Course Description
Where does music come from? When, why, and how did people first start making music? What forms does creativity take in music? How do music creators turn raw inspiration into finished pieces? How do improvisers create music on the spot? How do composers create notes for many instruments playing at once? Can anyone create music, or is that something only for composers? This course will provide many and varied answers to these questions and more.
Athena Title
Creativity in Music
Prerequisite
Permission of major
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student learning Outcomes
- Students will have an understanding of the tools and procedures of how composers and artists create new works, proceeding from raw idea, and inspiration to finished product.
- Students will have a vocabulary of terms and procedures of creativity and improvisation.
- Students will have the ability to effectively express and exchange ideas through improvisation (through rhythms, movement, and vocal sounds) and composition.
- Students will have an understanding of how a piece of music or art was assembled.
- Students will have an understanding of enhanced aural abilities to analyze a composition through listening.
- Students will have an understanding of the qualities that make a successful composition and/or improvisation.
- Students will have an understanding of how creating art and music can express the human experience.
Topical Outline
- Music, creativity, and the brain
- A discussion on creativity in general and as applied to music
- Experiential sessions of creating rhythms using makeshift/body percussion
- Learning a basic vocabulary of musical terms relating to composition and improvisation
- How to build a composition
- Basic pop music theory
- Presentations and performances by guest artists, composers, and other specialists on various topics
- Use of instruments in music creation
- Use of the computer in music creation
- Use of music and sound in film
- How music is recorded (notation, computer notation, recording, computer DAWs)
- How music is created spontaneously (i.e., improvisation)
- Group composition/improvisation/performance project
