Analyzing Tonal Music II

MUSIC 51B Subject & Catalog Number

Description

Students will build on knowledge and skills acquired in 51a, gaining greater familiarity with advanced theoretical and analytical approaches on diatonic modes, chromatic harmony, chord extensions, form, and timbre. Repertoires from Western art music and popular music are a central focus, and students will be working from a variety of notational systems. Continuing the trajectory established in Music 51a, the class features a series of workshops on digital audio workstation Logic Pro and audio analysis software Sonic Visualiser. In this course, you will continue to strengthen your critical listening and musical interpretation skills through aural, score-based, and computer-assisted audio analysis. These skills are applicable to performance, composition, songwriting, music criticism, and listening, and will prepare you for more advanced topic-based courses such as Music 150 and composition courses.

Who should take this class? Students with a strong interest in the “nuts and bolts” of music who are looking to learn about the mechanisms of chromatic harmony, modality, timbre, and rhythm in popular music and Western art music. 

Sections:
Tuesday, 9am-10am
Thursday, 9am-10am

Course Notes

Department of Music courses in music theory will no longer require students to complete a placement exam. Instead, students are instructed to self-place into music theory course(s) that match their abilities and experience levels at the time of course registration. Students should follow the instructions here for more information: https://music.fas.harvard.edu/music-theory-course-placement/