Course Description
This course will focus on the history and analysis of rock, R&B, and other popular styles that influenced and interacted with them. Topics include the distinctions (and similarities) between various sub-categories and chronological periods, roles of the primary instruments used and how these roles have evolved, vocal styles, song form, and the racial, cultural, and economic dynamics influencing the music. Through reading and listening to many recordings, students will become familiar with many of the important figures in rock and R&B music, including Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and many others. (3 credits)
Prerequisite
- None
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to discuss:
- Identify the roles (and the evolution of the roles) of the following instruments in rock (including the ability to aurally identify each instrument and, where applicable, the way these instruments interact with one another):
- vocals (lead and background)
- acoustic guitar
- electric guitar
- bass (electric and acoustic)
- piano
- electric and electronic keyboards
- drum set
- saxophone
- other horns
- strings
- Explain the basic structures and principles that factor into the creation and evolution of rock, including:
- song form
- arrangement and orchestration
- the rhythm section
- improvisation
- reciprocal influences between rock and other forms of music (including classical, jazz, blues, ethnic music, and so on)
- Discuss the primary characteristics of sub-styles of rock including the following (and, as applicable, the impact of each style on the role of each instrument):
- Early Rock
- Rockabilly
- R&B
- British Invasion Rock
- Folk-Rock
- Psychedelic Rock
- Motown
- Soul
- Heavy Metal
- Punk
- Rap/Hip-Hop
- Explain the historical/musical significance and primary contributions of the following artists:
- Elvis Presley
- Chuck Berry
- Ray Charles
- James Brown
- The Beatles
- The Rolling Stones
- Stevie Wonder
- Bob Dylan
- Jimi Hendrix
- Identify the general significance and style of several dozen other significant rock artists and groups, including the following:
- Little Richard
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Buddy Holly
- Sam Cooke
- The Beach Boys
- The Who
- The Byrds
- Grateful Dead
- Jefferson Airplane
- Sly and the Family Stone
- Otis Redding
- Aretha Franklin
- Led Zeppelin
- Yes
- David Bowie
- Bob Marley
- Donna Summer
- The Sex Pistols
- The Pretenders
- Bruce Springsteen
- Prince
- Nirvana
- Public Enemy
- Analyze the elements in SLOs 1, 2 and 3 when writing about musical recordings.
General Education Outcomes (GEOs)
Please check the applicable GEOs for this course, if any, by outcomes at GEO Category Search, or by subject area at GEO Discipline Search.
Course Activities and Grading
Assignments | Weight |
Course Introduction Quiz (Week 1) | 5% |
Discussions (Weeks 1-8) | 35% |
Comparative Essays (Weeks 2, 3 & 4) | 30% |
Performance Review (Week 6) | 10% |
Final Project (Week 7) | 20% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through https://bookstore.mbsdirect.net/vbm/vb_home.php?FVCUSNO=35478- Garofolo, Reebee. Rockin’ Out: Popular Music in the U.S.A. 6th ed. Prentice Hall, 2017. ISBN-13: 9780134415017 [Looseleaf version]
Additional Required Materials
(not available through bookstore)
- Playlist of songs available online on Spotify. Note that a small number of assigned songs (approximately two) are not available on Spotify and will thus need to be acquired through another means such as iTunes.
Additional Resources
- Access to Spotify (see Additional Information below)
- Capacity to listen to music and audio lectures on a computer, and/or the ability to burn the audio files to CD or transfer them to a portable music player
- Admission to one concert - cost depends on concert chosen (could be a free bar/club show, a large concert or anything in between).
Course Schedule
Week | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
1 | 1-6 | Topic: Introduction; How Rock Music Works: The Basics
Topic: The Pre-History of Rock
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2 | 1-6 | Topic: The Development of R&B
Topic: Early Rock Part 1
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3 | 1-6 | Topic: Early Rock Part 2
Topics: Backlash and Retreat
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4 | 1-6 | Topic: The 1960s Part 1
Topic: The 1960s Part 2
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5 | 1-6 | Topic: Miscellaneous Styles of the 1970s
Topics: Punk, New Wave and Disco
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6 | 1-6 | Topic: Rock Developments of the 1980s
Topic: Rap and Metal
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7 | 1-6 | Topic: Rock Developments of the 1990s
Topic: The 21st Century
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8 | 1-5 | Topic: Discussion of Final Projects (read, comment, Q &A)
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Additional Information
The listening examples you will be expected to study for class assignments can be found in playlists on Spotify (www.spotify.com). Spotify "Premium" (which costs approximately $10/month) allows for an ad-free environment and the capacity to listen to the tracks offline without purchasing them. However, the free version of Spotify is also fully-functional for the purposes of this class if you can handle some commercials and are doing your listening from a web-connected computer (note that on a mobile device you can only listen in Shuffle Mode with the free version of Spotify, which won’t allow you to hear the tunes you need on demand). The course playlist can be found, depending on whether you have the Spotify program/app installed or are using it in a browser, at:
https://open.spotify.com/user/noahbaerman/playlist/50RGzaFfzVXDz9jGfb7rwk OR spotify:user:noahbaerman:playlist:50RGzaFfzVXDz9jGfb7rwk
NOTE: There will be a small number of assigned songs you will need to acquire through other means (such as iTunes). This will be addressed more specifically in an announcement the first week of class.
COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.