Music Appreciation: How We Experience Music

Discover how composers, performers, and musical settings come together to create immersive experiences that transport listeners beyond everyday life.

You’ll begin by exploring how music tells stories—through ballet, opera, musical theater, and film—and learn to identify the musical tools used to shape character, emotion, and narrative. You'll practice listening for rhythm, harmony, and recurring motifs, and discover how these elements work together to bring a story to life.

Next, you’ll shift your focus to musical experiences—your own and those shared with others. You’ll examine the emotional architecture of concert programs, dive into the diverse world of band and ensemble music, and consider how timbre shapes immersive digital environments like video games. You’ll also explore abstract music that exists without a clear story, learning how sound alone can evoke powerful responses.

You’ll then investigate moments when music causes you to lose track of time and place. Through topics like minimalism, improvisation, and the relationship between creator, performer, and audience, you’ll uncover how music fosters awe—and how you can become a more engaged and curious listener, performer, and participant in the musical world.

What you will learn:

Prerequisite skills:

• No prior music theory knowledge is required—just curiosity and a willingness to listen closely.