The Universal Language of Music... or not?

Myth of fact: "Music is a universal language that brings people together"? Lets put that to the test! After familiarizing ourselves with the grammatical rules governing our own musical language and considering the role music plays in our daily lives, we will delve into the probing question of how that language holds up universally. To investigate the validity of this idea we examine a diverse array of music practices from around the globe. We first establish a musical vocabulary for talking about current music in the United States, and then our journey will introduce you to the didgeridoo and Dreamtime in aboriginal Australian culture, the glorious world of Caribbean steel drums, polyrhythmic West African drumming, multi-phonic overtone singing from East Asia, the sitar of India, and culminates with students each investigating a topic of personal interest. What conclusions will we draw? You might be surprised--you will definitely be challenged! Bring your ears, a healthy musical appetite and your curiosity. (No previous musical training required.) - Jennifer Stasack, Professor of Music; D.M.A. University of Cincinnati College - Conservatory of Music; M.M., B.M. University of Hawaii, Manoa