MUSGEN 2001 - From Elvis to YouTube II

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

A survey of popular music of the Rock era. This course considers the stylistic, socio-cultural, economic, and technological aspects of popular music. Greatest attention is given to the stylistic evolution of popular music from the late 1950s (birth of Rock and Roll) through the end of the century (end of the `Golden Age of Recording?). Genres covered include Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll, Folk Rock, Country, The Beatles/British Invasion, Motown and Soul, Progressive Rock, Metal, Funk, Disco, Punk, Rap/Hip-Hop, Grunge, Alternative, Electronic Dance Music, Avant-Garde Rock and Mainstream Pop. The first part of the course looks at the precursors of Rock-era music including Anglo-American Folk and early Blues. The latter part of the course samples artists and styles in the digital era of the past two decades, with emphasis on the impact that changes in technology and business practices have had on both the creation and consumption of popular music.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code MUSGEN 2001
    Course From Elvis to YouTube II
    Coordinating Unit Elder Conservatorium of Music
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible GENMUS 1001, GENMUS 2030, MUSGEN 1003, MUSPMACT 2611, MUSPMACT 2612, MUSST 1000A
    Course Description A survey of popular music of the Rock era. This course considers the stylistic, socio-cultural, economic, and technological aspects of popular music. Greatest attention is given to the stylistic evolution of popular music from the late 1950s (birth of Rock and Roll) through the end of the century (end of the `Golden Age of Recording?). Genres covered include Rhythm and Blues, Rock and Roll, Folk Rock, Country, The Beatles/British Invasion, Motown and Soul, Progressive Rock, Metal, Funk, Disco, Punk, Rap/Hip-Hop, Grunge, Alternative, Electronic Dance Music, Avant-Garde Rock and Mainstream Pop. The first part of the course looks at the precursors of Rock-era music including Anglo-American Folk and early Blues. The latter part of the course samples artists and styles in the digital era of the past two decades, with emphasis on the impact that changes in technology and business practices have had on both the creation and consumption of popular music.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Graham Strahle

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1. Understand and appreciate the historical, socio-cultural, and music-stylistic trends of English language popular music of the rock era, as well as of selected earlier popular forms which contributed to the development of music of the Rock era
    2. Recognise the aural, textual and visual components of a substantial representative number of styles and specific songs of this period
    3. Demonstrate aural awareness and critical listening skills through assigned- and in-class listening
    4. Understand the intrinsically linked cultural, technological, and economic underpinnings of popular music
    5. Demonstrate music research skills and confidence in written communication
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1, 2, 4

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    2, 3, 4, 5

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    5

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1, 3, 4, 5

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1, 4

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    3, 5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Required Textbook: Covach, John and Andrew Flory. 2018. What's That Sound: An Introduction to Rock and Its History. New York: W. W. Norton. 5th ed.

    Additional Required Resources:
    *Required Listening: Approximately 80 songs comprise the required listening for this course. These are available as streaming (downloadable) audio in the MyUni course
    *Several info sheets containing information not in the textbook and a select number of lecture slides will be available in the MyUni course
    *Basic Elements of Popular Music': a list of basic music-technical terms/definitions that all students should learn will be available in the MyUni course
    Recommended Resources
    A wealth of relevant material including journals, reference materials, and online sound and video resources, are available via the University Library's Music Database page: http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/music/databases
    Online Learning
    MyUni will be used to provide details of lecture and seminar content, set readings, and assignment instructions, as well as for assignment submission and announcements
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Lectures will cover and explore the range of topics as set out in the Course Outline. Spoken word delivery will be supported by a large number of A/V exhibits.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    In addition to the 3 contact hours per week, it is anticipated that students would spend 6-8 hours per week in reviewing lecture notes, preparing the assigned readings and assigned listening, undertaking suggested readings and listening, revising for exams, and researching and writing the course essay.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The following schedule is indicative of the topics in this course. Some topics and ordering of topics may vary.

    WEEK 1

    Introduction to the Course; Introduction to Musical Terms; 'Four Themes' for Studying Rock Era Popular Music
    The World Before Rock 'n' Roll (19th c. - 1920s)
    WEEK 2
    The World Before Rock 'n' Roll (1920s-1950s)
    WEEK 3
    Rock 'n' Roll (mid-late 1950s)
    The Early Sixties: The Demise of Rock-'n'-Roll and the Promise of Soul (Girl Groups, Dance Music, and the Rise of the Pop/Rock Producer)
    WEEK 4
    Folk Music Revivalists; The Beach Boys and the Beatles in the early Sixties; Beatlemania and the 'British Invasion'
    American responses to the 'British Invasion'
    WEEK 5
    Folk Rock in the mid-1960s; Dylan, the Beatles and ‘Serious’ Pop Song Lyrics of the mid-Sixties
    WEEK 6
    Motown Pop and Southern Soul Music in the 1960s
    California Counter-Culture and the Evolution of Psychedelic Rock in the 1960s
    WEEK 7
    British Psychedelic Rock; Rock Festivals; Blues-Rock
    Singer-Songwriters; Progressive Country and the Development of Country-Rock in the late Sixties/early Seventies; The Growing influence of Rock Music on the Popular Mainstream in the 1970s
    WEEK 8
    British Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, and Glam in the early Seventies
    Black Pop, Reggae, Funk and Disco in the Seventies
    WEEK 9
    Punk and New Wave in the late 1970s; Indie Bands and Post-Punk Legacy of the 1980s
    1980s Digital Technology, MTV, and the Popular Mainstream
    WEEK 10
    Rap and Hip Hop in the 1970s-80s and beyond; Grunge, Metal and other Alternative Styles in the 1980s
    Alternative Styles of the 1990s
    WEEK 11
    Pop (not Rock) in the 1960s-70s; The Avant-Garde in Rock and Pop 1960s-80s
    1980s Electronica and later trends in electronic dance and pop
    WEEK 12
    Popular Music in the Early 21st Century: Trends in Technology, Commerce, and Consumption
    Course summary
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    ASSESSMENT TASK TASK TYPE WEIGHTING COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
    Exam 1 Formative and Summative 20% 1, 2, 3, 4
    Course Essay  Summative 40% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Exam 2 Summative 40% 1, 2, 3, 4



    Assessment Detail
    Exam #1, Given in Week 5, 40 mins in duration, will assess material from the lectures, assigned readings and assigned listening as presented during the first 5 weeks of the course.

    Students will research and write a 1700-2200 word essay which addresses one of three given topics and which involves comparing the work of two artists/groups of the student's choosing.

    Exam #2, Given during class time in Week 13, 80 mins in duration, will mostly assess material from the lectures, assigned readings and assigned listening as presented during the final 7 weeks of the course. A small portion of questions will  require recall of material from the first part of the course.
    Submission
    Written assignments should be submitted electronically as .pdf via MyUni, by 5:00 p.m. on the due date.

    Late assignment policy:
    Late written assignments will be accepted to a maximum of 7 days late with a late penalty of 2 marks per calendar day applied.

    Formal Approval Required for Extensions on Assignments or Exams: Extensions on assessments may be granted for
    medical, compassionate or other extenuating circumstances, but only upon timely submission and approval of the University's 'Application for Replacement Examination or Assessment Extension' form, which is available at:    
          http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/?dsn=policy.document;field=data;id=7446;m=view
    Student should complete the form, obtain any medical or other required signatures, and submit as hard copy or scanned .pdf to the course coordinator (steven.knopoff@adelaide.edu.au). The extension request will be considered by both the course coordinator and the Faculty of Arts office, with student notified of the result.

    Students will receive feedback on their assessment tasks.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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