Native American Music

Students will post a weekly journal where they discuss in detail both musical and cultural aspects of what they
listened to during the previous seven days. This is not a musical analysis assignment! Initial journals may
discuss what you listened to by focusing on the elements of music (rhythm, melody, harmony, timbre, form).
Journals that continually earn the highest grade will make connections (musical and social) between what we
listened to and studied in class and the student’s personal listening. As the semester progress each journal
entry should make more and more musical and sociocultural connections between what the student listens to
on his or her own and the ideas, music, artists and notions discussed in class. For example, after we study
spirituals, a Kanye West fan might consider making connections between his recent releases/Sunday Services
and what you learned in class.
The music listened to by the students doesn’t necessarily have to correspond to what we studied in class that
week. For example, if we’re studying hymns during class, students don’t need to listen to hymns while at home.
Of course you are free to do so, if you choose.