Extra Credit

As I was commuting to the university this morning, I was listening to one of my favorite music criticism podcasts, Sound Opinions. Listening to one of their archived episodes, I heard a great interview with one of the senior editors at Pitchfork--Jennifer Hopper. The interview covers gender in music criticism, the history of music criticism, the tenor of the field today, DIY aesthetics, authenticity, and the public's relationship with Miley Cyrus. If you want a little extra credit, listen to the entire interview and write 500 words about some aspect of it and how it might influence how you write about music, how you read music criticism, or how you will listen to music critically. Most importantly, Mere Summaries will receive no credit. If you want to get extra credit turn in a hard-copy of your response on Monday 9/28/15. Here's the video:

R.R 9/16

Katz writes, "Such music [the European Classical tradition] was valued in America as a civilizing influence and an agent of moral uplift." Why do you think this music was seen to have such a powerful moralizing influence? Do you think that Americans still believe this? Give examples to support your position.

Workshop Groups

Hello all!

I am posting the workshop groups below, and you can find links to each blog in the list to your right. Just like last time, you will be discussing each others' blogs all class, and you will have at least a page long list on things you want to discuss with each peer. To clarify, that is one page-length list per peer and two copies of each list.

Group 1
Almost Alternative
Wake Me Up When the Semester Ends
NuMetal Central

Group 2
If You're Reading this its Not Too Late
The Golden Age
Rap and R&B With Risky B

Group 3
My Parents' 8-Track
My Parents' Playlist
Millenials

Group 4
Destined to be Queen
Maroon 5 Mania
No Cover Charge

Group 5
1960s Rock
The Pursuit of Hippiness
Unplugged

Group 6
If You Are
Railroaded
The Deep End

Group 7
Fairly Local
Background Music
Social Media Superstars

Group 8
Its Not You It's Me
Second is the Best
Best of Both Worlds

R.R. 9/11

ICA: Laurie Anderson describes the song "Grass" as "A huge football game that goes haywire. The players suddenly running in circles, insanely chirping cartoon birds, clouds billowing, the marching band spelling out arcane words in quickly shifting formations, the scoreboard in fast forward, the crowd going 'Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!'"

Listen to "Grass" and write your own metaphor for it.

R.R. 9/9

R.R. Choose one piece of advice from pages 20-23. Summarize the advice and explain why it is/was/will be useful for you in writing your review.

9/4

Hey all, just a few notes on today's class.

1.) Please turn in Worksheet 2 on Blackboard under the "Assignments" Tab.

2.) If you want some extra credit, you can write a one page personal response paper to Steve Reich's "It's Gonna Rain." To get credit you have to listen to the whole song, which takes up the first eight minutes of this video, and I recommend you listen with headphones. Due Monday 9/14.

 

R.R. 9/2

Katz's first chapter discusses seven aspects of recording technology (four of which we read about for today). However, this chapter not only defines these characteristics of recording technology but also discusses how they have changed how music is composed, performed, and experienced. Choose one of the characteristics and briefly explain how it influences how you personally relate to music. Try to be as specific as possible.