This course explores methods for understanding and analyzing music performance. Classical music, jazz, rock, blues, country, and other genres will all be represented in our readings and classroom examples; the ideas presented are not specific to aparticular genre.

Our framework for thinking about musical performance is multi-disciplinary, drawing from sociology, musicology, psychology, media studies, and performance studies. Some of the key issues to be discussed include genre; the visual aspects of musical performance; musicians' performance personae and how they are constructed and disseminated, and the means musicians use to communicate in performance, including gestures, movements, facial expressions, and stage talk.

You do not have to have any technical knowledge of music or any musical ability to take this course. Enthusiasm for some kind of music and an interest in spending a semester thinking about musicians and what they do as performers are necessary prerequisites.