MUS 111 - Music Appreciation I

Credits: 3
Instructional Contact Hours: 3

Provides fundamentals of listening to and understanding of instrumental music (concerto, small ensemble). Presents basic principles for discussion as they relate to a variety of examples from classical, folk, and pop styles.

Prerequisite(s): ENG 111 with a grade of “C” or higher is recommended
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 45 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: Humanities
Pass/NoCredit: No

Outcomes and Objectives

Demonstrate an understanding of the elements of listening to music analytically.
1. Define music/purposes of music.
2. Define Melody, Harmony, Form, Color, and Rhythm.
3. Characterize 3 major style sources (Folk, Art, Pop).
4. Understand fundamental principles of acoustics:
  1. Four properties of sound (pitch, intensity, timbre, duration);
  2. How the harmonic series affects harmony and color;
  3. Source, Medium, and receiver.
Demonstrate an awareness of the elements of music as applied to the composer.
1. Understand how the composer works.
2. Understand the Inspired, the Struggler, and the Craftsman approaches.
3. Compare approaches among major composers.
4. Compare among composer, arranger, and improviser.
5. Understand major forms composers use: song, part forms, contrapuntal forms, developmental forms, variations, and multi-movement forms.
6. Understand the instruments and mediums of musical expression.
Demonstrate an awareness of elements of music as applied to the performer.
1. Understand how the conductor works.
2. Develop talent and self-discipline.
3. Understand dramatic effects of music.
4. Understand how the performance affects listeners.
Demonstrate an awareness of the elements of music as applied to the listener.
1. Differentiate between live and recorded music.
2. Understand levels of listening; passive, sensory, emotional, perceptive, active.
3. Understand music as a language.
4. Identify major time periods of Western music.
5. Identify recorded and live examples of music.