You wanna rock?
A proposed high-school course would allow eager young minds to do just that — at least in an academic sense.
The History of Rock and Roll, developed by Spectrum Community School teacher Christopher Parker, is an overview of how the roots of rock ’n’ roll connect with current music — a link Parker’s synopsis calls “a thread of influence that runs from Elvis to Justin Bieber.”
Along the way, students would learn to put rock music into “a cultural, social, political and historical context.”
Among the 11 units in the Grade 12 course are teen idols, doo-wop and Motown; the rise of the songwriter, beach music, Bob Dylan, the Beatles and the British Invasion; and Rock Cares, charities and causes such as Live Aid and the Concert for New York.
A unit on Canadian rock includes the rise of First Nation musicians and how they have raised important issues through music.
Parker, an English teacher, said he has wanted to teach a music-related course for some time. Spectrum vice-principal Tammy Renyard said the course is Parker’s “brainchild” and the administration has supported his efforts.
The course is believed to be a first for Vancouver Island, but a handful of similar offerings are in place elsewhere in the province.
“I’ve always used songs to do poetry units during my English classes,” Parker said. “There was a kid a few years ago who said, ‘You should make a course out of this’ — rock ’n’ roll history and how it’s influenced culture.”
Parker looked into what other districts were doing, then devised his own course.
Greater Victoria school district trustees gave the course unanimous approval last week at a committee meeting, and it now goes before the board for consideration. If approved, History of Rock and Roll could be introduced in September.
“We’re pretty confident it’s going to move forward,” Renyard said.
Assistant district superintendent Pat Duncan said the idea is to engage students “in something that’s very relevant and purposeful to them.”
Philosophy courses have attracted students in a similar way, he said.
Parker said the History of Rock and Roll has elements that go beyond music.
“It’s going to be a great course to not only tap into students’ passion for music — because, let’s face it, every kid’s got headphones on 24 hours a day — and yet you’ll also be covering some things that might help them in other classes.”
His synopsis tabs rock’s impact on society and politics as important focal points, saying students will be encouraged to draw from personal experience in considering these topics “and will appreciate and understand the history of rock music and how it has changed the world.”
Some of the albums listed as possibilities for inclusion in the course are the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Are You Experienced by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd and Bruce Springsteen’s Born to Run. Movies being considered for use include Blackboard Jungle, Jailhouse Rock and A Hard Day’s Night.
