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)
Course Objectives
- An understanding of the tools and procedures of how composers create new works, proceeding from raw idea and inspiration to finished product - Knowledge of the process of how composers and improvisers make decisions about what to do - A vocabulary of the terms and procedures of creativity, musical composition, improvisation, and music notation - Some experiences in the process of improvisation (through rhythms, movement, and vocal sounds) and composition - Exposure to a wide variety of demonstrations and personal viewpoints of composers, improvisers, and other experts directly in class - An understanding of how a piece of music was assembled, and a more informed ability to discern the basic elements of melody, harmony, rhythm, form, timbre, and style - Enhanced aural abilities to analyze a composition through listening - An understanding of the qualities that make a successful composition and/or improvisation
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