Folk Music Experience
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Course Number
Course Description
This course combines playing folk music with the study of the contexts and practices of a particular music tradition. For this quarter, we will study folk music written and/or performed on or after the year 2000. Students will be expected to participate in discussions on readings assigned during the first part of the course. Each student will be asked to introduce one song to the class that enriches our knowledge of folk music or the context within which folk music has been written and performed. We will encourage the introduction of songs that relate to the course theme. Students will write a short research paper that forms the basis for their presentation on the song and its context. Students will also be responsible for learning and practicing the songs that are presented to the class, including practice in small groups. Students are encouraged to gain practice at playing one or more folk music instruments during the course and are invited to join the course even if they have no previous music experience, are beginners at playing an instrument, or if they prefer to just sing.