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University of Wyoming

-World Music-

 

Introduction to the Musics of the World’s Peoples (MUSC 3015)

Rod Garnett, Professor, Department of Music

 

“Learning about the history, culture, the people involved, and where the music came from gave me a better understanding and appreciation of rap music.  It has made me a little more tolerable of rap, almost as the more I understood the more I liked about it.  This project broke down my stereotype that I had about rap.  Now I can hear it play and not have to go to a different room because I can’t stand it.” 

MUSC 3015 student, in response to the “Music I Don’t Like” project

 

Introduction to the Musics of the World’s Peoples is an interactive course with a central goal of teaching students to understand that music is never an isolated phenomenon, but one that is shaped by a myriad of cultural, socio-political, and geographic conditions.  While the level of student engagement has always been high in this course, Rod’s involvement with CLAAS has resulted in a more consolidated approach to meeting the goals of student learning.  Rod has identified the following literacies:

   Analytical music listening                Interpreting musical events

Understanding the concept of a music culture

 

Using the CLAAS model as a guide for course assessment, Rod and his assistants are modifying the course so that all activities clearly and effectively address at least one, and often all, of the identified literacies.  Modifications include the following:

  • Literacy-based testing.  Rather than testing students on isolated details from the course text books, Rod has revised his quizzes to directly and repeatedly test the students’ understanding of the above literacies as they relate to the course content.

  • Increased support for student learning.  Based on formative assessments, Rod continually adapts his presentation of course material and assignments to better clarify his expectations and dissuade anxiety. 

  • Development of the “Music I Don’t Like” project.  This mini fieldwork project is designed to help students transform their own attitudes of bias – however harmless – into attitudes of appreciation. 

Highlighting Course Assistants

 

As part of the FIPSE grant, each CLAAS instructor has received funding to hire one or more course assistants to help them with assessment.  Instead of identifying graduate teaching assistants, the faculty have used a wide variety of personnel ranging from undergraduate students to full professors.  As a result of this variety, the assistants have contributed an unforeseen positive dynamic to the project’s character. 

The working relationship that Rod has developed with his assistants has led to significant changes in course design.  UW senior Rachel Crocker and CLAAS Project Coordinator Aura Newlin are each assigned to one of the two sections of world music offered every semester.  In addition to reviewing student work, they assist in the following ways:

  • Attend all of the class sessions to observe student behaviors and help with the in-class discussions and activities.

  • Meet weekly with Rod to discuss assignments and assessment strategies.

  • Develop ways to improve student learning.

The openly collaborative nature of this teaching team has been instrumental in bringing about the changes listed on the previous page.  While Rod acknowledges that their success is due in part to the fact that his assistants have been selected rather than assigned, he believes that similar progress could be achieved in other courses.

In a recently submitted article, Rod asserts that “course assistants must be given real responsibility for the process of designing assignments and working with students.  If the primary instructor is unwilling to take criticism or allow the assistants to try things out on their own, real change or development is unlikely.”  Rod and his assistants all agree that a commitment to course improvement and ongoing, shared interaction can be positive, instructive, and enjoyable for the instructor, course assistants, and students.