Blues and Jazz in American Culture
	Sheri Grorud

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Presentation
What we play is life. - Louis Armstrong This course will examine blues and jazz music and its influence on American culture. We will explore blues and jazz from a musical, historical, social and literary perspective.

Teaching objectives
Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn. They teach you there’s a boundary line to music. But man, there’s no boundary line to art. - Charlie Parker. Use your English to talk and write about this living contemporary art. Musicians welcome.

Format
One meeting weekly of 3 hours during 7 weeks.

Course content and Teaching methods
The course will develop chronologically, from the roots of blues and jazz music to today, via : Reading and discussion of essays, jazz poetry and jazz literature. The history of blues and jazz.Listening assignments (on reserve in the language resource center). Videos

Individual work and group work
There will be several individual " comment " assignments designed to elicit your responses to the readings, music and videos. Some assignments will be in the form of discussions on an internet forum. There will be a group presentation project. Your group will research and introduce an artist, set the context and lead a listening session (with commentary).

Evaluation
Participation and essays.

Recommended level
This course is designed for students of all levels.

See other courses taught by Sheri Grorud

last updated May 31, 2003

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