音楽の探求と歴史

During these classes, we will take a look at the life, influences, and accomplishments of some amazing artists and groups who shaped music history.  We will listen to a few select songs, and explore different types of music. My goal with this is to explore the different ways that these performers approached their creative careers. Each one left their mark not only in music, but in popular culture. During the biography section, there might be some discussion of substance abuse (Jimi Hendrix, etc..)

This is a discussion based course. I love opening up the chat box and letting students talk and share their thoughts and opinions about the artist of the week while we learn and listen to their music.  This class first started in February of 2019 and will continue until we run out of artists/genres/instruments to talk about. If you love music, of any kind, come and join us! 



2024 

Week of

June 17 Motown
June 24 The Music Business (no Friday or Saturday class) 
July 1 NO CLASS
July 8 NO CLASS
July 15 Music and Social Movements  (NO SATURDAY CLASS)
July 22 History of Musicals (Aria's turned into ballads - history/opera) 
July 29 Student Share Songs that you listen to while studying/working (Fri/Sat - Also History of Women in Music)
August 5 Music Genres 
August 12 Songs that were flops in their home country but hits internationally Part 1
August 19 Student suggestions/Musical Discussion/Trivia
August 26 Bob Marley
September 2 Hit Songs that were flops in their home country part 2
September 9 How did technological advances shape video game music (N64 Mario Talking) 
September 16 Student Share Songs that you love that you wish more people knew
September 23 NO CLASS
September 30 The Beatles
October 7 Hayley Steinfeld 
October 14 Lauren Spencer Smith
October 21 Stevie Wonder
October 28 Random music facts #2
November 4 Student Share Songs that you listen to every year
November 11 Kahoot Music Trivia
November 18 History of Film Music
November 25 NO CLASS
December 2 Visual kei and artists that focus on extravagant stage costumes
December 9 History of mood music
December 16 Student Share - Favorite New Song of the Year 
December 23 No Class
December 30 No Class

2025 Dates

Week of: 

January 6 Genic and contracts of pop/boy bands
January 13 Random Music Facts #3
January 20 Moody Blues/Pink Floyd/Grateful Dead 
January 27 A look at the history of the Grammy's and the nominees for this year
February 3 Music From Norway/Finland/Sweden
February 10 Nerdcore
February 17 History of Blues and Jazz Music
February 24 Kdrama and Cdrama (OST)
March 3 Student Share - Favorite song from a Musical (Theater or Movie) 
March 10 Random Music Facts #4
March 17 NO CLASS
March 24 Pentatonix
March 31 Aretha Franklin
April 7 Student Share - Favorite/Least Favorite Cartoon/Disney Songs
April 14 Linkin Park
April 21 Kpop
April 28 Bossa Nova and music from Brazil
May 5 Halsey
May 12 The Warning
May 19 Pink 
May 26 Amy Winehouse
June 2 Student Share - Songs that you loved when you were younger (0-8)
June 9 Riot Girl Music
June 16 Random Music Facts #5
June 23 NO CLASS 
June 30 NO CLASS
July 7 Progressive Rock
July 14 Olivia Rodrigo
July 21 Actors that are also singers/vice versa 
July 28 Niall Horan
August 4 Student Share - Favorite songs from the 50's or 60's 
August 11 Mina
August 18 Winners of Voice Contests  (Winners) 
August 25 The History of Grunge Music
September 1 Dalida
September 8 Student Share - songs that have instrumental solo's 
September 15 Famous Movie Scores 
September 22 Random Music Facts #6
September 29 NO CLASS 
October 6 Music Battles/Mashups
October 13 Videogame Music
October 20 Student Share - scary/monster/Halloween theme
October 27 Melenie Martinez 
November 3 Frank Zappa/ 70's progressive Rock 
November 10 REM 
November 17 Student Share - Classical Music 
November 24 NO CLASS 
December 1 Student Share - Upcoming artists to keep an eye on
December 8 EGOT winners
December 15 Student Share - Songs you wish more people knew 
December 22 NO CLASS
December 29 NO CLASS 










Student Share - Your favorite song in a language other than your native language
History of Rock - 1990's
History of Rock - 2000's
Yo-yo Ma
Suggestions for Fall Semester: 
Boy Bands (One Direction, ect) 
Billy Joel "We didn't start the fire"
Music from (..country, South Africa)
AC/DC
Will Smith
Elvis
Queen
Tears for fears
Go-Go's
Erykah Badu
Don't know how but they found me
Palaye royale
Billie Eilish
Mother Mother
Songs that were sued for copyright
Camila Cabello
Rick Astley
Macklemore
They Might Be Giants
Get Scared
Video Game Soundtracks
Alec Benjamin
The Chainsmokers
Lady Gaga
The Beatles
Ariana Grande
Alan Walker
Guns N Roses
Billy Idol
Ac/Dc
The WHo
Velvet Underground
Imagine Dragons
Ellie Goulding
Pink Floyd
Quenn
Punk Rock 
The Clash
Demi Lovato
Blackpink
Blur
Lou Reed
Jack Stauber





If you have any suggestions of bands or musicians to be covered in 2020, please let me know!  ( Demi Lovato, Shakira, Boyonce, Taylor Swift, Adele, Mother Mother, Radiohead, Billie Eilish/Elle King, ACDC, Marron 5, Arkona, Black Eyed Peas, Alec Benjamin, Once part of a group then solo, Pink Floyd, Smashing Pumpkins, Wardruna, MCR, Michael Jackson/Jackson 5, Quiet Riot, Glass Animals, Smash Mouth, Talk Talk, Beastie Boys, Florence and the Machine, Rolling Stone, ShineDown, STP,  Imagine  Dragons, DNCE, Weezer, Pantera, YungBlud, Pentatonix, Nataley Dawn, Miles Davis, Deep Purple, Fall Out Boys, They might be giants, The Eagles, Erutan, The White Stripes, Elton John,  BabyMetal, Led Zepplin, RHCP, Tones and I, Mandy Harvey, actors who sing, favorite songs, ...)