This online textbook is written from the perspective of an historical study of musical styles and their meanings for the studied subcultures. It is not an encyclopedic text that strives to include all composers and performers, but rather, is centered on presenting the important musical milestones of each studied cultural group. The introductory chapters focus on developing an understanding of how to identify and discuss the musical attributes that will be used throughout the textbook, understanding how cultures create their own distinctive cultural markers, and the influence of technology on the narrative of popular music. The chapters that follow are each centered on a separate American cultural group: Anglo; African; Hispanic; Native American; and Asian/Pacific Islander. All 174 musical example are linked to Spotify and plays from within the textbook. 75% of the musical examples have associated listening guides that illuminate important musical features and historical significance, as well as an analysis of the example with blow-by-blow descriptions for easy reference. 45 short-answer and multiple choice questions are embedded in the chapters which may be used as checks on student progress through the materials. Spotify playlists are available for students. It is intended to be used in conjunction with an online course shell that is distributed as an IMS Common Cartridge Archive for use in Canvas or Blackboard. Ancillary materials in the course site include review sheets with listings of audio examples and important vocabulary, seven discussions that challenge critical thinking, seven groups of quizzes each of which includes objective and listening quizzes, four writing assignments, and rubrics for all assignments.
Larry Worster, Ph.D., holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry from St. Lawrence University, a Bachelor's in Classical Guitar, and a master's and Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of Colorado. He taught for 38 years at the Metropolitan State University of Denver. Having served twice as Department chair, he is currently Professor Emeritus. Worster's background is rooted in the folk and popular traditions of the United States. He was a founding member of the Irish ensemble Colcannon. He currently leads the top rock 'n' roll band in the South Tucson area, as well as perming on the bass with the two big bands of Green Valley. As part of his studies at CU and beyond, he participated in a variety of ensembles from African American gospel choirs and African drumming ensembles to Indonesian gamelans. This textbook is a result of his endless search for a textbook that offered a comprehensive explanation of the music of America's diverse subcultures.