Course Syllabus

LisbonFado.jpg

Tuning In:

Exploring Culture Through Popular Music

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Semester & Location:

Summer 2020, session 2 - DIS Stockholm

Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 3 credits

Study Tour:

Lisbon

Major Discipline:

Music

Faculty Member:

Maria Carlsson

Program Director:

Andreas Brøgger - abr@dis.dk 

Academic Coordinator:

Mark Peters - mpe@disstockholm.se

Time & Place:

June 16 - July 3, 2020

Description of Course

Explore the interaction of popular music and culture today as you dive into the distinct traditions and music scenes of Sweden and Portugal in this course. Increase your understanding of music and explore your talent through creative singing and songwriting exercises in state-of-the-art facilities at the renowned Royal Music School (KMH) in Stockholm.

From folk songs to the global success of ABBA, Aviici, and Swedish House Mafia, what makes Sweden one of the world’s top music exporters today? As part of the course, we will meet with experienced Swedish songwriters and producers who will share their inspirations and methods for songwriting and music production as you develop your own creative ideas. Field studies include visits to the contemporary Stockholm music scene.

In this course you will be trained in a masterclass setting and you will learn different writing techniques and lyrics analysis. The course is taught at your individual level and may include voice training, accompaniment, and/or music production. 

Learning Objectives

The course is taught at your individual level and the learning objectives will be weighted according to the student:

  • Understand the interaction of music and culture on various levels and in specific settings
  • Learn how to analyze and interpret lyrics
  • Develop or broaden writing skills and general creativity
  • Gain experience with digital tools for songwriting
  • Develop voice technique and personal expressions
  • Master the basics in music knowledge, such as music theory, instruments and notation
  • Gain experience performing in front of a group

Faculty

Maria Carlsson, MA in Music, Royal College of Music, Stockholm, 2017. 2-year Artist/Vocalist education at the Swedish folkhögskola Kulturama. Professional Swedish singer, performing regularly in solo, band, and vocal group concerts. Vocal teacher and teacher in music and ensemble with 10+ years experience.

Email: maria.carlsson@disstockholm.se 

Study Tour: Lisbon, Portugal

Traveling to Lisbon on our 5-day study tour we will experience first-hand the traditional Portuguese Fado music. A highly soulful, lyrical, and expressive music style, Fado is a  world renowned Portuguese treasure that is still performed in bars and festivals today . We will dive into the local music scene while also exploring historic sites and the beautiful surroundings of Lisbon which has recently become one of the most innovative and vibrant capitals of Europe. 

Required Texts

This is combined hands-on course in technical learning and academic study of music and music cultures. We will consult relevant literature such as:

Elliott, Richard: Fado and the Place of Longing: Loss, Memory and the City, Ashgate, 2010

Shuker, Roy: Understanding Popular Music Culture, Routledge, 2016

Wall, Tim: Studying Popular Music Culture, Sage Publications, 2013

Field Studies

During field studies, you will get to know some of greatest music scenes of Stockholm city. The purpose of the field studies in this course is to receive inspiration from an abundance of new exciting Swedish music, as well as to meet and network with Swedish music students and professionals. Detailed visits to be announced, as concert programs become available closer to the dates.

Guest Musicians

During two class sessions, experienced Swedish songwriters will be visiting our classroom to share technique and expertise. Detailed visits to be announced.

Expectations of the Students

I expect you to be well prepared when you come to class, meaning that you should have finished your assignments on time. I expect you to be brave sharing your thoughts and your music with the group, and also willing to work with your material and try new ideas in front of the group. I likewise expect you to show respect for other students by being focused and involved in their processes as we are working in master classes. You are also expected to protect the integrity of the group by keeping confidentiality of what is said and done by students in the classroom. It is also of great importance to keep a positive and supportive attitude towards the work of the others in the class.

Evaluation

Engaged participation will be rewarded in this class, both regarding your own work and while taking part in the processes of others. As a student in this course, you will not be compared to the other students in the group, but rather evaluated based on your individual level and development curve. Your will, engagement and efforts will be highly rewarded in this class.

Grading

In order to receive a passing grade, you must complete all the assignments.

Assignment

Percent

Participation and Engagement

50%

Short Assignments

30%

Final Project 

20%

Academic Regulations

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due