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Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation http://archive.org/details/rockrhythmrapOOhelm Columbus State University Rock, Rhythm, and Rap by Wayne Helmly A GRADUATE MUSIC PROJECT SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OFTHE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OFMASTER OF MUSIC IN MUSIC EDUCATION Schwob School of Music Columbus, Georgia June 2006 o ©Wayne Helmly 2006 v Abstract This thesis suggests an alternative approach to teaching general music/music appreciation to students in grades 7-12 that incorporates the history ofrock and roll and pop music. An approach to teaching rhythm reading skills through rap music is also suggested using Rockin Rhythm Raps by Cheryl Lavender (1998). Rare is the student ' that has not been saturated withpopular culture during most ofhis or her lifetime. The case is made that teaching what is relevant to students, namely the history ofvernacular music, can contribute significantly to the development ofmusic appreciation. Sixteen lessons areprovided. These lessons are designedfora middle or high school general music/music appreciation class that meets two to three times a weekforsix weeks. Acknowledgements There are many people to whom I owe a huge debt of gratitude because they made this degree possible. First, I thank my advisor, Dr. Debbie Jacobs, for her unwavering support, wise council, and (sometimes) red-faced belly laugh. Though I confess to wishing to never play her special "guessing games" again in this life, I honor her for her unique gifts and all the wonderful things she taught me in her classes. Mostly I thank her for being one ofthe first people to tell me that I was intelligent. I thank Dr. Betty Anne Diaz, who actually planted the idea of earning this master's in my head in the first place. Her decade-long friendship and collegiality has been one of the greatest gifts of my Columbus State experience. Playing the Brahms Liebeslieder with her was one of the grandest hours of my performing life. I also wish to acknowledge Dr. Ron Wirt for his kindness to me. His gift for "tweaking the numbers" truly lent much-needed aid to my process at times when I desperately needed it. There are several people who made a huge difference in the quality of myjourney by virtue of their extraordinary personalities. I thank Amy Griffiths for making me laugh almost every single school day for the last several years. The time I spent with her talking about the most outrageously inappropriate, deliciously wicked things count as some of my most precious CSU moments. She is also a fantastic player, and I place her alongside Betty Anne when it comes to thrilling recital moments. Marty Davis, Mike Paterson, Rob Standard, Peck Brumby, JoAnn Griffin, Debra Edwards, Terrell Paulk, and Teri Hopkin have also made me laugh a great deal and supported me in ways too numerous to name these past two years. I would not have survived without them.