History of Western Music – World Campus
General Information
DescriptionThis is a yearlong course divided into two semesters.
In this course students will be introduced to the history and development of Western classical music from chant to the present day. We will learn how music has interacted with other arts like architecture and visual art to reflect and shape the cultures that produced them. In addition to developing the ability to properly place pieces in their historical time period, students will learn how musical styles have been informed by their social conditions. By the end of this course, student will be able to: identify pieces from the standard repertoire by time period, genre, and probable composer; understand the social context of the music in question; and communicate clearly one’s ideas about a piece of music.
The asynchronous elements of the class are designed to be completed on a weekly basis and consists of four main activities: watching short video lectures; completing reading assignments; working on skill building activities; and taking a short multiple-choice quiz. The weekly synchronous Zoom meetings will consist mainly of a guided listening activity and discussion about our thoughts on a specific piece of music. We will also have plenty of time for questions regarding the material, so come prepared!
Prerequisites:
No prior knowledge or formal study of music is required for this class.
Grades:
Each semester grade is based on a combination of brief written assignments and listening quizzes.
