Faculty Syllabus

This course introduces the diverse musical traditions found throughout the United States, examining classical, popular, sacred, and secular music in both vocal and instrumental forms.  Drawing frequent comparisons between music and other arts, especially American literature and visual art, the course highlights how composers and artists express shared ideas about nature, culture, and national identity.  Students survey musical practices from regions spanning the Pacific to the Atlantic and from Canada and Mexico to Hawaii, while also acknowledging the influence of neighboring cultures in North, Central, and South America.

Guided listenings are provided through the publisher's educational Spotify playlist.   Together with optional enrichment examples, students will develop fundamental musical vocabulary, sharpen critical listening skills, and gain an appreciation of the interdependence among American music, history, and the arts.

Timely and regular attendance, constructive conversation with the professor and diligent study are key to success for this course.  Musical elements rarely make sense until they are heard within a piece of music.  Therefore, students are strongly encouraged to listen closely to the music examples while studying through the course materials.  The music examples are provided with the digital textbook. 

Students grades will be based on class attendance and participation, listening exam, chapter review quizzes, and composer reports.  All grades will be posted on the course BlackBoard for students  to review.

The required textbook for this course is America's Musical Landscape, 9th edition, by Jean Ferris (Dubuque:  McGraw-Hill Education, 2023).  An access to the digital textbook is included in your tuition.  If you prefer to use a physical copy, you can purchase one at ACC Book Store or through the publisher's website.

Online access to the digital materials is Required and can be obtained through the links provided in the course BlackBoard.  The online access provides all materials needed for the course, including (but not limited to), eBook, musical examples, and other supporting materials.

The course content is grouped into the following modules:

     Prelude--Basic Properties of Musical Sound

     Module 1--Music in Early North America

     Module 2--The Tumultuous Nineteeth Century

     Module 3--The Growth of Vernacular Traditions

     Module 4--Vernacular Musics Since Rock and Roll

     Module 5--Music for Theater and Film

     Module 6--Tradition and Innovation in Concert Music

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe major styles, genres, and traditions in American music from diverse regions of the United States and bordering cultures, using appropriate basic musical terminology.
• Explain how American music reflects and interacts with literature, visual art, and broader historical and cultural developments, citing specific artists, writers, and works.
• Apply active listening strategies to identify elements such as melody, rhythm, texture, form, and timbre in recorded examples drawn from the course playlists and beyond.
• Analyze various musical pieces from classical, popular, sacred, and secular repertoires in terms of cultural roots, performance context, and aesthetic intent.
• Demonstrate informed, critical, and creative responses to unfamiliar American music, articulating professional analysis and personal reflections in discussion and written work.