Folk Music Experience - Contemporary Folk Music

This course combines playing traditional folk music with the study of the contexts in which folk music has evolved.  For this quarter, we will focus on the songs written and/or recorded since the year 2000.  Students will be expected to participate in discussions on course readings during the first half of the course.  In addition, 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, but will not require, that these songs be representative of contemporary folk music.  Students will write a short, 1 page (single-spaced) 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 are beginners at playing an instrument or if they prefer to just sing.