MMED 608 Songs of the 20th Century for Guitar and Banjo

3 credits 45.0 hours
600 level graduate course

In 1927, Carl Sandburg published the ‘American Songbag,’— a collection of work songs, folk songs, and ethnic songs. In his introduction he stated that ‘songs tell our story.’ In a manner that is more personal than the facts of history, songs carry and portray the emotions of the day. In this class, students will proceed decade by decade, from 1900 through 1980. The songs of each decade will be put in the context of historical events and popular culture. Students will play these songs together and explore the historic context. As an extra bonus, students will also learn to play the banjo. Pre-requisite: Basic Guitar skills and the ability to play simple accompaniment on the guitar. Equipment: Student must supply a guitar. Banjos will be provided.

Basic Guitar Skills Required
This course is not repeatable for credit.