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Meghan Perdue
and
Leslie A. Tilley
In this course, you’ll be learning about musical rhythm from across the world. You don’t have to read music notation to take this course; you don’t have to play an instrument. You don’t need to know any special musical terminology or theory to begin; You will learn all the concepts you need as we go… and the terminology and how it varies across the world. The course will explore music from all over the world and throughout time, from traditional African music, to Balinese Gamelan, to classical Japanese, Indian, and Western music, to contemporary reggaetone and punk music. You will learn how to recognize specific kinds of rhythms, and follow their development through time and around the world. You will also learn how different cultures developed different styles and ideas about rhythm, meter, melody and structure, and learn to start to distinguish some main ideas. So whether you’re a virtuoso violinist or tabla player, or your main musical expertise is singing in the shower, all you need to succeed in this course is curiosity and a willingness to jump in with both feet.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/ihsoaq/world
What's inside
Learning objectives
- Learn to recognize important global rhythms, understand some of their history and how they have impacted contemporary music
- Learn to feel and play these rhythms
- Concepts and techniques of rhythm and metric structure
- Learn to recognize important global rhythms, understand some of their history and how they have impacted contemporary music
- Learn to feel and play these rhythms
- Concepts and techniques of rhythm and metric structure
Syllabus
Week 1: Meter and Beat
Week 2: Cycles and Timelines
Week 3: Rhythm Details
Week 4: Texture
Read more
Syllabus
Week 1: Meter and Beat
Week 2: Cycles and Timelines
Week 3: Rhythm Details
Week 4: Texture
Read more
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Develops an understanding of different cultural definitions of rhythm and melody
Covers a diverse array of genres and musical traditions
Provides a strong foundation for further exploration of rhythm and its impact on music
Requres no prior musical knowledge or experience
Suitable for a range of students, including novice musicians and those with an interest in global music
Introduces foundational concepts in rhythm and metric structure
Save this course
Save World Music: Global Rhythms to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save
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Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in World Music: Global Rhythms with these
activities:
Review Western music theory
Show steps
Reviewing the basics of Western music theory will provide a strong foundation for understanding the concepts of rhythm.
Browse courses on
Music Theory
Show steps
-
Read a book or online resource on Western music theory
-
Watch video tutorials on music theory
Read 'The Music of Time'
Show steps
Reading 'The Music of Time' will provide a comprehensive history of music, including discussions of rhythm from different cultures and time periods.
Browse courses on
Music History
Show steps
-
Find a copy of 'The Music of Time' by John Potter
-
Read the book and take notes on the sections related to rhythm
Practice identifying rhythms
Show steps
Regularly practicing the skill of identifying rhythms will lead to improved recognition and understanding.
Show steps
-
Use an online rhythm trainer
-
Listen to music and try to identify the rhythms being played
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Discuss rhythm with a classmate
Show steps
Talking to others about rhythm will help you clarify your understanding and learn from different perspectives.
Show steps
-
Find a classmate who is also taking the course
-
Schedule a time to meet and discuss rhythm
-
Come prepared to discuss your understanding of rhythm and ask questions
Attend a music festival or concert
Show steps
Attending music events can expose you to live performances and provide opportunities to learn from others.
Show steps
-
Find a music festival or concert that features global music
-
Attend the event and listen to the music
-
Talk to other attendees about their experiences
Compose a rhythm exercise
Show steps
Creating a rhythm exercise will allow you to demonstrate understanding of rhythm and help others learn.
Show steps
-
Choose a rhythm to focus on
-
Create a series of exercises that gradually increase in difficulty
-
Share your exercise with others
Contribute to a project related to rhythm
Show steps
Contributing to a project will allow you to apply your skills to a real-world context.
Browse courses on
Rhythm
Show steps
-
Find a project on GitHub or another open-source platform
-
Read the project documentation and familiarize yourself with the codebase
-
Make a contribution to the project
Review Western music theory
Show steps
Reviewing the basics of Western music theory will provide a strong foundation for understanding the concepts of rhythm.
Browse courses on
Music Theory
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read a book or online resource on Western music theory
- Watch video tutorials on music theory
Read 'The Music of Time'
Show steps
Reading 'The Music of Time' will provide a comprehensive history of music, including discussions of rhythm from different cultures and time periods.
Browse courses on
Music History
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a copy of 'The Music of Time' by John Potter
- Read the book and take notes on the sections related to rhythm
Practice identifying rhythms
Show steps
Regularly practicing the skill of identifying rhythms will lead to improved recognition and understanding.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Use an online rhythm trainer
- Listen to music and try to identify the rhythms being played
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Discuss rhythm with a classmate
Show steps
Talking to others about rhythm will help you clarify your understanding and learn from different perspectives.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a classmate who is also taking the course
- Schedule a time to meet and discuss rhythm
- Come prepared to discuss your understanding of rhythm and ask questions
Attend a music festival or concert
Show steps
Attending music events can expose you to live performances and provide opportunities to learn from others.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a music festival or concert that features global music
- Attend the event and listen to the music
- Talk to other attendees about their experiences
Compose a rhythm exercise
Show steps
Creating a rhythm exercise will allow you to demonstrate understanding of rhythm and help others learn.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Choose a rhythm to focus on
- Create a series of exercises that gradually increase in difficulty
- Share your exercise with others
Contribute to a project related to rhythm
Show steps
Contributing to a project will allow you to apply your skills to a real-world context.
