Music's Big Bang: The Genesis of Rock 'n' Roll (Coursera)

Offered by University of Florida,
Music's Big Bang: The Genesis of Rock 'n' Roll (Coursera)

Explores the factors — musical and cultural — that led to the birth of American rock 'n' roll music in the early 1950s. Covers in detail the genres, styles and people that converged to create this new music.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Syllabus:

WEEK 1
Four basic themes of our course
Some basic tenets of rock 'n' roll

WEEK 2
In the beginning: American popular music
There were many, many genres, styles and sub styles of American pop

WEEK 3
The blues: Mississippi Ghosts 1
The Mississippi Delta, an area surrounding the Mississippi River, becomes the cradle of the blues

WEEK 4
The blues: Mississippi Ghosts 2
The legend of Robert Johnson and his visit to "the crossroads"

WEEK 5
A tale of three cities: New Orleans
New Orleans is the city of jazz

WEEK 6
A tale of three cities: Chicago
Chicago is where the blues went electric

WEEK 7
A tale of three cities: Memphis
The delivery room of rock 'n' roll

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Teoria Musical (Coursera) Coursera
Berklee College of Music

Teoria Musical (Coursera)

Explore os elementos básicos que compoem a música, desenvolva sua percepção, tire músicas de ouvido, e aprenda a ler e escrever usando notação musical. Procuramos criar um curso que unisse a cultura e música brasileira com técnicas de aprendizado de solfejo e leitura rítmica. Você fará parte de uma aula de Percepção Musical ("Ear Training") na Berklee College of Music, cantando e praticando com outros alunos e interagindo com os vídeos. Além disso, você terá acesso a material para praticar, como faixas de acompanhamento e partituras.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
History of Rock, Part Two (Coursera) Coursera
University of Rochester

History of Rock, Part Two (Coursera)

This course, part 2 of a 2-course sequence, examines the history of rock, primarily as it unfolded in the United States, from the early 1970s to the early 1990s. This course covers the music of Led Zeppelin, the Allman Brothers, Carole King, Bob Marley, the Sex Pistols, Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Prince, Metallica, Run-DMC, and Nirvana, and many more artists, with an emphasis both on cultural context and on the music itself. We will also explore how developments in the music business and in technology helped shape the ways in which styles developed.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Developing Your Musicianship (Coursera) Coursera
Berklee College of Music

Developing Your Musicianship (Coursera)

Learn the basic concepts and approaches needed to understand, create, and perform contemporary music. If you have a passion for music and are curious about how it works, or if you are a musician who learned to play by ear without formal study, this course will provide you with an engaging introduction to key concepts and approaches needed to understand, create, and perform contemporary music. Taught by Berklee College of Music professor George W. Russell, Jr., the course includes six lessons that delve into harmony and ear training—two areas of intensive focus for every entering Berklee student.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics (Coursera) Coursera
Berklee College of Music

Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics (Coursera)

There’s a songwriter lurking somewhere inside you, peeking around corners, wondering if it’s safe to come out. Now it is. This course is an invitation to let your inner songwriter step into the sunlight. All it takes is a simple “yes” and you’ll be climbing that windy hill, marveling at the view. If you haven’t written any or many songs, this course will show you an efficient, effective process for tailoring songs to express your ideas and emotions. If you have, you’ll look at your process differently, taking control of aspects of the process you may have not noticed.

Sep 7th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Pro Tools Basics (Coursera) Coursera
Berklee College of Music

Pro Tools Basics (Coursera)

Producing music is an incredibly creative process, and knowing the tools of the trade is essential in order to transmit the musical ideas in your head into the DAW in a creative and uninhibited way. Whether you have used a computer to create music before, or you have been curious about production for years, this 4-week course will give you an introductory look into the world of Avid Pro Tools and Pro Tools First.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Composición de canciones (Coursera) Coursera
Berklee College of Music,Inter-American Development Bank - IDB

Composición de canciones (Coursera)

Aprende un proceso eficiente y efectivo para escribir canciones que expresen tus ideas y emociones, incluyendo una gama de herramientas que giren alrededor del concepto de prosodia; la adecuación de letra y música para apoyar tu mensaje subyacente.

Sep 14th 2026
5-12 Weeks
History of Rock, Part One (Coursera) Coursera
University of Rochester

History of Rock, Part One (Coursera)

This course, part 1 of a 2-course sequence, examines the history of rock, primarily as it unfolded in the United States, from the days before rock (pre-1955) to the end of the 1960s. This course covers the music of Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Phil Spector, Bob Dylan, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and many more artists, with an emphasis both on cultural context and on the music itself. We will also explore how developments in the music business and in technology helped shape the ways in which styles developed.

Aug 31st 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Art of Vocal Production (Coursera) Coursera
Berklee College of Music

The Art of Vocal Production (Coursera)

This course addresses recorded vocal performances and the technologies used to highlight and support them in modern record production and mixes. Most of us know that vocals serve as the focal point of modern recordings but many do not know the tools used or when the tools are used best in modern record production. The course begins with simple vocal placement in a mix, where you will also learn the fundamentals of compression and equalization. You’ll further study delays and reverbs before moving to advanced concepts in audio editing, synthetic processing, automatic & graphic pitch correction, time compression, time expansion, flex and elastic audio.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Building Your Career as a Professional Singer (Coursera) Coursera
Berklee College of Music

Building Your Career as a Professional Singer (Coursera)

Are you looking to earn money on your singing ability? Have you been wondering how to lead a band, secure a gig, or identify the skills you need to stand out onstage? Becoming a professional singer today requires a variety of skills: from basic musicianship skills, arranging songs to best fit your style, recording demos, and even knowing how to manage your finances and book gigs. This course is designed to give singers insight on the tools you’ll need to start building a career as a professional singer.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks