Core Foundations in Rhythm and Blues
ENCF-122 provides non-performance majors and developing musicians with foundational ensemble skills in the rhythm and blues idiom. Through guided listening, analysis, and performance of classic and modern R&B repertoire, students will learn to identify stylistic grooves, harmonic frameworks, vocal textures, and the expressive interaction characteristic of this tradition.
Students will explore groove construction, 12/8 and 4/4 time-feels, call-and-response phrasing, dynamics, and modulation within ensemble settings. Emphasis is placed on developing ensemble awareness and stylistic authenticity rather than technical virtuosity. The course culminates in an in-class performance demonstrating collaborative groove, balance, and stylistic comprehension.