Music Theory and Composition

In this class, students will learn the fundamentals of music theory— pitch, rhythm, melody, and harmony. We will start the semester by learning to read and write traditional music notation, but we will prioritize ear training: cultivating our ability to hear, identify, and sing scales, modes, and intervals. Throughout the semester, students will have the opportunity to experiment with several different approaches to music composition and improvisation. Students need not have any prior musical knowledge to enroll in this course, as we will be starting from the very basics. Those with more advanced knowledge are welcome to participate, and will be challenged with material matched to their skill level.