Syllabus for World Musics and Cultures

Course Syllabus

World Musics and Cultures

Arts Area General Education Course

MUST 0809, Section 005

Fall 2025

Instructor: Dr. Alisha Nypaver

Email: alisha.nypaver@temple.edu

Phone: 215-204-4454

Office Hours: In-Person: Tuesdays from 2 pm - 3 pm (Presser Hall 307)

Zoom: Wednesdays 10 am - 11 am

Or by appointment

The course syllabus will provide you with the course schedule, course objectives, explanations of assignments and assessments, grading policies, and instructor contact information. Please read it carefully. You should have a deep familiarity with the schedule and process of the course.

Instructor Information
Purpose of the Course
The Learning Environment
Course Schedule
Grading & Assessment Guidelines

Technology Guidelines
Academic Guidelines

Basic Course Information

General Education

This course fulfills the General Education area of Arts.

GenEd Arts courses are intended to teach students how to:

Experience and respond to a work of art or creative process;
Recognize or interpret a work of art or creative process in its social, historical and cultural context;
Describe or evaluate a work of art or creative process using appropriate terminology;
Demonstrate an "appreciation" for the value of art in our lives and in society; and
Function as a member of an audience.

Meeting Time and Location

This course is a fully in-person class. That means that we will meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:50 in Presser Hall 128. Attendance is expected at all meetings. Readings and homework will be assigned to be completed out of class.

Emergency Meetings

Students are to register for the TUAlert System to be made aware of University closures due to weather or other emergency situations and follow all additional university-wide emergency instructions. Students can register for this system on the Campus Safety Services website.

In the event of a campus closure, you will receive an email instructing you how we will make up for that day's class. It may be a synchronous Zoom meeting or an alternative activity.

Instructor Information

My Name:

Dr. Alisha Nypaver (Learn how to pronounce it.)

Please refer to me as Dr. Nypaver, Prof. N., or Professor Nypaver.

(Never use "Mrs." to refer to a female professor unless they invite you to do so. Be careful not to make assumptions about people.)

My pronouns are she/her/they.

Instructor Biography

I am a musicologist with a passion for musics from around the world. It started with a college music course on music from around the world. My professor took our class to a Balinese gamelan concert, and being able to hear the music live was exhilarating! I hope you all take the time to attend a live world music concert to experience this same magic.

My Master's thesis was on pre-Elizabethan era music in Ireland, and my Doctoral dissertation was born out of my interest in online teaching and learning.

I have been a professor here at Temple since 2010, and have been teaching online since 2016.

My Contact Information

Please reach out to me at any time for assistance with the course or just to chat about the field or navigating university life. The best way to reach me is to send me an email at alisha.nypaver@temple.edu. Please do not contact me through the Canvas inbox. I will generally respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. Please send a follow-up email after 24 hours have passed.

Email should be used for matters such as grades, sensitive information, or anything that requires a more detailed or documented response.

My Office

My office is in Presser Hall, room 307. From the lobby, go left to enter Presser Hall, then take the elevator to the third floor. Go straightish off the elevator and you'll find me!
I will also be using a virtual Zoom office.

Student Drop-In Hours

Seeking out individual assistance from the instructor is a normal part of the learning process. I set aside 2:00 pm EST to 3:00 pm EST on Tuesdays for you to come to my office with no appointment necessary, and 10:00 am EST to 11:00 am EST Wednesdays on Zoom.
We can discuss the course content, your progress on the assessments, your future in the field, or anything else you need to talk about. Please come visit me! I always have snacks. :) If my regular Drop-In Hours don’t fit your schedule, please email me to make an appointment. I want to help you succeed!

Purpose of the Course

Overall Purpose

This General Education Arts course expands the breadth of your knowledge and skills, adding to the depth acquired in your major. This course is designed to be an enjoyable exploration of musical cultures from around the world.

According to the most recent study by the American Association of Colleges and Universities, here are the skills that employers most value in the college graduates they want to hire:

Hands-on application of ideas
Encouragement to think for oneself
Skill development, along with knowledge of specific theories and methods
Independent inquiry
Exposure to a wide variety of academic topics and disciplines
Community-based experiences

This course will help you develop these skills through engaging discussions, individual assignments, and the opportunity to experience live music in the Philadelphia community.

