MUSC 228
MUSIC IN PODCASTING
Catalog Entry
MUSC 228. Music in Podcasting (3).
Three hours lecture.
Survey and critical evaluation f music in podcasting as an art form including the design, and production of original material appropriate for internet distribution. Considers use of music and text to express ideas and concepts which have relevance to personal, cultural, and social contexts. Analysis of formal structures appropriate to the medium.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
Podcasting, as a verb, can be considered a new internet-based broadcast medium. However, the body of literature, currently numbering in the millions, created for this medium can also be considered as a genre. This course examines a carefully selected repertoire of works (podcasts) as one might examine a body of classical literature or music. The primary difference is that the literature being studied is representative of our contemporary culture rather than of a historical period from the past. Nevertheless, the skills necessary to evaluate contemporary literature from a formal, cultural, and personal perspective are the same skills used to evaluate expressive work from other periods of history. This course develops critical listening skills which can be used to assist in the evaluation of expressive content of any era, culture or medium.
Course Outline
I. Survey and Analysis of music in existing podcasts (50% of course)
A. Historical survey of podcasts as a genre
B. Words, music and sounds as components in effective expression
C. Personal, cultural and social biases found in existing podcasts
D. A survey of effective analytical techniques
E. Identification of formal structures appropriate to podcasts
II. Effective Design considerations (20% of course)
A. Understanding the interplay between words and music
B. Outlining a coherent formal structure appropriate for the message
C. Consideration of pre-existing music
D. Identifying an audience
III. Production Techniques (20% of course)
A. Recording and editing techniques
B. Assembly of material appropriate for internet distribution
C. Audio mastering
D. Streaming techniques
E. Copyright considerations
IV. Evaluating student product (10% of course)
A. Strategies for evaluating the effectiveness of music in a podcast
B. Assessment strategies
C. Defining an effective evolution plan
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Students will examine internet podcasting as an art form and prepare a series of original podcasts delivered on the internet which include the effective use of pre-existing music and words to communicate ideas and concepts which have been clearly identified through a pre-planning process. Students will evaluate existing works along with the work of other students in the class in order to develop critical thinking and assessment skills based on clearly defined evaluation criteria. in order to gain broad stylistic perspective, students will survey podcasts on the internet and prepare written analyses with accompanying audio examples. Students will use a computer software program to facilitate the recording, editing, assembly and preparation of digital audio material suitable for distribution on the internet. A consideration of special challenges posed by internet distribution will be integrated into the course.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Having successfully completed this course, the student will understand the precedents of podcasting in the history of music and be able to establish the role of historical precedents in relation to currently existing works. Students will understand the relationship between creative ideas, effective communication and the internet as a creative medium. Students will be able to analyze creative expression and articulate the structures and meanings of expression coherently in written and verbal form. The student will understand how creative expression functions on personal, social and practical levels. The student will demonstrate this understanding through the production of a series of original podcasts delivered on the internet. The student will be able to develop a long-range plan which addresses the needs of a specific audience, evaluates the effectiveness of the product, and offers strategies for product development in response to market surveys.
Area outcomes goals and objectives
1. Identify stylistic and formal characteristics of art works
This course will develop students' ability to identify formal structures and organizational features of podcasts relative to other forms of music expression such as strophic song forms, binary and rondo forms. Through analysis of podcasts selected by the professor students will learn to trace dramatic tension as a formal agent in podcasts as expressed through the interplay of words and music, textural and timbral variation. Students will learn to describe stylistic characteristics based on comparison of formal characteristics in diverse samples presented in class.
2. Analyze the expressive content of an artwork as intended by the creative artist
Students will consider expressive content analytically and by realizing clearly defined expressive objectives in their own original works. Class discussions will allow students to compare their personal interpretation of expressive content in extant works with the interpretations of other students. Students will also conduit surveys to determine whether others interpret their original podcasts as intended.
3. Identify and interpret works of art according to historical and cultural perspectives
Because podcasting is a contemporary genre, the majority of words discussed in the course will have been created contemporary with the conduct of the class. Historical perspectives will be drawn from works outside the genre and will include selected works drawn from the narrative musical literature of the Western canon. Culture will be addressed by considering geographical and sociological origins. Podcasts will be drawn from a diverse spectrum of countries (Western and non-Western) and class affiliations (individual, corporate, commercial). Student analysis will consider these factors along with formal structures.
Assessment Measures
Use valid strategies for assessing identified student outcomes in Section C. Strategies need to be consistent with content contained in Section A and the student outcomes listed in Section C.
Objective 1
1. Intended outcome: Radford University students should be able to identify stylistic and formal characteristics of art works (Area 2 outcome)
2. Assessment methodology: Students will submit written analyses of podcasts, as well as works of historical precedence from the Western musical canon, which trace dramatic tension as a formal agent through the interplay of words and music, textural and timbral variation.
3. Assessment report: Professor will assess student analysis of formal structure and use of appropriate terminology to describe stylistic and formal characteristics scored with a rubric which evaluates the number of stylistic and formal characteristics accurately found in existing art work. professor will submit a summary of student performance and performance data to the Office of Academic Assessment.
Objective 2
1. Intended outcome: Radford University students should be able to analyze the expressive content of an artwork as intended by the creative artist. (Area 2 outcome)
2. Assessment methodology: Students will complete an interpretive written analyses of original podcasts created by class members.
3. Assessment report: Professor will assess student understanding of creative expression of existing works through student written analysis. Professor will use a rubric to compare objectives outlined by the student creating the original work with student written analyses of that work to determine accuracy of interpretive analysis. Professor will submit a summary of student performance and performance data to the Office of Academic Assessment.
Objective 3
1. Intended outcome: Radford University students should be able to identify and interpret works of art according to historical and cultural perspectives.
2. Assessment methodology: Students will submit written analyses of podcasts which indicate awareness of cultural, sociological and geographical origin.
3. Assessment report: Professor will assess written reports with a rubric which evaluates students ability to consider podcasts in the context of cultural, sociological and geographical origin and evaluates use of appropriate terminology to describe relationships between geographic origin of the artist, intended or unintended socio-political bias, and creative expression. Professor will submit a summary of student performance and performance data to the Office of Academic Assessment.
Other Course Information
Geoghegan, Michael, Podcast Solutions: The Complete Guide to Podcasting. Berkley: Apress (ISBN: 1-59059-554-8), 2006.
Gould, Glenn. Northern Music. John Gordon Burke Publisher: Evanston, 2001.
Review and Approval
DATE ACTION REVIEWED
April, 2006