L1 Sept 6 Main Points

The Study of music

Professor Frederick Lau
Department of Music
CUHK-University of Hawaii

© Frederick Lau
• When do you listen to music?

• What does listening to music bring to you?

• What does music mean to you?

• How is music different from other cultural

practice?

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 Wax cylinder

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Wax cylinder

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Long-playing records

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 Long-playing record player

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Open reel

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 Reel-to-reel player

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 Cassette player

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MP3 players

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 Leading questions
• Why is music so important to human
societies?

• What is this thing called that gives people so

much pleasure?

• How do we go about understanding it?

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 What is Music?
• Easy question?

• Yes? No?

• What is music to you?

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 What is involved in music?
• Sounds?
• Performance?
• Action?
• Behavior?
• Expression?
• Communication?
• Beauty?

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 Universal truth & beauty?
• Who is defining?

• The criteria with which we use to define

music.

• Cultural conditioning.

• Challenging the claim to universal truth

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What is shared/heard through music?
• Music embodies the uniqueness and
distinctiveness of a people, expressing
values.

• Each group developed its own music

to address universal themes and to
express a worldview.

• Music is culture.
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• Listening to Music = listening to
culture

• What is going on behind music?

• Who is making all the decision and

why?

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 Grading Criteria of the Course
• Attendance & Participation 10%
• Music journal 10%
• In-class Group Presentations (10+20) 30%
• Midterm Exam 20%
• Final Exam 30%

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 . In-class Group Presentations
• Form groups of 5 people

• Share the work

• Discussion and presentation

• Last group project: try your hands on musical

analysis.

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 4 Oct 1st in-class presentation
• Share your journal of music and sound with
your group members. Summarize the group
experience in your presentation. PPT is ok but
not required. 5 minutes each group. Select a
group leader to present.

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 22 Nov 2nd in-class presentation
Select a piece of music of any style

• Discuss its background and meaning to the

group, in the context, and society in general.
• Discussion should relate to and build upon the
themes of the classes or assigned readings.
• You MUST submit a PPT after the
presentation.
• 10 minute per group.
• Everyone must speak during the presentation.
© Frederick Lau