Introduction to Western Music, from Troubadours to TikTok

MUSIC 1 Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Introduction to Western Music, from Troubadours to TikTok . 

This course equips students with techniques for listening, thinking, and communicating about music, with a particular focus on the art music (i.e., classical) tradition of the modern West. We begin by establishing some baseline definitions before exploring how the tools and contexts of music-making have transformed over the centuries. Along the way, we’ll encounter a range of styles, genres, and forms from a variety of perspectives (cultural, socio-economic, theoretical) that will sharpen your ability to listen carefully and critically. You’ll also practice articulating your thoughts and opinions about what you’re hearing through listening diaries and in-class discussion. While the trajectory of the course traces a broad history of music (mostly literate and socially elite) around Western Europe and the United States, this is not a survey of “Great Works.” Rather, through interactive cases, students will learn to imaginatively engage with music in historical context. No prior knowledge of music, practical or theoretical, is required to take or succeed in this course, but everyone is expected to complete weekly listening assignments and attend two live performances.