About this course: The Music of the Beatles will track the musical development of the band, starting from the earliest days in Liverpool and Hamburg, moving through the excitement of Beatlemania, the rush of psychedelia, and the maturity of Abbey Road. While the focus will be on the music, we will also consider how recording techniques, the music business, the music of other artists, and the culture of the 1960s affected John, Paul, George, and Ringo as they created the Beatles repertory. There is probably no band or artist that has had more written about their music than the Beatles. There are many good books on the band's biography, several insider accounts offering glimpses behind the scenes, books that interpret the meaning of the songs, and even books that catalog dates and people regarding the band. This course will try to synthesize much of that information into an account of the Beatles' development as musicians and songwriters.
Created by: University of Rochester
Taught by: John Covach, Professor of Music and Director
Institute for Popular Music
| Commitment | 12-24 hours of videos and quizzes |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Spanish |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction and Special Features
5 videos, 4 readings
- Video: Introduction
- Reading: Syllabus
- Reading: Grading and Logistics
- Video: Recommended Books
- Video: Andy Babiuk Interview
- Video: Walter Everett Interview
- Video: Beatles Equipment
- Reading: Music Fundamentals
- Reading: About the Professor
WEEK 2
Early Day and Success in the UK
The Beatles as pop craftsmen. Study of cover versions at Cavern and Hamburg shows, Please Please Me, With the Beatles, and the singles from this period.
9 videos
- Video: Organizing the Biography and Music
- Video: Before Beatlemania
- Video: Hamburg and Liverpool
- Video: The First Recordings for Parlophone
- Video: Please Please Me
- Video: SCU – Love Me Do, Please Please Me, I Saw Her Standing There
- Video: The Beatles and UK Pop, 1963
- Video: With the Beatles
- Video: SCU - She Loves You, I Want to Hold Your Hand
Graded: Early Day and Success in the UK
WEEK 3
Success in America and the World
The Beatles begin to move toward the artist model. Music from A Hard Day's Night, Beatles For Sale, and singles from this period. From this point on we will closely follow particular authorship of songs, keeping track of John, Paul, and George as individual songwriters.
8 videos
- Video: Introduction
- Video: The Beatles are Coming!
- Video: The Beatles in the Movies
- Video: A Hard Day’s Night, the Album
- Video: SCU - A Hard Day’s Night, Can’t Buy Me Love, and Any Time At All
- Video: Beatles For Sale, Fall 1964
- Video: SCU - I’m A Loser and Eight Days a Week
- Video: Brian Epstein and George Martin
Graded: Success in America and the World
WEEK 4
Pop Maturity
Increased experimentation, still mostly within the context of the pop single. The increasingly important role of the recording studio and recording techniques and innovations. Help!, Rubber Soul, and singles from this period.
7 videos
- Video: Overview of 1965: Beatlemania Continues
- Video: Help! The Movie
- Video: From Craftsmen to Artists
- Video: Help! The Album
- Video: SCU - Help!, You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, I’ve Just Seen a Face, Yesterday
- Video: Rubber Soul
- Video: SCU - Norwegian Wood, In My Life, Michelle, I’m Looking Through You, If I Needed Someone
Graded: Pop Maturity
WEEK 5
Psychedelia
The artist model comes into full bloom. The rise of importance of the album and idea-driven projects. Revolver, "Penny Lane," "Strawberry Fields," Sgt. Pepper, Magical Mystery Tour, and other singles from this period, including the tracks that would end up on Yellow Submarine.
9 videos
- Video: The Rigors of Touring and the Freedom of the Studio
- Video: Revolver: The Album
- Video: SCU - Rain, Tomorrow Never Knows, Eleanor Rigby, For No One, Taxman
- Video: On the Way to the Summer of Love
- Video: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
- Video: SCU - Strawberry Fields, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite, Penny Lane, She’ Leaving Home, Within You Without You
- Video: Loss and New Directions in Fall, 1967
- Video: Magical Mystery Tour: The Album
- Video: SCU - All You Need Is Love, Fool on the Hill, Blue Jay Way
Graded: Psychedelia
WEEK 6
A Co-Op of Singer-Songwriters
The White Album both begins a return to roots while also continuing the musical experimentation of the earlier music, but now each song is less of a group effort. Creative differences arise. The White Album and singles from this period.
9 videos
- Video: 1968 - Events and Singles
- Video: The Beatles (White Album)
- Video: White Album - The Paul Songs
- Video: SCU - Lady Madonna, Hey Jude, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
- Video: White Album - The John Songs
- Video: SCU - Revolution, Happiness Is a Warm Gun, Julia
- Video: White Album – George and Ringo Songs
- Video: SCU - The Inner Light, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Piggies
- Video: Yellow Submarine
Graded: A Co-Op of Singer-Songwriters
WEEK 7
Get Back
Once there was a way to get back home. The Get Back sessions embrace a return-to-simplicity approach but are aborted. Abbey Road attempts to get back to the band's previous manner of working. Let It Be combines material from Get Back with newly recorded tracks. Abbey Road, Let It Be, and singles from this period.
9 videos
- Video: Introduction
- Video: The Get Back Project
- Video: Get Back/Let It Be, The Album
- Video: SCU - Let It Be, Dig a Pony, I Me Mine, I Got a Feeling
- Video: The Grand Finale: Abbey Road
- Video: Abbey Road: Side One
- Video: SCU - Here Comes the Sun, Maxwell’s Silver Hammer, I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
- Video: Abbey Road: Side Two (A Longer Day in the Life)
- Video: Conclusions
Graded: Get Back
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University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is one of the nation's leading private universities. Located in Rochester, N.Y., the University provides exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary study and close collaboration with faculty through its unique cluster-based curriculum. Its College, School of Arts and Sciences, and Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are complemented by its Eastman School of Music, Simon School of Business, Warner School of Education, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Nursing, Eastman Institute for Oral Health, and the Memorial Art Gallery.
Ratings and Reviews
Loved this course! I relived my youth through the music of the Beatles and learned so much about them and
Excellent
A wonderful course, filled with little known gems of the Beatles time...a way too short time!
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DS
Really fun class led by a real gentleman who brings tremendous knowledge and appreciation to the fore. Strongly recommend for all Beatles fans!