ECTS course syllabi
Institute of English Studies
Module
ECTS code
1.2.5-EC
American Music and Musicians
Hours
30
ECTS points Final requirement
2
Credit/grade
Year
II, III
Semester
3-6
Form
Elective
Language Prerequisites
English
None
Provider
University of Opole / Faculty of Philology / Institute of English Studies
Studies
Subject
English Philology
Degree
BA
Organization
Full time
Profile
Academic
Major/Specialty
Courses in the module
Course name
ECTS code Form
Hours
ECTS points
Instructor
American Music and Musicians
1.2.5-AMM class
30
2
dr T. Lewandowski
Forms of evaluation of effects (see below for types of effects)
Oral exam (5,7,8,9,12)
Active participation in discussions (1,4,6,7,8,11)
Preparing and presenting the presentation (5,7,8,9,12)
Methods of instruction/ forms of classroom activity
ECTS points in relation to student’s duties
Lessons in a didactic room: individual and group work,
discussion, lectures, presentations
1 ECTS – 30 hours in class
1 ECTS – 20 hours- preparing for classes, studying for the final
test, 10 office hours
Course description
This course focuses on the social, cultural, and artistic significance American composers and musicians. American Music and
Musicians will look at musical movements along with their representative musicians, focusing on the period of 1920 to 1970,
though some earlier music will be featured. This will include Negro spirituals, jazz, the blues, swing, the American musical, the
big band era, rock n' roll, and even disco. Specific artists will be as diverse as Elvis, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Liberace,
Glenn Miller, George Gershwin, Judy Garland, Bessie Smith, and Paul Robeson to name just a few. This course will expose you
to musical forms and musicians you would otherwise not encounter. In particular students will be introduced to:
- New musical forms
- New musical vocabulary
- New musical artists
Course objectives
In conjunction, the lectures and documentaries expand the students’ knowledge of American music and the cultural forces
behind it. The students will leave the course with a much greater understanding of American music and culture. In particular,
the students will understand:
- The historical circumstances that have contributed to black music
- Why rock n’ roll was so controversial
- Why disco was so popular and why it is now reviled
- How forms such as jazz, swing, and the musical developed
- The characteristic of American musical forms
Course content
1. Introduction
2. Negro spirituals and Paul Robeson
3. The Blues and Bessie Smith
4. Jazz and Billie Holiday
5. The American Musical and Rogers and Hammerstein
6. The Big Band Era and Glenn Miller
7. Judy Garland and the MGM musicals
8. George Gershwin and American Classical Music
9. Elvis and Rock n’ Roll
10. Liberace and Popular Entertainers
11. Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack
12. Caruso, Lanza, and the Italian/American Operatic Tradition
13. Disco/Madonna and American Pop
14. Oral exam
15. Oral exams / Indexes
Reading list
A. obligatory reading (to get a credit):
A.1. used in class
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_roll
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Holiday
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sinatra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberace
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blues
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_Spirituals
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Robeson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Garland
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gershwin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oscar_and_Hammerstein
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Miller
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Smith
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Caruso
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Lanza
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_(entertainer)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco
B. supplementary reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Pack
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_de_Reszke
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Effects
Knowledge
Student knows:
1. How to discuss current American cultural and musical trends (K_W12)
2. How to interrogate critical texts and music (K_W12)
Skills
Student can:
5.do a presentation on a topic connected to American music (K_U10)
6. become more familiar with the English lexicon regarding current events and the topic of music (K_U13)
7. better communicate in English in speaking during class discussions (K_U05, K_U09, K_U13)
Social competences
Student:
8.is confident in speaking and presenting in English (K_K02)
9.is organized and conscientious in carrying out individual and group work (K_K05)
10.is confident in understanding listening to American English (K_K02)
11.undersatnds American cultural forms (music), beliefs, and practices (K_K14)
Contact
dr Tadeusz Lewandowski, tlewandowski@uni.opole.pl