To support the development of independent thinking and inquiry, the use of generative AI is not permitted in this course except in the specific ways outlined in the assessment instructions.

The first instance of misuse of AI will result in a "0" on the assessment and a formal warning. Any further infractions will result in a formal Academic Dishonesty Charge that will remain on your permanent academic record and possible failure of the course.

Overview of the Course

Have you ever wondered why musical compositions from different parts of the world sound so dissimilar? Discover how an artist's creative imagination is molded by the cultural values of the society at large. Listen to musicians from around the world demonstrate a wonderful variety of instrumental and vocal styles and attend a live concert. Examine folk, art, and popular music from around the world and discuss the wonderful sounds that are produced. NOTE: This course fulfills the Arts (GA) GenEd requirement. Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed MUST 0909.

You will earn 3 credits for the successful completion of this course.

Learning Goals

Upon successful completion of this General Education course, you will be able to

Actively engage with musical works in the style of select world traditions.
Locate, evaluate, and utilize sources of information to interpret a musical style or work in the context of cultural, social, and/or historical issues.
Use musical vocabulary terms to correctly identify and describe musical characteristics commonly found in the traditional music of world cultures.
Hypothesize why humans and societies value music through critical discussion of issues related to musical traditions from around the world.
Theorize the cultural significance of live musical performance today through first-hand experience as a critical audience member.

The Learning Environment

How Class Will Be Conducted

This is an in-person class, with homework and readings assigned outside of class. I want to maximize our time together, so be prepared for active learning while in class! We will engage with the musical cultures under study through various activities, including playing instruments, experiencing guest performers, and completing projects.

Classroom Civility

It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience.

Treat your classmates and instructor with respect in all communication, class activities, and meetings. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea, but you are not to attack an individual. Please consider that sarcasm, humor, and slang can be misconstrued in online interactions and generate unintended disruptions. Please avoid the use of all capital letters when composing responses in discussion threads, which can be construed as “shouting” online. Remember to be careful with your own and others' privacy. In general, have your behavior mirror how you would like to be treated by others.

For more information, please visit the IDEAL website.

Materials

You do not need to purchase a textbook, eBook, or coursepack to complete this course successfully. All required materials will be posted in Canvas and are freely accessible.

You will need to create accounts on the following platforms to participate in the course fully. Both of them are free of charge and do not require any downloads.

Padlet: Please use your full name as it appears on your Temple account or the name you'd like me to call you during this course.

VideoAnt: Please sign in with your Temple Google account if possible, and ensure that your username is your full first and last name as it appears in Canvas.

Software or Other Supplies

If you need access to basic software for creating documents, slideshows, or spreadsheets, you have free access to Microsoft 365.

Accessibility

I want you to succeed in the course. If there is a challenge that is preventing you from reaching that goal, please contact me to discuss options.

Any student who has a need for accommodations based on the impact of a documented disability or medical condition should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS) located in the Howard Gittis Student Center South, 4th Floor at drs@temple.edu or 215-204-1280 to request accommodations and learn more about the resources available to you. If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact me as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential. Students can learn more about the accommodation process and pre-register on the DRS website. Students may register at any time during the semester, but accommodations are not active until you register, so I recommend doing so as early in the semester as possible.

Information regarding accessibility for additional technologies is provided below:

Resources and Support

Sometimes the biggest factors impacting student success are things happening beyond the scope of the individual classroom. Temple provides a wide array of resources to help you overcome both academic and non-academic challenges in the course. Please reach out to me if you need help deciding which resources might be right for you.

Student Success Center

University Libraries

Undergraduate Research Support

Career Center

Tuttleman Counseling Services

Disability Resources and Services

Wellness Resource Center

Student Health Services

If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, the Temple University Cherry Pantry is in operation, as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs.

Library Resources

Temple University Libraries provide resources to assist Temple students with their class projects and research needs. Visit the Libraries’ website to find millions of articles, books, videos, and other resources, both in print and online.

This library guide should be your first point of reference for all research assignments.

The site also provides tutorials to help you start your research, as well as subject and course research guides to help you identify resources that may be particularly useful for this class.

Contact the library at any stage of the research process. You can chat with a librarian 24/7 or make an appointment with your subject librarian, who can help you explore a topic, craft a research question, and identify and cite sources.

Course Schedule

This course follows a Monday - Sunday calendar week.

All topics are subject to change with notice.

