Class 7: Musician Biographies

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

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

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.