GENERAL MUSIC
We will be studying musical elements including history, musical periods and
styles, theory, notation,
orchestrations, cultural differences, composers, arrangers, directors,
choreographers, producers,
actors-actresses, musicians, etc. incorporating musicals in the teaching process.
Week of 8/18/08
Lessons on instrumental classifications, musical terms, musical styles,
musical settings and characters.
Resources: The Music Man
You can contact us at 601/924-0707
Week of 8/25/08
Lessons on rhythmic and choreographic themes.
Cultural differences and their influences on music.
Resources: West Side Story
Week of 9/2/08
We will be studying the history of the movie musical using the MGM
Studio as the example. From the advent of adding sound to motion
pictures to the development of the studio system for musical production.
Resources: That's Entertainment
Week of 9/8/08
Lessons on the studio system. Historical Movie Musical timelines
and personnel. Continuation of last week using MGM Studios as the
through-line.
Resources: Singin' In The Rain
Week of 11/10/08
Cultural differences between Eastern and Western Music and the
arts in musical and social climates.
Resources: Dr. Zhivago
Week of 9/15/08
Lessons on orchestral underscoring. Use of different classes of
instruments for different effects.
Lessons on period instruments in the civil war era.
Resources: Gettysburg
Week of 9/22/08
Lessons on Eastern and Western Civilization music.
Compare and contrast instrumentation, style, etc.etc.etc.
Resources: The King And I
Week of 9/29/08
Lessons on Musical Periods. Basic time signatures and
rhythms values.
Resources: Amadeus
Week of 10/6/08
Continued lessons on Musical Periods.
Review for 9-weeks exams.
Exams on Wed., Thurs., and Fri.
Resources: Previous tests
Week of 10/13/08
The Classical Period. The Salzburg and Vienna influence.
Resources: Amadeus, Copying Beethoven, The Sound of Music
Week of 10/21/08
Rhythm: Its uses, notation, and evolution through various musical periods.
Resources: Percussion instruments, various recordings, and printed musical
notation.
Week of 10/28/08
Introduction of modern musical theater. Musical style development
and choreographic innovations.
Resources: Oklahoma
Week of 11/3/08
Compare and contrast use of musical and choreographic styles in
two works of the same time period setting done in different eras.
Resources: Oklahoma and Newsies
Week of 11/9/08
Studies on musical notation with emphasis on the general make-up of the grand
staff and how varying pitches are referenced on it.
Resources: Music manuscript, solfege, and "The Sound of Music"
Week of 11/18/08
Studies on Russian and American music and culture in the first half
of the 20th century.
Resources: Dr. Zhivago and It's A Wonderful Life
Week of 12/1/08, 12/8/08
Study of holiday music and its impact on modern culture.
Sacred,traditional, orchestral, pop, and broadway styles of literature.
Resources: Handel's Messiah, Holiday Inn, Goin' My Way,
Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Nightmare Before Christmas
First Semester review and exams
SECOND SEMESTER
Weeks of 1/6/09, 1/12/09, 1/20/09, 1/26/09
Study of the history of jazz from its African roots in New Orleans
through its move up the Mississippi to Chicago and its evolution to
the big band swing in urban areas.
Study of 20th Century Composers and the evolution from pre-broadway
vaudeville to the grand scale stage and movie musicals of the late
20th Century.
Resources: PBS History of Jazz Documentary, Till The Clouds Roll By
(Jerome Kern Biography), The Glenn Miller Story, The Benny
Goodman Story, Guys and Dolls
Weeks of 2/2/09, 2/9/09, 2/16/09, 2/23/09, and 3/2/09
Study of modern jazz and fusion including the decline of the popularity of
jazz to the masses.
Study of black musical heritage in America and the integration of musicians,
actors, dancers, and musical styles into mainstream culture.
Resources: A Great Day In Harlem, The Terminal, Stormy Weather, Carmen Jones,
and many musical references.
Week of 3/9/09
3rd nine weeks exams.
Weeks of 3/23/09, 3/30/09, 4/6/09, 4/13/09, 4/27/09
Study of history of rock and roll and pop music in the late 20th century.
Continuation of integration of musical styles into mainstream culture.
References: Elvis - A Biography, Viva Las Vegas, Across the Universe,
Hello Dolly, Coal Miner's Daughter, Buddy Holly Story, La Bamba, and musical
references.