Browse courses on
Rhythm
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find a project on GitHub or another open-source platform
- Read the project documentation and familiarize yourself with the codebase
- Make a contribution to the project
Career center
Learners who complete World Music: Global Rhythms will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Ethnomusicologist
Ethnomusicologist
For an Ethnomusicologist, this course can help build a foundation in the field of musical rhythm. This course will help an ethnomusicologist develop an understanding of global rhythms and how they have a historical context which can assist them in their research.
Music Director
Music Director
For a Music Director, this course is helpful as it helps build a foundation in rhythm and metric structure. As music directors lead musical ensembles and orchestras, it is important to have a strong understanding of world rhythms to lead the musicians to success.
Music Critic
Music Critic
For a Music Critic, this course is helpful as it helps build a foundation in the field of musical rhythm. This course will help a music critic develop an understanding of global rhythms and how they have a historical context which can assist them in writing and reviewing music.
Composer
Composer
For a Composer, this course is helpful as it helps build a foundation for using different rhythms in compositions. This course may also spark creativity for composing new and innovative pieces.
Music Educator
Music Educator
For a Music Educator, this course is helpful as it helps build a foundation in the field of musical rhythm. This course will help a music educator develop an understanding of global rhythms and how they have a historical context which allows them to have a more global approach to teaching music.
Music Producer
Music Producer
For a Music Producer, this course is helpful as it helps build a foundation in rhythm and metric structure. As music producers use rhythms to create music, it is important to have a strong understanding of world rhythms to assist in creativity.
Music Teacher
Music Teacher
This course may be useful to a Music Teacher as it helps develop an understanding of musical rhythm from across the world. A strong grasp of rhythm and metric structure will allow a music teacher to pass on their knowledge to their students and help them succeed in their musical journey.
Music Therapist
Music Therapist
This course may be useful for a Music Therapist as it helps build a foundation in the field of musical rhythm. This course will assist them in developing an understanding of musical rhythms from across the world. This knowledge of world rhythms will allow them to better treat patients who come from various backgrounds.
Audio Engineer
Audio Engineer
This course may be useful to an Audio Engineer as it helps develop an understanding of musical rhythm from across the world. This course will assist them in being able to identify and work with rhythms from different cultures for recording sessions and production.
Music Librarian
Music Librarian
This course may be useful to a Music Librarian as it helps develop an understanding of musical rhythm from across the world. Music librarians must have a strong knowledge of rhythms and metric structures in order to properly organize and categorize musical materials.
Music Journalist
Music Journalist
This course may be useful to a Music Journalist as it helps develop an understanding of musical rhythm from across the world. As a music journalist writes about music, it is important to have a strong grasp of rhythm and metric structure to properly convey the details of a song.
Musician
Musician
This course may be useful to a Musician as it helps develop an understanding of musical rhythm from across the world. As a musician plays music, it is important to play with the correct rhythm. This course can expand a Musician's knowledge of music from different cultures and allows them to develop new ideas.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/ihsoaq/world
Reading list
We've selected ten books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
World Music: Global Rhythms.
This comprehensive encyclopedia of world music, containing articles on all aspects of world music, including rhythm. It would be a valuable reference resource for students who want to learn more about the history, theory, and practice of world music.
This comprehensive encyclopedia of music, containing articles on all aspects of music, including rhythm. It would be a valuable reference resource for students who want to learn more about the history, theory, and practice of music.
Save
This comprehensive encyclopedia of music, containing articles on all aspects of music, including rhythm. It would be a valuable reference resource for students who want to learn more about the history, theory, and practice of music.
This comprehensive online encyclopedia of music, containing articles on all aspects of music, including rhythm. It would be a valuable reference resource for students who want to learn more about the history, theory, and practice of music.
Save
This comprehensive encyclopedia of music, containing articles on all aspects of music, including rhythm. It would be a valuable reference resource for students who want to learn more about the history, theory, and practice of music.
Comprehensive overview of world music, covering topics such as the history of world music, the different types of world music, and the role of world music in contemporary culture. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the diversity of musical traditions around the world.
Textbook on world music, covering topics such as the history of world music, the different types of world music, and the role of world music in contemporary culture. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the diversity of musical traditions around the world.
Collection of essays on rhythm by leading scholars in the field. It covers a wide range of topics, from the history of rhythm to the latest research on rhythm perception and cognition. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the latest scholarship on rhythm.
Save
This comprehensive encyclopedia of jazz, containing articles on all aspects of jazz, including rhythm. It would be a valuable reference resource for students who want to learn more about the history, theory, and practice of jazz.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse musical traditions of the world's cultures. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the cultural context of music and how it varies across different regions.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/ihsoaq/world
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Effort
5 to 6 hours per week for 5 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Instructors
Meghan Perdue
Leslie A. Tilley
Language
English
Transcript
English
Good to know
Develops an understanding of different cultural definitions of rhythm and melody
Covers a diverse array of genres and musical traditions
Provides a strong foundation for further exploration of rhythm and its impact on music
Requres no prior musical knowledge or experience
Suitable for a range of students, including novice musicians and those with an interest in global music
Introduces foundational concepts in rhythm and metric structure
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