet with instructor

Note: If unprepared, points deducted and meeting rescheduled

End of Week 4: Submit rough draft of presentation, final draft of transcription

Weeks 5/6: Presentations, submit final draft day before presentation

Research questions:

• Where is this music from?

• Who are the people that made this music?

• In what context is this music being made? 

• In what kind of environment is this music being made?

• What is/are the instrument(s) being used?

• What are the qualities of the instrument(s)?

• What are some qualities of this kind of music?

• How is music viewed by the people of this society?