Fall 2024 Course Syllabus
Course: MUSI-1310 (Section: 3E, CRN: 92331)
American Music
LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Madeleine LaFollette
Email lafollettemp@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6524
Office Sam and Linda Monroe Performing Arts Center - Room: 126
Office Hours MW 9AM-11AM, F 9AM-10AM, or by appointment
Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description General survey of various styles of music in America. Topics may include jazz, ragtime, folk, rock, and contemporary art music which promotes the appreciation of cultural expressions.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer. 
 

An Introduction to America's Music, 3rd Ed. 
Richard Crawford (author) and Larry Hamberlin Waterman (author) 
W. W. Norton and Company, 2018 
Print ISBN: 978-0-393-66828-5 
eText ISBN: 978-0-393-69096-5 

Additional Materials/Resources

Note-taking materials (laptop, iPad, or pen and paper, etc) 

Folder/Binder 

Blackboard Access 

Office 365 Access 

Corequisites/Prerequisites None
Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 1. Identify the elements, styles, and musicians representative of music within the chosen style(s). 2. Analyze the elements and structures of music using appropriate terminology. 3. Critically evaluate the influence of social, political, technological, and/or cultural ideas on the chosen musical style(s). 4. Articulate an informed personal reflection of the chosen musical style(s). 
 
Students will engage in active listening to identify, interpret, distinguish, and critique the elements of music in instrumental and vocal music (classical, jazz, music for the stage and screen, and classic rock). (PSSLO 1abdcd; 3abcd; 4abc). 
 
Students will be able to summarize the history and development of musical styles as connected to composers, musical terms, and music genres (PSLO 1abcd; 3abcd) 
 
Students will be able to map, associate, and compare the development of music with the different periods of human history (PSLO 1abcd; 3abcd; 4abc) 
 
Students will be able to debate, propose, and participate with personal responsibility. (PSLO 4) 
 
Students will be able to appreciate the American song as an expression of social diversity, civic responsibility awareness of their own, and others' culture. (PSLO 5)
Core Objectives
* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual communication.
* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.
* Empirical and Quantitative Skills: Students will demonstrate applications of scientific and mathematical concepts.
* Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.
* Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.
* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.

Lecture Topics Outline

Module I. Music Fundamentals, Secular and Sacred Music in the European Colonies (Weeks 1-5) 

Module II. America’s Music From the Civil War Through World War I (Weeks 6-7) 

Module III. America's Music from World War I through World War II (Weeks 8-9) 

Module IV. America's Music in the Postwar Era (Weeks 10-12) 

Module V. America's Music since 1980 (Weeks 13-15) 

Major Assignments Schedule

Test 1: Opens Thursday, September 26 9:25am; Closes Saturday, September 28 11:59pm 

Test 2: Opens Thursday, October 24 9:25am; Closes Saturday, October 26 11:59pm 

Test 3: Opens Thursday, November 14 9:25am; Closes Saturday, November 16 11:59pm 

Final Exam Opens Thursday, December 5 at 9:25am; Closes Saturday, December 7 at 11:59pm 

Each module will consist of various discussion boards and assignments to be completed and turned in via BlackBoard. 

Final Exam Date December 5, 2024 - 9:25 AM   Through  December 7, 2024 - 11:59 PM
Grading Scale

 90 - 100 = A     80 - 89 = B     70 - 79 = C     60 - 69 = D     Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade

Final Exam 

25% 

Tests 

25% 

Assignments  

25% 

Discussion Boards  

15% 

Attendance   

10% 


Course Policies
Instructor Policies

Academic Dishonesty: Academic dishonesty is never tolerated in this or any course. Students are expected to cite all outside sources. The instructor will use Blackboard tools to ensure student work is authentic and original. Cheating or copying of any kind will not be tolerated in this course and may result in a failing grade or further consequences per school policy. 

Absences and Late Arrivals: All classes begin promptly at the start time. Students are expected to be seated and prepared at the beginning of every class. If a student knows that they will be late or absent from class, they must contact the instructor via email at lafollettemp@lamarpa.edu. 

Grades and Late Work: All grades will be posted in Blackboard. Students must meet with the instructor to discuss grades and grading policies. All work must be submitted on time. Late work will be subject to a 5% grade reduction after one day and a 10% grade reduction for every day after. (For example, if an assignment with a grade of 100% is submitted one day late, the grade would be reduced to a 95%. If the same assignment is submitted two days late, the grade would be reduced to an 85%. After three days, the grade would be a 75%.) Submission extensions may be granted in extreme circumstances and must be discussed with the instructor.  

Attendance Policy

The instructor takes attendance promptly at the beginning of every lecture. 

Students are expected to attend and participate in all lectures for this course. If a student is late or absent from class, they must inform the instructor via email (lafollettemp@lamarpa.edu). 

Attendance counts for 10% of a student’s overall grade in this course. Failure to attend class may result in a student failing this course. If a student accumulates over 5 unexcused absences in this course, they will automatically fail. Any student with perfect attendance (no unexcused absences) will receive an automatic 5 point bonus added to their final exam grade. 

An absence is only considered excused if it is unavoidable (illness with a doctor’s note, bereavement, injury or accident en route to class).  

A planned appointment will not be excused by the instructor. 

Students are expected to arrive on time for all lectures. A student will lose half of their daily attendance credit for any late arrival or early departure exceeding 5 minutes. A student more than 20 minutes late to class will be counted as absent and unexcused. 

Additional Information Students are encouraged to utilize the resources provided by LSCPA Student Services (https://www.lamarpa.edu/student-services/index.html) such as tutoring, counseling, career coaching, and the food pantry.  
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
Commercial Music, Visual and Performing Arts
Chair:Dr. Blas Canedo Gonzalez
Email:canedoba@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6547