Announcements
Welcome — August 2026
Welcome to World Music
Welcome to MUL 2720! This site is your hub for slides, readings, and weekly materials. Use the navigation above to explore the schedule, review the syllabus, and access listening resources.
🎧 Listening Playlists
Each week's required listening is on the course Spotify playlist, and/or it can be found in the textbook. You'll find playlist links in the Listening tab above, and also on each individual week page. A Spotify account is free — no subscription required to stream playlists.
📚 Textbook
Bonnie C. Wade & Patricia Shehan Campbell — Global Music Cultures (2020). This is the primary reading source for the course. Chapter assignments are listed in the schedule.
Course Schedule
01
Introduction & Course Expectations / Key Music Terminology
Tue Aug 25 & Thu Aug 27 · Ch. 1 (pp. 6–16)
03
Indigenous Music in North America
Tue Sep 8 & Thu Sep 10 · Ch. 12
In-Class Listening Practice Quiz
Quiz #2
13
Music of the Caribbean
Tue Nov 17 & Thu Nov 19 · Ch. 11
In-Class Listening Quiz #3 — 30 pts
Quiz #10
14
The Politics of Musical Collaboration
Tue Nov 24 (meets) · Thu Nov 26 — Thanksgiving, no class
Quiz #11
Listening Quiz 4 Guide
15
Graceland & Review
Tue Dec 1 & Thu Dec 3 (last day of classes)
In-Class Listening Quiz #4 — Thu
★
Final Exam (online)
Finals Week · Dec 4–10 — 75 pts
Weekly Pages
Each week has its own page with slide decks, reading instructions, and listening guidance. Pages unlock as the semester progresses.
🌍
Week 1
Introduction & Music Terminology
Aug 25 & 27
🎼
Week 2
Instruments & Notation
Sep 1 & 3
🔒 Not yet available
🪶
Week 3
Indigenous Music in North America
Sep 8 & 10 · Ch. 12
🔒 Not yet available
🕌
Week 4
Islamic Sounded Practices
Sep 15 & 17
🔒 Not yet available
🎶
Week 5
Middle East & North Africa
Sep 22 & 24 · Ch. 3
🔒 Not yet available
🪘
Week 6
South Asia
Sep 29 & Oct 1 · Ch. 2
🔒 Not yet available
🎋
Week 7
Southeast Asia
Oct 6 & 8 · Ch. 7
🔒 Not yet available
🏮
Week 8
China & Taiwan
Oct 13 & 15 · Ch. 4
🔒 Not yet available
⛩️
Week 9
Japan
Oct 20 & 22 · Ch. 6
🔒 Not yet available
⛩️
Week 10
Japan, cont'd
Oct 27 & 29
🔒 Not yet available
🥁
Week 11
Sub-Saharan Africa
Nov 3 & 5 · Ch. 8
🔒 Not yet available
🌮
Week 12
Latin America
Nov 10 & 12 · Ch. 10
🔒 Not yet available
🌊
Week 13
Music of the Caribbean
Nov 17 & 19 · Ch. 11
🔒 Not yet available
🤝
Week 14
Politics of Musical Collaboration
Nov 24 (meets) · Nov 26 no class
🔒 Not yet available
🎸
Week 15
Graceland & Review
Dec 1 & 3 (last day)
🔒 Not yet available
Syllabus
Course
MUL 2720 — Music of the World
University of Central Florida
Fall 2026
University of Central Florida
Fall 2026
Meetings
Tuesday & Thursday
10:30 – 11:45 AM
Aug 25 – Dec 3, 2026
10:30 – 11:45 AM
Aug 25 – Dec 3, 2026
Textbook
Wade & Campbell
Global Music Cultures
2020 edition
Global Music Cultures
2020 edition
Course Description
This course surveys musical traditions from around the world, exploring how music reflects and shapes culture, identity, religion, and politics. We move from North America and the Middle East through South and Southeast Asia, East Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean — before turning to the ethics of musical exchange in a globalized world.
Grading
| Component | Weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| In-Class Listening Quizzes | 40% | 4 quizzes × 30 pts each · Lowest grade dropped |
| Online Weekly Quizzes | 20% | 11 quizzes × 10 pts each · Lowest 2 grades dropped |
| Final Exam (in-person) | 15% | 75 pts · Finals week |
| Midterm Exam (online) | 10% | 50 pts · Week 8 |
| Attendance | 10% | See attendance policy below |
| Assignments | 5% | Song Analysis & other assignments |
Attendance
Attendance is required and will be taken via UCF Here. UCF Here will account for 90% of your attendance grade; the remaining 10% is awarded automatically as a buffer to offset the impact of personal absences on your overall attendance score. There is no need to notify the instructor for personal absences. Excused absences require approved documentation (e.g., doctor's note).
Late Work
We cannot accept any late work without excused documentation. Online quizzes close at their posted deadline and cannot be made up without excused documentation. Similarly, listening quizzes are in-class and cannot be made up without excused documentation.
Communication
Use WebCourses messages for all course correspondence. Note: There is another instructor with a similar name at UCF — email may not reach the right person. WebCourses messages are more reliable.
Accessibility
Students with disabilities who need academic accommodations should contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at UCF. Please share your accommodation letter with the instructor early in the semester, and contact the instructor at least two business days before any assignment or quiz/exam to ensure accommodations.
Listening Resources
All required listening for the semester is on a single Spotify playlist linked below. Active listening, not just background listening, is expected. Pay attention to timbre, texture, rhythm, and form. We will analyze these recordings together in class.
MUL 2720 — Course Playlist · Fall 2026
All required listening for the semester · Open in Spotify →
Full track list by week
Office Hours
♪
Dr. Melissa J. Scott
MUL 2720 · Fall 2026
Mon & Wed, 12-2pm
Location posted on WebCourses
WebCourses messages only — do not use UCF email
Important: Please use WebCourses messages rather than UCF email to ensure your message reaches the right instructor.
Drop-in & Appointments
Office hours are drop-in — no appointment needed. To meet outside regular hours, send a WebCourses message at least 48 hours in advance.