PSCS Writing About Music

Class 10: Finale - In Class Writing Galore!

2008-03-25T21:32:00.001-07:00

In this class we will view a couple of images and use our creative writing skills to concoct stories about the images. We will also do some response writing to some quotes about music.

Quotes:
Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. ~Charlie Parker

Music is the universal language of mankind. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Music is what feelings sound like. ~Author Unknown

If a composer could say what he had to say in words he would not bother trying to say it in music. ~Gustav Mahler

You need music, I don't know why. It's probably one of those... questions, why we need ritual. We need magic, and bliss, and power, myth, and celebration and religion in our lives, and music is a good way to encapsulate a lot of it. ~Jerry Garcia

Class 9: What is "good" music?

2008-03-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

“Good” music is in the ear of the beholder. But, are there parameters one could use to judge the real quality of music? Discussion will ensue.

Homework: Write up what you think the parameters are for judging music. Sell your opinion to me with examples. Due next Tuesday, March 25 at 9am, posted to this blog.

Resources:
http://ludens.cl/musicus/goodmus.html
http://www.unconservatory.org/articles/goodmusic.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rogers/rogers41.html

Class 8: Band Biographies

2008-03-11T14:17:00.000-07:00

In class 8, we will build on our foundation of musician biographies and write band biographies. How do the two differ? What is important to include in a band biography?

Homework: Pick a band and write the bio. Post to the blog by 9am on Tuesday, March 18.

Resources:
http://www.classicbands.com/jackson.html
http://www.bandbiographies.com/
http://www.classicbands.com/bio.htm

Class 7: Musician Biographies

2008-02-26T10:51:00.000-08:00

In class 7 we will focus on musician biographies. Why do we read musician biographies? Does it support the music in any way to know the background of a particular musician? What information is interesting to know about a musician?

Homework:
Pick a musician, write their biography. (You could even write your own autobiography!) Due after intensives week: Tuesday, March 11, before 9am.

Links:
Bootsy Collins: http://tinyurl.com/2cqyeg
Kurt Cobain: http://tinyurl.com/2d2koa

Resources:
http://www.musicianguide.com/
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/

Class 6: Genres

2008-02-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

In class 6, we will do our in class writing, talk about the potential of getting credit for this class, and we will talk about genres. What bands/songs are important in a particular genre? Are they the best bands or just the most popular?

Homework:
Read Deadheads & Jam Bands and Queens of Punk, and answer these questions for each essay:
1. What did you like and/or dislike about the essay?
2. What ideas did it help you generate for your own genre essay?

Write your own genre essay and post it to the blog by Tuesday (Feb. 26) at 9am; answers to your questions can be emailed/turned in by the beginning of class on Wednesday (Feb. 27).

Class 5: Most Important Recordings

2008-02-05T10:24:00.000-08:00

In class 5, we will do our in class writing, and talk about “most important recordings.” What makes a particular recording rise to the top? Is it the best interpretation of the song? Does it just stand alone as a good song/album? Was it influential in some way?

Homework:
Read the two NY Times essential essays and answer these questions for each essay:
1. What background information did the essay provide?
2. Did it clearly make a case for why it is an essential recording? Why or why not?

Write your own “most important recording” essay. Post your essay to the blog by Tuesday (Feb. 12) at 9am; the answers to your questions can be emailed/handed in to me by the beginning of class.

Class 4: Liner Notes

2008-01-30T07:58:00.000-08:00

In class 4, we will do our in class writing, peer review on the cover songs assignment, and we will talk about liner notes. What should be included in good liner notes? What information is interesting to read about? Do liner notes need to be relevant to the music/artist?

Homework: Compile a 5 Song EP, and write liner notes for it. Please post your work to the blog by Tuesday (Feb. 5) at 9am. Re-write of cover songs assignment due at next class (Feb. 6).

Links:
Wiki on Liner Notes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liner_notes
Online Liner Notes – The Who: http://www.thewho.net/linernotes/
Johnny Cash: http://tinyurl.com/yth7ja
Albumlinernotes.com

Class 3: Cover Songs

2008-01-22T11:31:00.000-08:00

In class 3, we will do our in class writing, do peer review on the CD Review assignment, and we will talk about cover songs. We’ll define what a cover song is and read excerpts from both positive and negative opinions of covers.

Homework:
Pick a song that was covered and write your opinion about if the new version is any good. Post your work to this blog by Tuesday (Jan. 29) at 9am. Re-write of your CD Review is due (not posted to blog – email or give me a hard copy) by the beginning of class on Wednesday (Jan. 30).

Links:
Wiki Definition/Origin of Covers: http://tinyurl.com/yhmkgo
NY Post 100 Best Cover Songs: http://tinyurl.com/39cjmp
Cracked.com 20 Worst Cover Songs: http://tinyurl.com/37mj9n
100 Greatest Cover Songs: http://tinyurl.com/de948

Class 2: CD Review

2008-01-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

In class 2, we will examine CD reviews; we’ll read some examples from Rolling Stone, New York Times, Seattle PI, perhaps others. We will also talk about the overrated/underrated assignment.

Homework:
Pick an album and write a review of it. Post your work to this blog by Tuesday (Jan. 22) at 9am.

Links:
• Rolling Stone – PJ Harvey: http://tinyurl.com/yu3o27
• Rolling Stone – Dropkick Murphys: http://tinyurl.com/25qyan
• Rolling Stone – Jay Z: http://tinyurl.com/3bv5wh
• New York Times – Eminem: http://tinyurl.com/2wuwt6
• Seattle PI – Silverchair: http://tinyurl.com/3yv59z
• Seattle PI – Einstruzende Neubauten: http://tinyurl.com/36jbdf

Class 1: Underrated/Overrated

2008-01-08T10:42:00.000-08:00

In class number 1, we will take a look at Some Suggestions for Writing about Music by Dr. James Sobaskie (University of Wisconsin) and read a blog post by Scobie's brother-in-law Alek Felstiner; we'll discuss if Alek shows evidence of applying some of Dr. Sobaskie's suggestions.

Homework:
Pick an album and write about the most underrated and overrated song on the album. Post your work to this blog by Tuesday (Jan. 15) at 9am.

Links:
Suggestions for Writing about Music: http://tinyurl.com/2arqyy
New Plastic Weblog (Alek Felstiner): http://tinyurl.com/2cregs