Introduction to the Art of Music. For non-School of Music students only. The course is designed for those who wish to sharpen their appreciation of music, whether they have any musical background or not. It begins with the fundamentals of melody, rhythm, harmony, and texture, then presents a survey of the artistic and cultural heritage of Western art music, from the Baroque era to the present. Such skills involve understanding conventions of musical expression and form, so that students learn to listen with appropriate expectations.
Students attend three lectures and one discussion section per week.
Tapes of assigned works are available for private study. Grades are based upon three examinations, concert reports, and participation in discussion sections. Introduction to the Theory of Music. While this course requires no previous formal training in music theory, it is essential that students have a basic understanding of musical notation. The course objectives are development of fluency in reading and writing musical notation, improvement of the musical ear, and the provision of a foundation for music analysis skills.