N.B. No prior musical knowledge is required for this class. Both musicians and non-musicians are encouraged to take this class.
GENERAL INFORMATION
MUSIC 150S is intended to introduce students to the history and technology of musical instruments. Through readings, recordings, live performances of local artists in class, and videos as well as hands-on experience with Duke's collection of musical instruments (DUMIC) and the Chapel organs, students will learn about the development of musical instruments and how they shaped our musical preferences and standard repertoire of the present day. Students will engage in both in-class and on-line discussions and collaborative work.
The two major assignments in this class employ video technology. Students will create both a video and a written dictionary definition of a musical instrument for a midterm project. For a final project, students will work in groups to create a virtual, video museum of instruments. Through the study of the interplay of the history of technology and musical composition, students will gain greater insight into some of the greatest works in the Western canon.
In addition, this semester MUS150S students will be working with cutting edge museum tour technology as part of the midterm and final video projects.
ELEMENTS OF THE COURSE
15% Dictionary Project
15% Weekly Quizzes
30% Class Participation (in class and online)
40% Final Project
TEXTBOOKS:
Campbell, Greated, & Myers, Musical Instruments: History, Technology & Performance of Instruments of Western Music.
Jeremy Montagu, Origins and Development of Musical Instruments.
Trevor Herbert, Music in Words: A Guide to Researching & Writing about Music.
|
