MUS 201-02 - Topics in Music and Culture: Listening to Music

4 credits (Spring)

In this course we examine the music listening experience from a broad range of perspectives, consider strategies and approaches designed to hone greater listening skills, and explore the way music listening functions as an essential part of shared human experience. Students will read articles in fields such as music theory, philosophy, neuroscience, and psychology, paired with group discussions and guided listening sessions of a broad range of musical styles. Written assignments include a listening journal, short response essays, and in-class listening exams. Our inquiry will explore the perspectives of composers, performers, audio engineers, promoters, and critics and their relationship with music listeners. The class will also consider specific topics, such as the dominance of text/lyrics in popular music, emotional expression, and the roles that individual elements such as timbre, rhythm/meter, and musical form play in conveying musical meaning.

Prerequisite: None.
Instructor: McIntyre