Musics of the World

This subject is not offered in 2013.

120 hours

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit.

The subject provides an introduction to understanding and learning about music in the non western world. It introduces some specific music cultures - for example, from North and Southeast Asia, India, Eastern Europe, West Africa and Indigenous Australia – in their traditional and contemporary contexts. The effects on music of globalisation including diaspora, cultural tourism, cyberspace and westernisation are incorporated into the case studies.

On completion of this subject, students should have developed:

• an ability to listen to and appreciate music of different cultures
• an informed understanding of the sociocultural contexts and the sound structures of different musical cultures
• a specialized vocabulary for describing both the fundamentals of music and their manifestations in specific non western cultures
• an ability to pursue knowledge about different musical cultures independently
• an understanding of the role of music in the lives of people outside the western art music traditions.

Participation and contribution to tutorials (10%); two Concert Reports of 500 words each, due in weeks 6 and 12 (20% - 10% each); two tutorial assignments of 750 words each, due in weeks 4 and 8 (30% - 15% each); a 1750 word essay due during the examination period (40%).

All reading and listening for this subject is available through the LMS.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

On completion of this subject students should have developed:

• a capacity for independent critical thought about music from any time or place
• an openness to new ideas about what music is
• knowledge and skills which provide a basis for independent critical inquiry and research-based writing about music
• an informed understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity