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Spring 2020
Professor: Tim Smith E mail: [email protected]
Teaching Assistant: Ray Kim E mail [email protected]
Office hours: PLF South 113 TBA
EVOLUTION OF ROCK
MCY 127
Course Description:
This general education course is a study of the birth and
evolution of the music form of Rock and Roll. It is a study of
both the historical and musical elements of rock with a focus on
the performers and the songs in the genre. Some of the
objectives for this course include:
Increasing awareness of the wide range of musical styles
that “add up” to form rock
Provide insight on the cultural evolution of rock and how
it applies to society
Study how technological advances have influenced both
the performers and composers in rock
Prerequsites:
None
Required text:
None
Required listening: Spotify playlist MCY127TS
Course Requirements and Grading:
Test 1 20%
Midterm exam 25%
Test 3 20%
Final exam 25%
Essay on live musical performance 10%
Essay assignment will consist of attending a live musical
performance at the Frost School of Music (or approved off
campus performance). At the conclusion of the performance,
you will obtain signatures of two or more participants. You will
compose an essay that will summarize the performance

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(ensemble, repertoire, etc.). You will compare and/or contrast
the performance with details we have studied in class. The essay
should be two to three pages long, computer printed, double
spaced, and stapled. It will be due on Thursday, November 19.
Conduct and rules:
Rock and roll is a joyous art form. I intend for the class to be a
fun and learning environment. I hope to engage you as adults,
not as adolescents. However, inappropriate language or
behavior to one another will not be tolerated, and will result in
the student facing disciplinary action and potential removal
from the class. You are adults. I am not your baby-sitter. If you
fail to attend class regularly, you will find it much more
difficult to excel in the course. SHOW UP AND PAY
ATTENTION! It will make your life easier in the long run.
Plagiarism on your essay will not be acceptable, and will result
in the loss of 10% of your final grade. Cheating is rampant.
While I will make every effort to curb the options students
might have to copy one another on tests, I can’t stop it
completely. I will have assistance from the Honor Council on
test days, and cheating will result in a zero on that test. None of
you can afford this. I truly believe that if you will engage the
material, come to the lectures, and actively listen to the
required listening material, you will not find a need to cheat.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by any of the material, please
make an appointment to meet with me during office hours.
Lectures and listening:
Each class will consist of a lecture and a period of listening to
music appropriate to that lecture. The music played in class will
be made available to you through Blackboard in addition. You
will be responsible for the material presented as well as
recognizing and identifying the musical examples played. My
intention is for you to learn this, not to be tricky!
Attendance:
Attendance will be taken frequently during the semester. More
than two unexcused absences will result in lowering of final
grade by one letter grade.

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Tentative Class Schedule:
Tuesday, January 14 Greetings, introductions
Thursday, January 16 The Beginnings of Rock
Tuesday, January 21 The Early 50’s
Thursday, January 23 1953-1957
Tuesday, January 28 The end of the 50’s
Thursday, January 30 1960-1961
Tuesday, February4 1962-1963
Thursday, February 6 TEST 1
Tuesday, February 11 The calm before the storm
Thursday, February 13 The British Invasion
Tuesday, February 18 The Beatles
Thursday, February 20 NO CLASS
Tuesday, February 25 Beatles, Birth of the “supergroups”
Thursday, February 27 Woodstock
Tuesday, March 3 Tragedy of rock
Thursday March 5 Southern Rock
March 7-15 no class Spring Break
Tuesday March 17 Midterm Exam
Thursday March 19 Art rock
Tuesday March 24 Heavy Metal
Thursday March 26 Punk
Tuesday March 31 MTV
Thursday April 2 TEST 2
Tuesday April 7 new fusion, Herbie Hancock, Mahavishnu
Orchestra, Return to Forever
Thursday April 9 Disco
Tuesday April 14 Funk

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Thursday April 16 ESSAY DUE!!! Yacht Rock
Tuesday April 21Seattle/grunge
Thursday April 23 Miami and the Rock industry
Thursday, April 30 FINAL EXAM!!! 2:00PM-4:30PM