Survey of Vocal Styles
This course is an interactive historical study of the development of contemporary, U.S.-based vocal styles, examining the social, aesthetic, technological, and commercial forces that shaped this music. Students engage in close listening, transcription, style analysis, and discussion of assigned audio/video recordings; and perform in class to demonstrate understanding of material studied. Starting from African chant, work songs, field hollers, and spirituals, students explore the roots of blues by studying such artists as Bessie Smith; the roots of jazz by delving into the vocal stylings of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday; and the roots of gospel through the recordings by Mahalia Jackson and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. From this foundation, students continue to explore artists who have shaped the music they perform today. Upon completion of the course, students will understand the cultural and aesthetic sources of styles studied. They will be able to demonstrate fundamental attributes of these styles in a culturally viable manner, and use this knowledge to inform their own artistic decision-making.