MUSIC OF AMERICAN CULTURES

A comparative and integrative study of American music, this course explores the music traditions and styles of Native Americans, European Americans, African Americans, Chicano/Latino Americans, and Asian Americans, from their historical roots to the present. It includes a wide variety of genres, such as folk, spirituals, gospel, soul, blues, jazz, Cajun, zydeco, salsa, Tejano, hip-hop, and rap. Students will look at these musical traditions from a technical and a cultural perspective as they develop listening and descriptive skills. The honors course offers an enriched and challenging experience for the more talented student, including deeper content, more rigorous grading, and more demanding and creative assignments requiring application of higher-level thinking, writing, and communication skills.