Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon successful completion students should be able to:

Appreciate the musical traditions of the diverse cultures of the United States, and enjoy a life enriched by the exposure to and the understanding of personal and cultural achievements through expression.
Experience music "dynamically," that is, to appreciate simultaneously the uniqueness and value of each culture and its music through particular cultural
moments, origins, precedents and potential in relationship to and inspiration upon other music.
Appreciate the artistic, social, historical, and cultural contexts of folk music through observation and critique in order to be an informed listener.

At the beginning of the course, the instructor will detail the methods used to evaluate student progress and the criteria for assigning a course grade. These methods may include one of more of the following tools: qualitative and/or quantitative examinations, quizzes, listening assignments, and class participation.
 

• Definition of folk music and the "folk process"
• Music of the British Isles including Child ballads, broadsides, and sea chanties
• Old Timey music and early recording and radio
• The western "craze" - Hawaiian influence
• Women in Old Timey music
• Western Swing and Bluegrass. African-American folk roots and songsters
• Regional country blues styles
• Cajun and Zydeco music
• The role of folk music in political and sociological change and the "folk revival"
• Gospel
• Nortena

COMPETANCIES AND SKILLS
The following skills are expected to meet the minimum requirement ("C" or "Pass") for the course:

• Define folk music and describe the "folk process."
• Identify folk music instruments from live and/or recorded examples.
• Describe the evolution of the primary style "streams."
• Identify musical styles from each genre covered from recorded example.
• Describe the various folk music communities and how its music relates to each culture.