Musicianship: Music Theory & Construction

(2 Credits)

This course emphasizes a no-nonsense and demystifying presentation of the three elements of music: rhythm, melody, and harmony. You will review and analyze a variety of musical examples, written and recorded, to demonstrate these concepts with a focus on contemporary western music (everything from the Beatles and Stevie Wonder to Radiohead, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar). You will learn how to write a lead sheet, transcribe rhythms, hear chord progressions, and arrange and compose at a basic level. The goal of the course is to enable you to break down a song competently and have a fuller appreciation of what producers, arrangers, composers, and songwriters do, skills you will undoubtedly need for a career in the music industry.