Skip to main content
  2. Course Syllabus

Course Syllabus

Course Syllabus & Guidelines for History of Rock and Roll

Mr. Eustace – FAC Band Hall

Course Description

This course will be graded and you will earn a Fine Arts Credit.  There are no pre-requisites and you do not have to be musically talented. 

This course seeks to balance understanding the development and significance of Rock and Roll in its historical and social environment with maintaining a focus on listening to the music as the main mode of understanding. Through listening, analysis, discussion, music, and film students will explore the music and the culture and society of the day.  Class assignments will be organized around song analysis, small group discussions, and in-class activities.  The course begins with an overview of ancestors and influences: blues, boogie-woogie, jazz, swing, country & western, gospel and popular music, and the crossover success of rhythm & blues acts that marked the true birth of rock & roll.    We will study the musical and social trends of the 1960s, including the influence of the British Invasion, which really signaled the arrival of rock’s second generation, the rock explosion and social upheaval of the late 1960’s, and the changes in Rock & Roll music during the seventies, eighties, and nineties.  The course will culminate in an exploration of today’s current musical trends and icons including rap/hip hop.

 

 There will be tests at the conclusion of each unit, as well as required reading assignments, music listening assignments, class discussions, reflections and multi-media presentations.   This course reflects the belief that the Centerville High School educational community fosters academic   excellence and responsible citizenship in a positive, safe and respectful environment in order to develop productive contributors to society.

 

 Topics Include:

 

Tin Pan Alley and the 1950’s   -   The Blues, Rock-and-Roll, and Racism   -   Elvis and Rockabilly   -   The Teen Market; From “Bandstand” to Girl Groups   -   Surfboards and Hot Rods; California,   Here We Come   -   Bob Dylan and the New Frontier   -   Motown; The Sound of Integration   -      The British Blues Invasion and Garage Rock   -   British Invasion of America; The Beatles   -  

Folk Rock   -   Acid Rock   -   Fire from the Streets   -   Militant Blues on Campus   -   Escaping into

the Seventies   -   The Era of Excess   -   Punk Rock and the New Generation   -   I Want My MTV  

-   The Promise of Rock-and-Roll   -   The Generation X Blues   -   The Rave Revolution and Britpop

-   The Hip-Hop Nation   -   Metal Gumbo; Rockin’ in the Twenty-first Century   -   The Internet,    

 Jam Bands and Three Shades of the Blues   -   Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes

 

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

  • Identify the major artists in rock music, including their influences and their legacy
  • Recognize the musical styles that informed rock
  • Identify the key trends that helped rock redefine itself through the decades
  • Associate the historical context of culture, society, politics, and prejudices that impacted rock
  • Assess the major business and technological innovations that move rock music forward

     

     Student Expectations

     

    History of Rock and Roll students are expected to enjoy learning about this material and to try and get an appreciation about this type of music which is such an important part of your lives. 

 

Here are some of the expectations that I have for you:

  • You are expected to take part in class discussions; nothing you have to say is wrong, and as such we will be respectful to each other at all times.
  • You are expected to do the reading assignments (see below).  We will read the entire textbook, with a lot of pictures and only 580 pages.  This amounts to an average for the year of about 4 pages per school night.  This reading will be the basis for class discussion.
  • At the end of each chapter, you are expected to do playlist song analysis assignments.  This means listening to different representative songs, reading the lyrics and completing a song analysis questionnaire.  These will also be the basis for class discussion.  You will also be expected to lead the class in a discussion of one of these analyses for the semester.
  • You are expected to do an oral multimedia presentation sometime near the end of the first term.  You may work with one other person in this presentation.
  • You, and your parent or guardian should read this document and must sign      and return the attached permission slip

     

    Important Course Considerations

     

  • Music, including rock and roll, affects behavior in both positive and negative ways
  • If we acknowledge that some aspects of Rock and Roll have good effects on society, we must also acknowledge that some aspects have bad effects.
  • Where is rock and roll headed in the future, louder? more sexually explicit?, more outrageous?
  • Are all rock and roll musicians striving for success?  How does that relate to being commercial?
  • Rock and Roll may be here to stay but individual artist and styles are not.
  • Rock is no longer counterculture - it is culture.
  • The audience for rock is getting both younger and older.
  • Not all music is art, much of it is just product – we will try and distinguish between the two.
  • As we move through the history of rock and roll we find lyrics have become more explicit and deal with themes of sex, drugs, social and political Issues, violent behavior and suicide.
  • Since lyrics are an important part of the course, we need to realize that some (but not the majority of) lyrics are objectionable.  We need to keep this in mind as we choose, analyze and listen to music.

     

    Course Objectives

     

    The Student will be able to:

     

  • Answer the essential question:  How has Rock & Roll reflected and been influenced by      major social and cultural changes during the last fifty five years?
  • To classify the subject of a song into cultural/social categories such as environment, peace/antiwar, sports, social upheaval, justice/injustice, civil rights, economics, gender roles in society, romantic love, sex, alienation, rock music, introspection, counter culture, etc…
  • To demonstrate an awareness of the major factors involved in the development of Rock and Roll from its roots to the present.
  • To acquire useful and relevant information by making connections between the artists a musical genres of yesterday and today.
  • To develop the necessary skills to gather further information about musical topics of interest.
  • To think critically about information sources, both primary and secondary, recognizing bias and viewpoint and separating fact from fiction.
  • To respect and appreciate one’s own musical culture and interests as well as those of others.
  • To develop an aural awareness of the changing sounds of Rock and Roll over time.
  • To recognize themes of violence, misogyny, and homophobia in music

