GRMUS H684 — African American Music: An Introduction

2 credits
Fall
Fredara Hadley

This course traces the evolution of African American music from its origins in pre-colonial West Africa into the 21st Century and considers interwoven black folk, classical, and popular musical traditions. Topics include: considerations of African and African American approaches to music-making; the ways in which classical forms can preserve folk traditions and use them as a means of innovation; the effects of racism and broader social movements upon musical genre; and a survey of contemporary African American musical cultures. Students will complete projects that directly engage Juilliard’s longstanding affiliations with African American music and the diverse ways in which African American music exists in New York City.