Description
The two focal points of this course are the rock and folk styles of the first half of the 1960s. Starting with the so-called “Transition Period” of 1958-1963, some highlights include Brill Building Pop, Girl Groups, Phil Spector, Roy Orbison, the Everly Brothers, and Surf Rock. Folk music is the second topic, and along with a context for the early 1960s folk revival period, we will discuss artists like Woodie Guthrie, Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan, and more. Two other folk offshoots will be examined, including Folk Rock (the Byrds) and the Singer-Songwriter genre (Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen).
From the Beach Boys and the Ronettes, to Simon and Garfunkel and Joni Mitchell, the early 1960s was when rock music became synonymous with many styles of popular music and started to include a wide diversity of sounds.
Facilitator: Keith McCuaig – MA in Music and Culture.
With an MA in Music and Culture, and over twenty years’ experience as a musician, Keith McCuaig is dedicated to all things music and art. He loves exploring the histories of popular music, especially the interconnectedness of genres, and the socio-cultural significance of music. Keith has extensive experience in researching, writing and teaching a variety of music-related topics; he has taught courses through Carleton University and the University of Ottawa, and presented at international musicology conferences.
What Our Students Are Saying:
“I found the content and materials of this course to be very interesting, with a perfect combination of expertise, on the spot live musical examples and an excellent playlist to illustrate the points. Keith’s presentation was clear, well-paced and highly engaging. I find myself listening to many types of music slightly differently now and taking even more pleasure in it.”
– Alice Ohara, Student; Actively Listening course
“‘Active’ was the key word. Keith shows us a different aspect of music we usually under-appreciated.” – Roger Ho, Student; Actively Listening course
