Course Philosophy
My philosophy of learning defines it as an active search for meaning by the learner, who gains new understanding by connecting new information with previously understood concepts in a meaningful way. My philosophy of teaching is that my role as the teacher is not to deliver the knowledge, which you will then remember and repeat on tests. My role is to help you learn.
This course encourages you to listen to music in a more active, open, and informed way. It's designed for non-musicians and requires no previous technical background in music (but music majors will also be challenged to listen and think in new ways). You will learn to listen actively, describe what you hear by talking and writing, and place each musical work in its historical and cultural context.
Course Objectives
- Enrich your music listening experience by talking and writing about what you hear
- Acquire a vocabulary of musical terms and concepts to talk and write about music in a more specific way
- Develop your understanding of diverse musical styles and their social context
- Make connections between concepts discussed in class and your experience at a concert in discussion and writing
- Make connections between developments in music, the other arts, and important historical and cultural events, ideas, and trends in discussion and writing
- Become more proficient in communication by learning in groups, discussing in class, and using electronic communication between classes
This file was last modified on 17 May 2000.
