Music Culture Wrap Up

I have really enjoyed learning all of the different kinds and very interesting music. I did not know that the Erhu even existed and is now one of my favorite instruments. It has also opened my eyes to the world of music and that America and the western world are not the only ones creating and discovering new kinds of music.
One thing that surprised me the most was the meaning of rhythm in African culture and how everything is rhythm and can be made anywhere like in a post office. Their definition of music is very different from America like in Greece anything that is a muse can be music just like art or poetry. It made me look at what I consider to be music.
Not only did it help me realize that I hade no definition for music, but that I had been exposed to nonwestern music cultures such as Native American, Japanese, and Korean. It helped me reconnect with music cultures that I really enjoyed when I was younger and brought back up some of my favorite memories. I had forgotten about some of my grandfather's favorite songs and I was able to find a few of them.
I really enjoyed the online quizzes and textbook because I learn best when I read the material over hearing it and it helped to do the quizzes while the textbook was pulled up beside it. The powerpoints were really helpful with the homework blogs and using that information to decide what to write about. I didn't like the videos that were on DVD because they were so pink  and I am a visual learner so it bothered my eyes. Also, the presentations were a little difficult to present with 5 people and keep it under 20 minutes and also it is hard for everybody to have their own part to cover in the presentation.
After this course, I am hoping to go to New York to visit my grandfather's hometown and research more about where he came from. My aunt and cousins are still up there and I could stay with them and learn about the culture he grew up in. I also want to listen to a few more different kinds of music a little more often.
I just want to say that I enjoyed the class and I have learned a lot of music around the world.