Time & Place

BROOKS 454, MWF

Section 1: 10-10:50

Section 2: 11-11:50

Course Description

This survey of the history of rock music spans from its beginnings in earlier styles of music to the end of the 20th century, with particular attention to 1) the relationship of rock music to surrounding cultural, political, and economic formations; 2) the use and influence of this repertory in the 21st century; and 3) the development of technology in the rock music industry. Students will become familiar with the forms and structures of rock music through listening and other forms of media engagement. The course material will include required readings from contemporary accounts and scholarly sources, recordings, and select films and music videos.

History of

ROCK’N’ROLL MUSC143 - 1&2 | College of the Holy Cross | Fall 2018

Email jdjones@holycross.edu

Office Brooks 243

Hours: MWF, 12-1, or by appointment

Prof. Jones History of Rock - SYLLABUS - �2

Required Text

John Covach and Andrew Flory, What’s That Sound?: An Introduction to Rock and Its History (W. W. Norton, 2018), FIFTH edition

Media

I have created Spotify playlists for each week’s

listening examples. You will need a Spotify

account to access the playlists. (Basic accounts

are free.)

We will use the hashtag #HCrocks2018 for any

social media activity. You can follow me (or the

hashtag) on Twitter @diber for any updates or

relevant shares. I also post visual notes on

Instagram @profdiberjones under the hashtag.

I will be supplementing our Moodle page with a

course website:

https://HCrocks.weebly.com/

Prof. Jones History of Rock - SYLLABUS - �3

Classroom Culture

Campus Counseling Services Hogan 207

508.793.3363

Prof. Jones History of Rock - SYLLABUS - �4

Other stuff you need to know

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

All students entering Holy Cross are expected to maintain high standards of academic honesty and integrity. It is the responsibility of every undergraduate student to be aware of the Academic Honest Policy’s contents and to abide by its provisions. More information about the college policy for Excused Absences and Academic Honesty can be found on the Academic Program page.

Grading

PERCENTAGES

10 Listening Journals: 5pts x 9 = 45%

(lowest grade dropped)

2 Assignments: 7pts x 2 = 14%

3 Tests: 10pts x 3 = 30%

Class participation and attendance: 11%

GRADING SCALE

A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 63-66 D- 60-62 F 0-59

ACCESSIBILITY

The College of the Holy Cross complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and applicable local, state and federal statutes regarding nondiscrimination against persons with disabilities. Any student who feels the need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Disability Services to discuss support services available. Once the office receives documentation supporting the request for accommodation, the student would meet privately with Disability Services to discuss reasonable and appropriate accommodations. The office can be reached by calling 508-793-3693 or by visiting Hogan Campus Center, room 215A. If you are already registered with Disability Services, please be sure to get your accommodation letters and deliver them to your instructors in a timely fashion. Instructors need 4-5 days advance notice to be able to facilitate the process of receiving testing accommodations.

Grade distribution

11%

30%

14%

45%

Listening JournalsAssignmentsTestsParticipation

Prof. Jones History of Rock - SYLLABUS - �5

Assignments & Tests

Policies

No late work will be accepted unless

prearranged with the professor, or in case of

emergency, which may require follow-up

notification at the discretion of the

professor.

I want to get an A in this class.

Prepare for class Be sure you’ve read and listened to the assigned material. Be able to identify which parts of the text are the main points. Use the textbook to clarify, enhance, and supplement the in-class lectures and discussions.

Attend class with your body and mind Don’t just plant your butt in a chair. Engage with the material through note-taking, connecting material you studied before class to the lectures, and asking questions when you are uncertain.

Use your electronics wisely. They can be helpful tools in class, but they can also be a distraction to you or to your neighbor. I trust that you know the difference.

The Powerpoints will only contain the main points of the lectures. The rest is up to you to include in your notes jabberwocky. The best way to take notes is to use the

Powerpoints as a heading, and then fill out the material through 1) listening to what is being said, 2) mentally synthesizing it, and 3) recording it by writing it down.

Study, duh Read and listen actively.

