Music Course Opens New World To Studens
Des Moines, Iowa (Feb. 5, 1997)-- Music by Mozart and Beethoven are well-known, but how many people can say they are familiar with music of other cultures aside from Western music?
Drake students can learn about music of other cultures through a new course called "World Music," an elective course taught by Patricia Shinehouse, assistant professor of flute. This is the first time it has been offered at Drake, although plans for such a course have been developing for several years.
A variety of music is presented from many cultures. These include African, African-American, Native American, music of the Middle East, Indonesian, Indian, Japanese and Celtic.
The course is designed as a listening course with a lecture component. Basic cultural and historical information is taught along with the social structures of the culture and how the musicians are perceived. Information about the different instruments used in these cultures and the functions of the music in each culture are emphasized.
"It's sociology as much as it is musical," Melissa Korte (FA1) said.
For this semester, the course is open only to students with a music major or minor. Plans are being made to offer it in the fall semesters to non-music majors and to music majors and minors during spring semesters. The course will be adapted to make it less technical for non-music majors.
Some of the nine students enrolled in the course took it for a greater understanding of world music. "I'm an education major and thought it was necessary to expose my future students to music of other cultures...not norms," Alicia Shreffler (FA1) said.
"I hope I really broaden my horizons musically so it sounds normal to my ear," Korte said.
One of the requirements of the course is a field project. This entails interviewing someone who plays music from a different culture and then writing a paper for presentation.
"The professor is excited (about the class) and makes it more interesting," Shreffler said.
Other events associated with the class are an appearance by a South Indian trio in recital and a workshop on March 18. The workshop is at noon in Bulldog Theater and the recital will be held at 8 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium.
"I would like to see more live music from a variety of backgrounds presented at Drake in the future," Shinehouse said.
Shinehouse is always looking for students with special skills in music of a different culture to speak or perform for the class. "I can't cover all the music of the world, but I'm always interested in adding new music into the course," Shinehouse said.
© 1997 CyberPress Communications, School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Drake University 50311.
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