Have you ever heard a piece of music and been captured by it, but not been able to say why?

Have you ever tried to learn to play or sing a piece of music, but struggled to understand what makes it tick?

Want to know more? Then this unique course is for you!

In this course you will learn to be more discriminate and curious in your approach to music, both aurally and in the written form. Recordings will become full of familiar touch points and music scores will become treasure maps, full of clues and meanings.

Each week the class will focus on a different aspect of music: melody, harmony, tonality, rhythm, texture, structure, dynamics and even the instruments and / or voices performing. Week by week, we will examine the theoretical mechanics of music by exploring a wide range of musical styles and genres – everything from a Classical symphony through to popular music, film music and folk songs. We will listen to recordings and explore scores, and even sing some music ourselves!

In the last class of the course, there will be an opportunity for members of the class to bring in music, either scores or recordings, that they would like to explore and share with the class. This gives us a chance to put into practice all you have learnt and bring it all together.

Developing your listening and analytical skills will enhance and inform your music appreciation as well as your skills as a musician. Approaching new music will become exciting as you bring your newly enhanced analytical skills into play.

Entry: This course is an excellent extension from the theory skills learnt in Vocal Fundamentals. It would also be suitable for those with some skills in reading music, both singers and instrumentalists.