Music

This course examines the basics of making music for film and animation. Aspects of the function and crafting of music in film and animation including film scoring and the music dramatic narrative will be explored. 

This course develops skills and knowledge that help students to get more out of the experience of listening to Western art music. Surveying set works drawn from different periods, the course considers the roots, emergence and establishment of this repertoire and its associated practices. Students consider how musical compositions were historically shaped by cultural and material contexts, and develop analytical skills in using musical scores to describe musical organization, style, and genre. Students are not required to perform as part of this course, but some prior familiarity with western musical notation is necessary.

This course explores the aesthetic and cultural dimensions of popular music through critical listening and analysis of representative works, examining how music both shapes and mirrors the evolution of society. By tracing the relationship between musical expression and its historical contexts, the course cultivates an appreciation for the aesthetic values embedded in popular culture.

This course guides students through the rich tapestry of classical music by immersing them in live piano performances accompanied by humorous commentary, fostering an understanding of music history, renowned composers, and significant classical pieces. Through lively discussions and sharing among students, individuals cultivate their unique perspectives and tastes in music, while also advocating for the profound impact of arts and humanities. 

This course develops students' appreciation of various types of electronic music via an open, creative environment for its composition. It explores the nature of sound and approaches to its organization, listening deeply to music and the world around us, and covers theory and practice in digital audio signal processing. The course works with 'concrete sound' and thus no prior experience in music notation or composition is required. The course culminates in an open concert-presentation of final works that students develop over the semester.

This course explores the role of music and sound in perhaps the dominant art form of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries: film. From the live accompaniments of early silent movies to the Oscar-winning soundtracks of today's Hollywood productions, music has been an integral part of cinema from the outset, structuring narratives and shaping audience responses. This course introduces students to key aesthetic concepts and debates surrounding film music as well as providing a historical overview of the development of film sound. 

This course introduces students to North Indian music, in particular, the art of tabla, North Indian drum. This hands-on course covers the techniques of playing tabla and also covers the principles of tala (measured rhythmic count) system, along with notation and various traditional compositions.

This module explores issues of music, text, and performance around the world, focusing on conceptions about the relationships between music as a form of text drawing connections between society and culture. The key debates within the discipline of ethnomusicology are viewed from an historical perspective, outlining their impact upon the development of contemporary ethnomusicological perspectives. As well as exploring the contemporary presence of music (incorporating traditional music, martial music, and other forms of music), this course addresses the historical trajectory of music in its socio-political context. The course consists of a lecture and ensemble/workshop format. Students with previous musical experience of all levels and no previous musical experience are welcome to apply.

This course explores different musical traditions in their historical and cultural contexts, encouraging students to think deeper about the universal function of music to not only reflect, but also create social reality. The course focuses on the aesthetics and history of classical music in the Western world and beyond, exploring masterpieces of composers from both Europe and Asia, as well as ethnic and popular music in parts of Asia and the Middle East. 

The course also asks essential questions about the historical development of music in different regions, and about suitable approaches for the study of music. Tracing the historical trajectory of musicology as a field, the class discusses the major debates within musicology; questions its central tenets, and explores how music has been studied in other disciplines such as ethnomusicology, philosophy, and psychology. 

Classes feature live performances by instructor and guest lecturers, followed by discussions.