Sponsors:
North Seattle Community College
Department of Arts, Humanities, and Adult Basic Education
Distance Learning

South Seattle Community College
Distance Learning

Place: Fully on line, with two exceptions:

1. Special visits to the North Seattle Community College Library and to the South Seattle Community College Library to view and listen to the required course materials on reserve. Students may elect to purchase, rent, or borrow these materials from alternate sources since they cannot be checked out.

2. Two on-campus exams (mid-term and final).

Instructor: Art Woodbury, Professor of Music

Resources: Computer with a sound card and media player installed, Internet access, and e-mail capability.

Course Description: This online course is designed to give the general student an overview of musical developments (all types of music) in the United States from Colonial times to the present. 5 credits.

Prerequisites: College-level students. No requirement to read music. Students will need English language skills and should be qualified to take English 101.

Grading: Weekly study quizzes = 50% of final grade; Midterm = 25%; Final Exam = 25%

Deadlines: Midterm and final exam appointments are established the first week of class; however, if a student has a serious and compelling reason, special proctoring may be arranged at the discretion of the instructor.

Course Study Process: The following information should be carefully read. It will explain how to proceed with this online course, and what will be expected of you at each juncture.

As a student of Music In The United States, your task is a relatively simple one. First, read the Resources section of the Syllabus (above) to make sure you have the proper equipment. Next, read the Syllabus for a legal description of the course, and for details regarding grading and testing. Finally, follow the course Assignments in numerical order.

As you proceed with the assignments, you will be asked to do the following:

1. Read a series of ten online essays (there is no textbook.)

2. Listen to musical examples as you read (audio links are inserted in the text of the essays at appropriate points).

3. You will be given a quiz at the end of each essay. By pressing the submit button at the end of each quiz, your answers will automatically be sent to the Instructor.

4. In order to assess what you have learned, you will be taking two exams: a midterm exam and a final exam. The exam schedule will be posted to the course home page prior to the beginning of each Quarter.

These exams will be proctored at the North Seattle Community College Library Online Learning Orientation Room (LB 2238A) and at the South Seattle Community College Teaching/Learning Center in the Library.

Remember, instructions on how to do everything associated with this course will be given to you as you progress through the assignments in numerical order.

Off-line Viewing & Listening Requirements: The following materials are required and are on reserve at the NSCC Library and the SSCC Library.

Assignment 1: None.

Assignment 2: The videotape Riverdance.

Assignment 2: The sound recording of Appalachian Spring (a single work about 30-35 minutes long) by Aaron Copland --- a compact disc or cassette tape containing this composition should be available in any record store and most Public Libraries and, for Windows XP users, is available to download for 99¢ from www.napster.com.

Assignment 3: None.

Assignment 4: None.

Assignment 5: The videotape Show Boat by Jerome Kern must be viewed through the first act (after the minstrel show). NOTE:  the original version starring Irene Dunne is the only version with a minstrel show.

The videotape Oklahoma! by Rodgers and Hammerstein (starring Gordon McRae) must be viewed through Act One (after the dance "dream" sequence).

The videotape Sondheim, A Celebration At Carnegie Hall.

Assignment 6: None.

Assignment 7: None.

Assignment 8: None.

Assignment 9: None.

Assignment 10: The videotape Thriller with Michael Jackson. NOTE: This videotape may still be available to watch on the internet free of charge at www.michaeljackson.com.