MUS 115: Understanding Music: A Global Opportunity

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Understanding Music: A Global Opportunity invites you to explore the many ways in which mu-sic contributes to our shared human experience while also developing your skills as an active listener. Each weekly course module is structured around three guiding questions about music, the first of which is “When do we hear it?” After investigating the cultural circumstances in which the music was created, we then ask “What does it sound like?” through a participatory introduc-tion to the stylistic elements (such as melody and rhythm) from which all music is made. The ability to analyze almost any style of music according to these principles ultimately helps us to unravel the question of “What does it mean?” as our discussion turns to the mysteries of musical communication. You do not need any prior musical training as a performer in order to approach the topics above as a thoughtful listener. We will consider musical case studies drawn from a broad range of historical and geographical milieux in order to understand why music remains one of the most sublime and powerful expressions of human culture throughout the world.

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Department

Music