Each semester the music department offers special topics courses with an interdisciplinary or intercultural focus, such as musics of the world, music and technology, music and art, etc. The principal focus of these courses is to provide greater breadth in the student's understanding of music. See the Class Schedule for the current semester's offerings. Music in Latin American Culture. This introductory course examines the diverse musical cultures of Latin America through a study of readings, sound recordings, films and lectures.
Students encounter the communities, histories, traditions and newer forms of musical expression.
The course also provides a framework for relating Latin American music to Latin American culture in the United States. Also offered through Caribbean and Latin American Studies. Musics of the World. In this course music cultures outside the Western European art tradition are explored through sound recordings, reading, film and lecture. This study offers a deeper understanding of music, both as a sound experience and as a reflection of culture.