Music 211 - Exploring Music

Through composition, analysis, listening practice, and performance, we will build a solid working understanding of many principles of music common in Western musical traditions. The course aims to develop comfort and dexterity in engaging with music via listening, analysis, and creative work. Assignments include harmonizing melodies, writing short melodies and accompaniments, creative representation and listening projects, and annotated analysis. On several occasions we will use our instruments and voices to bring musical examples to life in the classroom. Three class meetings and one ear training section per week.

Students who have not previously taken a course in music theory at Amherst College are encouraged to take a self-administered placement exam available on reserve in the Music Library and on the Music Department Website (www.amherst.edu/~music/TheoryPlacement.pdf ). Students are also encouraged to discuss placement in music theory with a member of the Music Department. This course or MUSI 213 is considered a point of entry to MUSI 341 and serves as a prerequisite to many other Music Department offerings.

Requisite: MUSI 111, or equivalent ability gained by playing an instrument or singing. Limited to 18 students. Fall and Spring semester: Instructor TBD.

How to handle overenrollment: Individual meeting with instructor to test musical background & ear to determine class level. If overenrolled, preference will be give to those who have submitted a Music Theory Placement Exam, then to 1st-years, sophomores, & juniors.

Students who enroll in this course will likely encounter and be expected to engage in the following intellectual skills, modes of learning, and assessment: emphasis on written work, independent research, oral presentations, group work, artistic work, visual analysis, aural analysis.