Communicate If you don’t understand something or if you’re facing difficulties that prevent you from doing well in the class, communicate with the professor, early and often.

Turn stuff in on time Use your time well. Don’t wait until the last minute.

LISTENING JOURNALS

Each week you will submit a listening journal on the designated day from a selection of limited options indicated by the professor. A journal template is provided for you to fill out. On the day it is due, you are to bring the journal to class where you will have the opportunity to confer with classmates to make adjustments to your answers. You will be graded on your preparation, your interaction with the in-class discussion, and your final submission of the journal. Over the course of the semester, you will do 10 journals. The lowest grade will be dropped. Further instructions on Moodle

TESTS

Throughout the semester, there will be three tests. Each test will include a listening component, a short answer component, and an essay component. The third test will be held the last day of class; it will be non-cumulative, covering material since the previous test. There will be no final exam.

ASSIGNMENTS

You will write two short papers expanding on two songs of your choice from your Listening Journals. The first will delve into the “backstory” of your song. Possibilities could include: 1) learning more about the artist or performers of the piece, 2) examining historical events or context of the piece, 3) its cover history, etc. The second paper will deal with the album that your song appeared in, addressing the song’s relationship to the rest of the album, and the significance and reception of that album. Further

instructions on Moodle and in consultation with the professor.

Papers will be 4-5 pages (1000-1200 words). Double-spaced, Times New Roman, size 12 font.

Prof. Jones History of Rock - SYLLABUS - �6

Subject to change. For the most up-to-date schedule, please see course website/Moodle.

date class topic tests & assignments

Week 1 Assignments indicated on the day they are due.

Aug 29 Introduction

Aug 31 Elements of Music 1 Syllabus Treasure Hunt form

Week 2

Sept 3 Elements of Music 2

Sept 5 Pre-rock trends: Mainstream Pop

Sept 7 Pre-rock trends: Rhythm & blues; country Listening Journal (LJ) 1

Week 3

Sept 10 1950s: Birth of Rock’n’roll

Sept 12 1950s: Crossovers

Sept 14 1950s: early British blues LJ 2

Week 4 NB: the schedule for this week may be rearranged to accommodate a guest speaker in our class

Sept 17 1950s: the pop industry

Sept 19 1950s: Folk rock

Sept 21 1950s: Soul; rockabilly LJ 3

Week 5

Sept 24 TEST 1 TEST 1

Sept 26 1960s: Beatles, touring years

Sept 28 1960s: Beatles, recording years LJ 4

Week 6

Oct 1 1960s: the Rolling Stones

Oct 3 1960s: the Beach boys

Oct 5 1960s: Psychedelia LJ 5

Week 7 FALL BREAK

Course schedule

Prof. Jones History of Rock - SYLLABUS - �7

Week 8

Oct 15 1960s: Motown

Oct 17 1960s: Stax and Muscle Shoals Assignment 1

Oct 19 1960s: Music, Protest, and Civil Rights LJ 6

Week 9

Oct 22 1960s: Woodstock and Altamont Festivals

Oct 24 TEST 2 TEST 2

Oct 26 1970s: Led Zeppelin

Week 10

Oct 29 1970s: Pink Floyd LJ 7

Oct 31-Nov 2 No class — Professor at conference

Week 11

Nov 5 1970s: Progressive Rock

Nov 7 1970s: Funk

Nov 9 1970s: Southern Rock LJ 8

Week 12

Nov 12 1970s: Punk

Nov 14 1980s: Heavy metal

Nov 16 1980s: MTV LJ 9

Week 13

Nov 19 1980s: Post-punk/new wave

Nov 21-23 No class — Thanksgiving Break

Week 14

Nov 26 1980s: Women & rock

Nov 28 1990s: Rock & disability Assignment 2

Nov 30 1990s: Nirvana & Alternative rock LJ 10

Week 15

Dec 3 1990s: Radiohead & post-rock

Dec 5 Wrapping things up

Dec 7 TEST 3 non-cumulative; NO FINAL EXAM