**Table 1 - Week-By-Week Schedule**
Week	Date	Topic	Activities
1	8/25 - 8/31	Introduction to World Musics and Cultures What is Music and Soundscapes	Soundwalk: In-Class Thursday, 8/27 Soundwalk reflection: due by Sunday, 9/1
2	9/1 - 9/7	Musical Elements	Elements of Music Quiz: In-Class Thursday, 9/4
3	9/8 - 9/14	Sub-Saharan Africa: African Drumming BaAka Music from the Congo	African Drumming Ensembles: In-class Thursday, 9/11
4	9/15 - 9/21	Sub-Saharan Africa: Musical Borrowing: South Africa Debate: Appropriation vs. Appreciation	In-class debate prep: Thursday, 9/18
5	9/22 - 9/28	Latin America: Mexico and Cuba	Presentations due Tuesday, 9/23 by noon In-class debate: Tuesday, 9/23
6	9/29 - 10/5	Latin America: Brazil and Argentina	Samba Workshop: Tuesday's class (9/30) Corrido Assignment: due before Thursday's class, 10/2
7	10/6 - 10/12	India: Hindustani Music	Guest artist: Thursday, 10/9
8	10/13 - 10/19	India: Bollywood	Indian Music Activity: In-Class Tuesday, 10/14 Bollywood Assignment due before Tuesday's class, 10/21
9	10/20 - 10/26	Indonesia: Gamelan	Gamelan activity: Thursday, 10/23
10	10/27 - 11/2	Indonesia: Wayang Kulit and Kecak	No class 10/30 - Fieldwork Reports Due!
11	11/3 - 11/9	Japan: Traditional Music	Musical Mapping Assignment: Due in-class Thursday, 11/6
12	11/10 - 11/16	Japan: Film Music Popular Music	Throne of Blood Activity: In-Class Tuesday, 11/11
13	11/17 - 11/23	Middle East	Transcendence Assignment: Due in-class Thursday, 11/20
14	11/24 - 11/30	Thanksgiving break!
15	12/1 - 12/7	Presentations	Final Projects presented in class Dec. 8: Last day to withdraw from a Full Term 16-week course

Grading & Assessment Guidelines

Grading Scale

**Table 2 - Grade Percentage Breakdown**
Percentage	Letter Grade
94-100	A
90-93	A-
87-89	B+
84-86	B
80-83	B-
77-79	C+
74-76	C
70-73	C-
67-69	D+
64-66	D
61-63	D-
0-60	F

Course Minimum Grade

A grade of “C-” or better is required in all GenEd courses for you to satisfy a General Education requirement.

I will do my best to warn you if you are in danger of not meeting this minimum, but you should reach out to me if you become worried about not achieving the minimum needed grade.

Assessment Summary

The assessments in this course have been created for two reasons:

First, they give you the opportunity to demonstrate your progress towards the learning goals for the course and receive useful feedback.

Second, they allow you to practice skills and develop ways of thinking that will be of use to you in the future, no matter what your major or intended career may be.

**Table 3 - Final Grade Calculation**
Grading Item	Number	Percentage
Activities	12*	60% (5% each)
Padlets	varies	10%
Fieldwork Event and Research Paper	1	15%
Final Group Project	1	15%

Activities

Learning activities help you engage more deeply with the music. Some will be completed in-class, some are due before class. These are indicated on the schedule above. *Note: there are 13 activities. You may miss one without impacting your grade.

Padlets

Padlets are designed to help you think about and engage with the material on a deeper level. They will be posted on Canvas. Be sure to log in to Padlet or sign your name to earn credit.

Fieldwork Report

Attendance at a live concert is required for this course to fulfill your Arts GenEd requirement. A list will be provided. If it is impossible for you to attend one of the pre-approved events, you should email the instructor to suggest an alternative event that fits under the category of "World Music."

Final Project

Working in small groups, you and your peers will create and present a final project showcasing an additional musical genre from the regions studied over the course of the semester. A topic list will be provided for you.

Please always take the time to review the instructor’s feedback to learn where you can improve. The due dates for these and all graded assessments are in Canvas and on the course schedule above.

Late Submissions/Missed Activities

Life gets in the way for all of us from time to time. However, it is very important that you do your best not to fall behind in this course to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Plan ahead and schedule your time.

Late work submitted within 1 week of the due date will not be subject to a late penalty.

