Abridged Fundamentals of Music

This course provides an introduction to the basic principles of music and musicianship. Focus will be placed on identifying musical parameters, analyzing musical phenomenon, and appropriately articulating discoveries. Students should expect to have a grasp on what it takes to be a proficient music reader and conversationalist upon completing this course.

Students will attain the course objectives and key concepts by directly studying three musical pieces. This primary source approach abandons the need for a textbook and maximizes student’s critical learning faculties. The instructor will facilitate and foster the discovery process.

Course Objectives:

1. Develop an analytical foundation for musical phenomena and a strong knowledge base for key musical concepts.
2. Communicate effectively in musical language.
3. Critically engage the craft of the discipline as a critical thinker, listener, and performer.

Texts:

• Open-source documents will be provided.