Music Appreciation: Defining Music History

Learn to connect the music you love with the rich global history behind it.

Music is one of the most powerful and personal forces in our lives—and yet most of us don’t know much about where it comes from or how it works. In this course, you’ll explore music from around the world and across time, from medieval chants to modern compositions, gaining new tools to describe, analyze, and appreciate what you hear. 

Each week, you’ll listen to diverse examples and learn how music reflects the culture, technology, and emotions of its time. You’ll examine major musical periods like the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic eras—alongside global traditions and contemporary fusion styles. With engaging assignments and creative playlists, you’ll get to trace your own musical story and learn how to pass it on as a living tradition. 

By the end of the course, you won’t just be someone who loves music—you’ll be someone who better understands it. And most importantly, you’ll gain a deeper ability to listen with both insight and wonder, without losing the magic of hearing a new piece for the first time.

What you will learn:

✔ 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