Anything after that will receive a 3-point deduction for each day late.

If you miss an in-class activity, no makeups will be given except in the case of extenuating circumstances.

Class Attendance & Participation

Regular attendance is expected of all students. Barring exceptional circumstances, more than two (2) missed classes will lower your final grade by 2% for each missed day.

School-Life Conflict

Many unpredictable things can happen over the course of a semester. If you find yourself struggling to balance your education and your other commitments, please reach out to me immediately so that we can work together to build a plan for your success. Some of the resources in the next section may also be of use to you.

Attendance and Your Health

To achieve course learning goals, students must attend and participate in classes, according to the course requirements. However, if you have tested positive for or are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities. It is your responsibility to contact me to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as you can, and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion.

Religious Holidays

It is your right to observe religious holidays without impacting your opportunity to learn and succeed in this course. Please reach out to me at the start of the semester so that deadlines can be reviewed in advance of your religious observations. You will still be held responsible for course content and any assignments, but you will not lose points for attendance and participation on days important to your faith.

Caregiver Responsibilities

I have great respect for students who are pursuing their education while responsible for the care of children or other family members. Please contact me if you encounter challenges that require you to miss a class session or if your caregiving responsibilities are interfering with your success in the course. Together, we may be able to find some flexibility to support your learning.

Withdrawal

If you are considering withdrawing from the course after the add/drop date, please don’t make that decision alone! Withdrawing from the course without talking to me first eliminates the possibility of finding a path to success for you. Furthermore, it is extremely important that you consult your academic advisor before withdrawing. They will be able to walk you through how the withdrawal would impact your progress towards your degree and your graduation date.

Please check the academic calendar for the last day to withdraw from a course.

Incomplete

A student will be eligible for a grade of “Incomplete” only if the student: 1) has completed at least 51% of the work at a passing level, 2) is unable to complete the work for a serious reason beyond their control, and 3) files a signed agreement with the instructor outlining the work to be completed and the time frame in which that work will be completed. The student is responsible for initiating this process, and all incomplete forms must be sent to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to the start of study days in that semester.

Please refer to the following for further details: Temple University’s Incomplete Policy. (Policy #02.10.13).

Technology Guidelines

Technology Policy

No laptops, cell phones, tablets, or other devices can be used in class unless the assignment calls for it. Please put these away so that you can fully engage with your classmates. Excessive device use will result in you being marked "absent" for that day's attendance.

Technology Requirements

To participate in this course, you will need the equipment, software, and internet access necessary to reliably use Canvas, VideoAnt, and Padlet, as well as “productivity tools” like word processors and slide show creators.

Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wifi access, should submit a Student Technology Assistance Application located in TUPortal and linked from the Dean of Students Support and Resources. The University will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Mifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access.

Note that there are technology resources available for students, including on-campus computers available for student use, the Tech Center computer labs, and free laptop and battery borrowing at Charles Library, software that is available for free download, and other specialty software that may be available for remote access through ITS.

Technical Support

For a listing of technical support services available to Temple University students, see the Tech Support page.

Live Chat or Request Help: help.temple.edu

Phone: 215-204-8000

Email: help@temple.edu

Website: its.temple.edu

Location: The TECH Center, Room 106

Privacy and Data Protection

Please see the links below to become familiar with the privacy policies for each of the following:

AI Policies

To support the development of independent thinking and inquiry, the use of generative AI (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot, Scribbr, Quillbot, etc.) is not permitted in this course except in the specific ways outlined in the assessment instructions. Any other use of AI tools for work in this class will be considered a violation of Temple University’s Academic Honesty policy and Student Conduct Code, since the work is not your own.

Academic Guidelines

Academic Freedom

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. I have the freedom and responsibility to design and facilitate our learning environment to best achieve the promise of the course as outlined in its official description. You have the responsibility to engage with the course in good faith and freedom from mistreatment when your opinion differs from mine. Note that it is not an abuse of this freedom for me to require that you support relevant opinions with clear argumentation and solid evidence. For more on academic freedom, consult the official Temple policy on the matter.

Academic Integrity

Temple University believes strongly in academic honesty and integrity. Plagiarism and academic cheating are, therefore, prohibited. All work you submit for assessment should be your own efforts. For more on this topic, consult the relevant portions of Temple Bulletin and the Student Conduct Code.