Primarily, we will describe and analyze the short-term and long-term changes in American culture by its exposure to the music and behavior of The Beatles from 1964 to 1970. Secondarily, we will compare the changes wrought by The Beatles in the working and middle classes in America with those in Britain during the same time. Students will attend lectures, participate in discussions, and produce projects which show how The Beatles changed American (and British) society from the 1960s to the present.

Life presents us with challenges. We must "audition" every day. Actors must audition for stage and film work. This class will provide practical guidelines on the process of auditions and useful tools for auditioning. Important audition elements such as concentration, truth, spontaneity, energy, humor, courage and skill will be covered. Topics will include: theatre scenes, monologues, as well as auditioning for film/television, and musicals. It will be lively, practical, hands-on class for anyone interested in getting their feet wet, or improving their skills. Novices and seasoned veterans are welcome.

The purpose of this multidisciplinary course is to explore the transformations of African musical cultures as they have evolved around the globe and contributed to the world's musical heritage. Music is explored, as culture, to understand social, historical contexts, the vast array of musical instruments, ensemble types, and the structural organization of the music itself. Both indigenous styles and modern acculturated forms will be examined to perceive transformations in African music from past to modern times.

This course will provide students with a framework for looking at gender as a social construction. In doing so, we will place American popular/rock music in varying theoretical contexts. We will investigate its impact on social perceptions of gender and gauge the differing social reaction and responses. Much of our focus will deal with theories pertaining to transgression and transformation of gender in this specific popular culture medium. We will ask the question: Why is popular music, and its expressive forms, a site of transgression and, possibly, transformation of gender (and its intersection with sexuality)? We will then assess the effect on the 'fan,' examining the concepts of 'imitation' and 'authenticity.' Throughout, we will continually survey the texts of cultural critics, fans and music.

This course deals with the changes in music's compositional forms and subcultures in the last century due to technological advances and diffusions. We will consider the change from the point-of-view of the following players that necessarily coexist in this realm: artists (the creators), the entertainment industry (the gatekeepers and promoters), and consumers (the ultimate judges of success). We'll begin with radio, a traditional means of distributing and promoting a very small amount of music, and end with the internet, which has proved to be a radical way of promoting all recorded music, by what some would say are egalitarian means.

Live sound engineers must have the engineering skills to safely control vast amounts of electric and acoustical energy, and the artistic skills to mix a tasteful, enveloping show. This course will heavily stress the underlying principles of acoustics and electro acoustics, while encouraging students to listen critically and to mix artistically. Students will submit listening, research, and recording projects to evaluate their development. Advanced topics will be omitted or only briefly mentioned if needed to allow for complete explanation of key concepts.

The purpose of this interdisciplinary course is to explore the transformations of African musical cultures as they have evolved around the globe and contributed to the world's musical heritage. Music is explored, as culture, to understand, social, historical contexts, the vast array of musical instruments, ensemble types, and the structural organization of the music itself. Both indigenous styles and modern acculturated forms will be examined to understand transformations in African music from past to modern times and so students can become familiar with local community resources for an engaged appreciation of course materials. (This course was canceled 01/14).