Music's Big Bang: The Genesis of Rock 'n' Roll

University of Florida

About this Course

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Explores the factors — musical and cultural — that led to the birth of American rock 'n' roll music in the early 1950s. Covers in detail the genres, styles and people that converged to create this new music.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

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Beginner Level

Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.84/5 (25 Ratings)

Professor David Carlson

Executive Director of the Center for Media Innovation + Research and Cox/Palm Beach Post Professor of New Media Journalism

College of Journalism & Communication: Center for Media Innovation

6,105 Learners

1 Course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 9 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English, Spanish

Offered by

University of Florida

The University of Florida (UF) is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in academic excellence, both on campus and online. Ranked in the top 10 of Public Universities, the University of Florida is the state’s oldest university and has a long established tradition of academic excellence.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

1 hour to complete

Four basic themes of our course

Some basic tenets of rock 'n' roll

1 hour to complete

5 videos (Total 40 min)

5 videos

Class Introduction8m

An Art and a Business9m

A Threat to Mainstream American Culture6m

A Showcase of Technology6m

Linear Evolution8m

1 practice exercise

Lesson 130m

Week

Week 2

2 hours to complete

In the beginning: American popular music

There were many, many genres, styles and sub styles of American pop

2 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 75 min)

11 videos

Part 1: Country and Rural Blues; Early Jazz9m

Part 2: The Ladies of Risque or Hokum Blues4m

Part 3: Early Male Blues and Jazz Players5m

Part 4: The Spread of Country Music9m

Part 5: Country Gains Popularity: Bob Wills and Hank Williams4m

Part 6: On the Fringes: Black (and white) gospel3m

Part 7: On the fringes: Boogie woogie and jump blues9m

Part 8: On the fringes: Bluegrass and Folk6m

Part 9: Mainstream Popular Music 16m

Part 10: Mainstream Popular Music 25m

1 practice exercise

Popular music30m

Week

Week 3

1 hour to complete

The blues: Mississippi Ghosts 1

The Mississippi Delta, an area surrounding the Mississippi River, becomes the cradle of the blues

1 hour to complete

5 videos (Total 32 min)

5 videos

W.C. Handy9m

Charley Patton: Part 17m

Charley Patton: Part 26m

Charley Patton: Part 34m

Charley Patton: Part 43m

1 practice exercise

Mississippi Ghosts 130m

Week

Week 4

2 hours to complete

The blues: Mississippi Ghosts 2

The legend of Robert Johnson and his visit to "the crossroads"

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 60 min)

9 videos

Robert Johnson: Part 18m

Robert Johnson: Part 24m

Robert Johnson: Part 37m

Robert Johnson: Part 48m

Robert Johnson: Part 54m

Lead Belly: Part 19m

Lead Belly: Part 26m

Son House: Part 17m

Son House: Part 2 2m

1 practice exercise

Mississippi Ghosts 230m

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Music's Big Bang: The Genesis of Rock 'n' Roll

Music's Big Bang: The Genesis of Rock 'n' Roll