12Jan/124
What is a college level ‘Music Appreciation’ class?
EmTay21 asked:
I have to fill up 3 more credit hours (I will be a Sr. and I just need to take credit classes b/c I have all my majors.) I go to a smaller university and there are limited classes to take. I was thinking about music appreciation but I know nothing about music. I don't know how to read music either. What cirriculum is a standard (intro) music appreciation class?
Sight Reading Music
I have to fill up 3 more credit hours (I will be a Sr. and I just need to take credit classes b/c I have all my majors.) I go to a smaller university and there are limited classes to take. I was thinking about music appreciation but I know nothing about music. I don't know how to read music either. What cirriculum is a standard (intro) music appreciation class?
Sight Reading Music
October 11th, 2009 - 17:06
Sight Reading Music
The class I took (many years ago) was a “100″ level class
and pretty much covered what you describe to be your desires
for the class
October 12th, 2009 - 04:38
How to Read Music
These classes are usually 100 level courses and are meant to introduce you to a range of music and an understanding of music styles and approaches.
You probably wouldn’t learn to read music in the class, but you’d listen to a wide variety of things and discuss elements of music such as rhythm, harmony, repetition, emotional impact, etc. and get a sense of how music changes over time and in differing cultures. Usually you’d be expected to go to a few concerts and performances outside of class and that’s cool because live performance is, well, alive!
Since you are a senior, you shouldn’t have any trouble in the class (unless you blow it off because you get an attitude about being a senior in the midst of lots of underclassmen). Since virtually everyone enjoys listening to music, I think you’d enjoy learning a little more about analyzing and describing music. Go for it!
October 15th, 2009 - 13:43
Sight Reading Music
Depends on the school usually it is freshman or soph level.
October 18th, 2009 - 12:53
How to Read Music
Where I went to college, all students were required to take a semester of either art appreciation or music appreciation. I took music appreciation.
What is required will vary by college and university. Consult your college or university catalogue to be sure. Music appreciation is not a course for music majors but is generally intended for other students as a “general education” or “distribution requirement.” You will not need to know how to read music, but you will probably be given the opportunity to learn enough to develop an appreciation of what is involved in music. The whole idea of music appreciation is to give you a limited exposure to good music and to encourage your appreciation of it. Don’t be intimidated by it, and approach the course with the attitude that it is a “life skill” that you will be acquiring.
We had to listen to several musical works during the semester. For the course I took, we had to listen to Beethoven’s Third (Eroica or Heroic) Symphony (and follow it with a musical score), Wagner’s opera (Tristan and Isolde), Berlioz’s (Symphony Fantastique), Debussy’s Le Mer, Schubert’s Die Forielle (“Trout Quintet”), Aaron Copeland’s “Billy the Kid” and “Appalachian Spring,” and some other things.