But come to class, even if you are unprepared. The core of this course is in what we do together in class. Because being in class is so important, attendance will be taken, and your grade will be affected if you miss class. I strongly recommend that you study together. Talk with each other about issues raised in class or in the readings.
Share hints about what to listen for in the music.
Compare notes from class or the readings. If you don't understand something, ask a classmate to explain it to you. Remember, the goal is to learn the material. The more you share your knowledge with others, and the more you listen to what they have to say, the more you will learn. If you don't learn more from your classmates than you do from me, I will be very surprised.