WORLD MUSIC
2011-2012 Syllabus
Carl Holmquist (703) 228-2216 or Carl.Holmquist@apsva.us
The Course
This course is designed to give students at HB Woodlawn a chance to enjoy music as part of their educational
experience without having to have any performance experience! All high school students are welcome to take
this course, so if you enjoy this course, please let your friends know for next year!
In this course, we will explore musical styles and traditions from a huge variety of cultures from around the
world. We will examine how music serves different purposes, or functions, for different cultures. We will also
learn about how musical scholars called ethnomusicologists study music from a sociological perspective.
Finally, we will discover how different styles from around the world make their way into today’s popular music
styles.
So, how is this class going to work? We will structure the class around an amazing textbook, World Music: A
Global Journey, by Terry E. Miller and Andrew Shahriari. Through reading, listening, discussion, projects, and
the occasional quiz/tests, we will discover a whole world of musical and cultural knowledge, appreciation, and
understanding.
Attendance
Daily attendance is necessary in order to develop your skills in critical listening and discussing music.
However, there is no official attendance policy. If you miss a class, you are expected to make up the work. Late
homework and assignments will NOT be accepted after the due date.
Grading
The basic breakdown for the course is as follows (but is subject to change):
Quizzes 20%
Tests 40%
Quarterly Projects 20%
Class Participation 20%
Textbook
The textbook, World Music: A Global Journey, is a brand new and very expensive book, so each student is
expected to take the utmost care with these books. The book is very well laid out, with great color pictures,
study guides, vocabulary glossary, etc.
Even cooler though, is the website that accompanies the book…
http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/worldmusic/2ndEd/
Here you will find sample audio recordings and numerous other helpful features such as flashcards, glossary,
etc.
Calendar
We will try our best to stick to the following outline for our year’s journey:
WORLD MUSIC
2011-2012 Calendar
We will take two to three weeks for each chapter in the textbook. That will leave us with a few weeks left over
at the end of school year for our final unit, “What did we miss?” That will give you a chance to think of a
culture from around the world that didn’t make it into this book. You will then research and give a final
presentation on that culture!
Chapter 1 - Before the Trip Begins, Fundamental Issues Sept. 6 – Sept. 16
Quiz - Friday, Sept. 16
Chapter 2 - How to Listen to the World’s Music Sept. 19 – Sept. 30
Test on Chapters 1 & 2 - Friday, Sept. 30
Chapter 3 - Culture Considerations, Beyond the Sounds Themselves Oct. 3 – Oct. 14
Quiz – Friday, Oct. 14
Chapter 4 - Oceania: Voices of Land and Sea Oct. 17 – Oct. 28
Test on Chapters 3 & 4 – Friday, Oct. 28
Chapter 5 - South Asia: Music with a Spiritual Dimension Oct. 31 – Nov. 18
Quiz – Thursday, Nov. 10
Instrument Projects Due – Friday, Nov. 18
Chapter 6 - Southeast Asia: A Land of Bamboo and Bronze Nov. 21 – Dec. 9
Test on Chapters 5 & 6 – Friday, Dec. 9
Chapter 7 - East Asia: Ancient Echoes in the Modern World Dec. 12 – Jan. 6
Quiz – Friday, Jan. 6
Chapter 8 – The Middle East: Sacred and Secular Music Jan. 9 – Feb. 3
Test on Chapters 7 & 8 – Friday, Jan. 27
Music and Food Projects Due – Friday, Feb. 3
Chapter 9 – Sub-Saharan Africa: The Rhythms of Community Feb. 6 – Feb. 24
Quiz – Friday, Feb. 24
Chapter 10 – Europe: Harmony and Hierarchy Feb. 27 – Mar. 16
Test on Chapters 9 & 10 – Friday, Mar. 16
Chapter 11 - The Carribean: Musical Energy of Island Peoples Mar. 19 – Apr. 13
Quiz – Friday, Mar. 30
Ethnomusicologist Projects Due – Friday, Apr. 13
Chapter 12 – Central and South America: New World Recipes Apr. 16 – May 4
Test on Chapters 11 & 12 – Friday, May 4
Chapter 13 – North America: Diverse People, Diverse Musics May 7 – May 25
Quiz – Friday, May 25
Chapter 14 and Final Presentations May 29 – June 15