Vocal Styles from Around the World

Syllabus

Lesson 1: The Music of India

• Ragas or Rag (Melody)
• Carnatic and Hindustani Ragas
• Tala (Meter)
• Carnatic and Hindustani Talas
• Improvisation
• Different Styles/Forms of Vocal Music
• Folk Traditions
• Film Music
• Assignment 1: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 2: The Music of Polynesia, Tuva, East Asia, Russia, Ukraine, and Scandinavia

• The Music of Polynesia
• The Music of Tuva
• The Music of East and Southeast Asia (China, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand)
• The Music of Russia and Ukraine
• The Music of Scandinavia (Sweden, Finland, and Iceland)
• Assignment 2: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 3: The Music of the Caucasus

• The Music of Armenia
• The Music of Iran
• The Music of Georgia
• The Music of Kurdistan and Azerbaijan
• Assignment 3: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 4: The Music of the Levant: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Palestine

• Phrasing and Ornamentation
• The Maqam System (Hijaz, Bayati, and Rast)
• Rhythms (Iqa’at)
• Legends of Classical Arabic Music
• Assignment 4: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 5: The Music of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula

• The Music of the Arabian Peninsula
• The Music of North Africa: Algeria and Morocco
• The Music of East Africa
• The Music of West Africa
• The Music of South Africa
• Assignment 5: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 6: The Music of the Balkans

• The Music of Bulgaria
• The Choral Tradition of Bulgaria
• The Music of Greece
• The Music of Turkey
• Assignment 6: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 7: The Music of Poland, Hungary, Transylvania, and Romania

• The Music of Poland
• The Music of Hungary
• The Music of Transylvania
• The Music of Romania
• Assignment 7: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 8: The Music of the Mediterranean

• The Music of Southern Italy (Naples, Sardinia, Sicily, Calabria, and Puglia)
• The Music of Central Italy
• The Music of Northern Italy
• The Music of France and Corsica
• Assignment 8: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 9: The Music of Portugal and Spain

• The Music of Portugal and Cabo Verde
• The Music of Spain (Galicia, Basque Country, Catalonia, and Mallorca)
• The Music of Spain (Andalusia)
• Flamenco Rhythms (Palmas)
• Assignment 9: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 10: The Music of the Central and Latin America

• The Music of Mexico
• The Music of the Caribbean
• The Music of Colombia
• The Music of Venezuela
• The Music of Argentina
• Assignment 10: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 11: The Music of Brazil

• MPB (Música Popular Brasileira)
• The Music of Bahia
• The Masters: Antônio Carlos Jobim, Elis Regina, and Astrud Gilberto
• The Masters: João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, and Gilberto Gil
• Assignment 11: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection

Lesson 12: Sacred Vocal Styles from Around the World

• Byzantine Music and Gregorian Chant
• Sufi Music (Turkey/Persia/Syria)
• Qawwali Music (Pakistan)
• Santeria (Cuba)
• Assignment 12: Transcription, Performance, and Reflection