Schedule

Week	Topic	Description
1	SILENCE, SOUND, MUSIC	Does silence exist? Nature’s sounds: spheres to waves, birds to dolphins The word music. What is noise? Is music a universal language? Who are the music-makers? Discussions begin.
2	ORIGINS OF MUSIC	Primitive music. Theories of origins: from the gods, philosophers, and theorists— Chinese myth to Darwin’s theory. Australian Aborigines, Harmony of the Spheres from Greece, Chinese legend.
3	ELEMENTS OF MUSIC	Rhythm, melody, polyphony. Analysis of music. Techniques of interpretation. Middle Eastern scales and Latin American rhythms.
4	INSTRUMENTS	Voice, drum, bullroarer common to most early cultures. Unique and unusual instruments from around the world. Gender specific instruments.
5	EVOLUTION OF MUSIC I	Ancient music and beyond. How music spreads from China and Mesopotamia to regions around the world. Transmission of music through word of mouth, through notation. Diversity of uses of music and differing contexts through the centuries. Women in musical performances.
6	EVOLUTION OF MUSIC II	Continuation
7	INTERMISSION	Begin outline and sample of writing for paper. Discussion at Notie's continues. Establish date for live meeting.
8	SELECTED CULTURES I	Music and life. Celebration, communication, expression. Songs and dances from established to esoteric traditions Comparative studies.
9	SELECTED CULTURES II	Continuation
10	SELECTED CULTURES III	Continuation
11	SELECTED CULTURES IV	Continuation
12	MUSIC AND ISSUES TODAY	Final Discussion on a topic such as: popular, classical or folk traditions; preservation, fusion, and decline in a global society; gender dimensions of contemporary American pop music-- do young men dominate today's American pop music scene? Reading and listening prepares students to make informed responses.
13	FINALE:	Concentrate on paper. Paper due.

Citation: Patterson, D. (2008, July 15). Schedule. Retrieved November 06, 2014, from UMass Boston OpenCourseware Web site: http://ocw.umb.edu/performing-arts/universe-of-music/schedule.