 

General Classroom Behavior

 

  • You are expected to respect and value yourself, your school environment and the diversity      of the CHS community.
  • You are expected to contribute to classes and work cooperatively.
  • You are expected to come to class prepared and you are responsible for all missing work
  • Bullying of any kind is not permitted in this classroom
  • You are to be in your assigned seat when the bell rings.  Otherwise you are late which may result in a referral.
  • You are expected not to talk while I am speaking or interrupt while other people are speaking.
  • There will be no getting out of your seat or speaking without permission.  If you want to   speak or get of your seat during class, raise your hand and wait to be recognized.
  • There will be no leaving the room except for emergencies, which should not occur often.
  • If you need to leave the room, ask for permission, and leave as quietly as possible.
  • Books should be covered at all times.  If you lose your book, report it to me immediately.
  • The bell does not dismiss the class.
  • No eating or drinking in the classroom.

 Textbook

 

You are expected to bring the following materials to class every day:

  • – A binder with sections and lined paper
  • – A pen or pencil for jotting down notes
  • – Textbook – covered at all times

 

Internet Access

I have a homepage on the Internet. http://www.centerville.k12.tx.us/84616_2

This page will contain a course specific section on which I hope to put all homework assignments, projects,    a copy of the course syllabus and links that will be helpful and interesting to you.  Be sure to visit this page regularly.  Email can be sent to me at jeustace@centerville.k12.tx.us.  My homepage also has valuable links to other resources you need in this class.

 

Semester Grading Policy

Your grade comes from point values assigned to tests, homework, cooperative group activities and Internet projects.  Grades will be calculated by dividing the total number of points that you have earned by the maximum number of points that you could have earned and calculating a percent.  For example if you earned 80 points out of a possible 100 points, then you get 80/100  = 80%.

 

Reading Assignments

You are expected to read the entire textbook over the course of the semester.  I will distribute chapter outlines for each of the chapters as we read the book.  At the end of each chapter, I will collect and grade your outlines.  I expect you just jot down the outline information as you read the chapter, and as we discuss the chapter in class.  Please be prepared to take copious notes; you will  be able to use them for some essays questions and/or open book tests and quizzes.

 

Playlist Song Analysis

You are also expected to read over the Playlist song analysis which will be handed out at the beginning of each Chapter.  These correspond to the Listening Guides presented in each chapter.  An analysis consists of going to my school website page http://www.centerville.k12.tx.us/84616_2 and listening to the songs in the playlist (we’ll also listen to these in class), then completing the questions.                            

Read the Playlists, Research the Lyrics, Listen to the Song, Complete the Questions, Turn in.

 

Tests and Quizzes

Unannounced quizzes on assigned readings are frequently given.  If you miss a class and a quiz, your grade on that quiz will be a ZERO.  You may eliminate the zero by writing a 5-7 sentence summary of the selection read.  Proper essay format will be required for the paragraph to count. 

There will be tests at the conclusion of each chapter. Expect the tests to be wide ranging in format – true/false, multiple choice, matching, fill in the blank, and essay.  On occasion these may be open book.

                                                                                                    

First Semester Project

Near the need of the first semester you are expected to give a multimedia oral presentation to the class.  You will be able to work with one other person on this presentation.  I do not have the completed details work out at this point, but it will probably be a biography or genre project.

 

Final Project

There is no final exam for this course, but there will be a final project.  This will also be a multi-media oral presentation, which will require more preparation time then the first project.  You will be able to work with one other person on this presentation.   You will be given some time in class to prepare for it, but you are expected to do most of the preparation on your own.   Presentations will take place near the end of the second term and may extend in to the exam period.  Your presentation will reflect open the ways rock and roll has influenced and been influenced by one the following cultural/social categories: environment, peace/antiwar, sports, social upheaval, justice/injustice, civil rights, economics, gender roles in society, romantic love, sex, alienation, rock music, introspection, counter culture or another classification that you and I have agreed upon.   

 

I will give you more details about this project as we get into the second term.

 

Make-up Work

If you miss a song analysis or a homework assignment for any reason, you are expected to make it up.  Incomplete work, for any reason, will count as a 0 (Zero).

 

Extra Help

If you are having trouble with any material, you are expected to seek extra help from me.

 

 

History of Rock –n- Roll Acknowledgement



Dear Parent / Guardian,

During the course with our research and discussions about the History of Rock and Roll, we find lyrics have become more explicit and deal with themes of sex, drugs, social and political Issues, violent behavior and suicide.

 

Since lyrics are an important part of the course, we need to realize that some (but not the majority of) lyrics are objectionable.  We need to keep this in mind as we choose, analyze and listen to music.

Along with the text book, this class will incorporate the use of educational videos, documentaries, movies, along with our hands-on activities such as reading, in-class discussion groups, and research projects, to give students a well-rounded opportunity to discover the world of Rock and Roll.  These extra activities go beyond dry facts and help bring events “alive.”

Be assured that proper discretion will be adhered to when discussing and disseminating this information.

Because of these factors, Centerville School District is requesting parental permission for your student to take this class. 

Thank you for taking the time to read the attached History of Rock and Roll Course Syllabus, and sign this permission form.

Sincerely,

John Eustace,
 


Student Name       ______________________

____ Yes, I approve my child’s viewing of curriculum and school appropriate activities.

____ No, I do not approve my child’s viewing of curriculum and school appropriate activities.
 

Guardian signature/date___________________________

Notes: