MUS 201 - Exploring Music: Introduction to Music History

4 Credit(s)

Prerequisite(s): WR 115 or designated placement.

Course Description: This course explores the history of Western European music from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It is an overview of musical genres, styles, forms, and practices that were embraced in each period. Examines the way historical events, cultural trends, or technical inventions affected the musical trend in each era. Emphasis is on cultivating critical listening and comprehension skills through musical examples, learning from lectures, documentaries, recordings, and reading of the textbook. No musical background is required. Fulfills cultural literacy requirement within the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree.

Course Level: Lower Division Collegiate

Course Learning Outcomes:

CLO#1: Explain basic vocabulary of musical terms such as timbre, harmony, melody, homophony, etc.
CLO#2: Display critical listening and comprehension skills in music.
CLO#3: Describe the general characteristics of European music of the various historical periods. (ILO: Critical Thinking)
CLO#4: Explain the major forms and genres of Western European music.