This course is just packed with so much information. I mean that in a good way too. John pieces the whole history of rock in a way the is digestible, engaging and interesting. I primarily watch the videos. I'm a music fan and just love learning more about rock's trajectory. Didn't know that there was so much history to it. And in case this wasn't enough, be sure to check out part 2. Thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the history of rock and music.

Very interesting and detailed course, places everything in order regarding the evolution of rock history and pop/soul music as well as discussing very interesting culture and historical events. The only problem is that the lecturer is not permitted to playback the tracks in discussion but with a little effort everything can be found. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the evolution of rock music (and not only).

I really enjoyed the course and increased my knowledge of R & R. Great job with the lectures and text. This is my 2nd History of R & R class. and it is just as great as my 1st. I should add that I was raised with R & R and love it. I have listend to it regualry since the 50s, visited SF freqently durring the late 60s and early 70s, and play drums in a classic R & R band. Thanks for an educational, fun course.

I am of a certain age in which I know and remember much of the material covered in the course. However, Professor Covach does a superb job of weaving the disparate threads of mainstream pop, R & B, and country and western together to form rock. He does a great job of covering the various threads of rock as it begins to split into the various sub-genres that will be covered in part two of the course. Great job.

Professor Covach makes the journey interesting as we go along the history of rock, showing not only the musical aspects of its evolution but the cultural ones, so we the students can have a broader perspective of what was going on during the different periods studied. His approach to the subject and his eloquent, fluid narrative of events makes it delightful and exciting. Congratulations for this course.

Awesome instructor with a great deal of knowledge and enthusiasm. He addresses controversial moments in music history with taste. Hearing about the contexts that gave rise to some of the most influential musicians of the mid 20th century made songs more meaningful and interesting. I've discovered many new songs and artists that I absolutely love and I have this course to thank. Thank you!

Amazing course!!! Was quite informative. The instructor explains things very well, He seems like one of those instructors who would love to share everything they know if time was not a constraint for them and I think that that's fantastic. Even though I wasn't planning to take the second part initially, I now most certainly will because I am so interested to know what happened later.

A brilliant course which I loved. Thank you. I’m a white 70yo man living in the West of England, UK currently in COVID Lockdown. I was a teenager when the Beatles broke in 1963 and rock music has been a big part of my life ever since. I found Professor Covach very endearing and I learnt a great deal from his knowledge & enthusiastic approach. I’m straight on to Part 2. Can’t wait

I THINK THIS IS A BRILLIANT COURSE. HOWEVER I DO THINK THE TIME ALLOCATED TO COMPLETING THIS IS NOT QUITE RIGHT. IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THE COURSE PROPERLY, YOU NEED NOT ONLY TO LISTEN TO THE VIDEOS. ARGUABLY YOU ALSO NEED TO READ THE TRANSCRIPTS. AND MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THE MUSIC. THAT WILL TAKE A LOT MORE THAN THE TIME SUGGESTED IN THE COURSE OUTLINE.

As a 6-8 music teacher teaching music appreciation to 7th and 8th grade students, this class helps fill in some of the gaps music educators face when it comes to the history of popular music - or supplement it. I was fortunate to have such a course available at my university, but only in the summer. I would encourage all secondary music teachers to take both of these courses.

I really enjoyed this course and learned a lot about the evolution of music in general. One can learn how and why the whole rock culture began to formulate. I tried listening to the most albums and songs that Mr Covach suggested and I am very happy with his choices. I also learned a lot of good music too. Thank you Mr Covach! Looking forward to Part 2!

This is a very informative and well outlined course highlighting the US music industry's history from the 1900s to end of 1960s. I also really liked the way in which John Covach narrated the whole course - you can really glimpse the fondness which he has for the music of the 60s! Thanks a lot to Coursera and John Covach for such a brilliant course.

Excellent course, I highly reccomend it! Passionate John Covach makes it very thrilling and you really learn a lot. Do not expect an easy course, in the way that you have to take notes during the lessons - and even better, you have to take the aid of Youtube and/or Spotify or similars to really take advantage of the course. It takes time.

Fantastic course! Loved the teacher, and how all the information is structured. Just great. Going for the part II. The only thing, I wish the Civil Rights movement and other issues of the 60s were mentioned in more details, but maybe it will be mentioned in the part II? We'll see. Anyhow I'm tremendously happy I took this course.

I had a great time studying the history of rock music part one. It was an honor to be able to attend Professor Covach's immensely thought-provoking classes. I thank all Coursera members for granting me this opportunity. I hope to be able to attend more online courses later on.

Thanks,

Elika Khebreh Farshchi

Great Course. Very entertaining to listen to the development of music and the influence in culture in had throughout the 50s and 60s. Although one might argue the other way is also right.

I learned lots of new things and picked up many new artists whose music did not know yet.

Thanks and see you in Part Two!

AMEEEEE ESTE CURSO. La historia, la música, la manera en que el profesor explicaba. Fue muy gratificante. Ojala pudiera llevar la parte dos del curso. Espero lograrlo. Solo un plus, pónganle en volumen bajito la música que el profe mencione en los clases como fondo, porque le da otra sensación al video ;)

Great introduction to Rock music history. Sufficiently detailed to make it challenging, yet not too heavy to make it overwhelming. Extremely good coverage in terms of span, given the format limitation. Overall a good starting point for a student of rock, helping one to choose where to deep dive further.

All of Dr. John Covach's courses are exceedingly clearly presented and History of Rock, Part One is no exception. This course requires no musical skill, just a cusriosity to learn about the development of rock music from an American perspective yet including British developments from 1900 until 1969.

One of the most comprehensive, and most fun, classes on contemporary music EVER!! I took John's Beatles class and he broke down the music theory as well as the social effects of music on our culture. It was very stimulating and challenging! I enjoyed it so much I registered for Part II!!

Thanks a lot for my best experience so far with a MOOC course. I'm taking the course from Germany and got a lot of information on the cultural background, which help me enjoying my music collection even more. A must do course for anyone interested in music and/or 20th century culture.

My first Coursera class and it was so good! The class was interesting and enjoyable. The information was presented in a logical progression that made it easy to understand. The instructor is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the material. making the lectures even better.

Definitely, the widest and the most exciting course I've ever seen. It's so impressive how friendly and thoughtful John is, clearly understandable and accurate in details (especially for me as non-native speaker), which make this course above any ratings. Thank you a lot, John!

If you always have been insterested in rock music you must do this course. In Mr.Covach lectures, you can find out in a dinamic fun way artirts that you never have noticed before and also see what´s behind of big hits. So, I encourage you to do both parts of History of Rock!

I used this course to do a summer program with my kids based called, The History of Rock. The lectures were so good and easy to understand and the quizzes were no walk in the park, but that made it even more satisfying when I was able to ace the final on the first try!