Music Appreciation Certificate Program

interlochen online music appreciation certificate

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Explore how music shapes—and is shaped by—culture, history, and emotion. You'll learn to listen critically, reflect personally, and analyze music's role in everything from ceremony to protest to play.

Taught by an accomplished composer and musician, the Music Appreciation certificate program offers a unique opportunity to explore new musical traditions, earn a valuable credential, and receive credit from Interlochen. This program is designed for both adults and teens and consists of three four-week courses that can be taken in any order:

Music Appreciation: Defining Music History 

✔Identify key characteristics of music from historical periods including Medieval, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century movements
✔Use musical parameters like melody, harmony, rhythm, and texture to describe and analyze what you hear
✔Compare and reflect on how music functions across cultures and in your own life
✔Create a personalized archive of musical works and memories that reflect your unique perspective and listening preferences

Music Appreciation: Music in Culture

✔Discuss the ceremonial and cultural functions of music across global traditions
✔Identify how rhythm and meter influence movement in marches and dances
✔Describe how musical phrasing and harmony convey emotion and narrative intent
✔Analyze how music functions in political and social contexts, from protest to propaganda

Music Appreciation: How We Experience Music

✔Identify and analyze how narrative functions in music across genres and media
✔Recognize stylistic differences between large ensemble music, game soundtracks, and concert traditions
✔Identify and describe key forms and techniques used in absolute and electronic art music
✔Reflect on your own role as listener, performer, and creator in musical experiences

Meet the Faculty

Jamie Leigh Sampson

Instructor of Music

Questions? Speak with an Advisor.

Email: online@interlochen.org 

Phone: 231.276.5990 

You can also schedule an appointment.

How does it work? Complete the form to start a free course demo.

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Expert Faculty
Receive direct, personalized feedback from a professional artist.

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Real Growth
Develop artistic skills that are important to you in 30 days.

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Collaborate
Connect with peers and instructors on your projects—or just for fun.