MUS148 — Intro to American Music
3.0 HR. (TC) Prerequisite: Approved reading placement score, or equivalent. This course is a study of the musical heritages as they combined in the United States to create jazz, what many critics consider America's greatest contribution to art music. From the earliest performances to its present day pre-eminence in the musical world, this course covers formative influences such as religious music and spirituals; solo piano styles such as ragtime, boogie, and stride; blues history, work songs, and field hollers. It culminates in a detailed exploration of the various style periods in jazz, placing each movement in its historical and sociological context, including jazz as practiced today. Three lecture hours per week. (F1 904)