Columbia College Core · Columbia University
Quizzes + 2 essays + online midterm and final on canvas
So much!!! I feel like what we learned is enough to analyze harmony in most tonal pieces. While most examples we studied were from common-practice period, we also had several lectures on jazz and many principles we learned are applicable to basically any genre of tonal music. As a final project we had to compose a piece and we were free to choose any genre, which was really exciting! While composition wasn't the main focus of this class, it definitely helped me to grow as a composer.
Counterpoint, chord progressions, how to handle dissonances and various techniques from classical music, harmonic analysis of mainly classical but some modern music, tools for composition
Knar was an amazing professor! Had very insightful conversations in classes, and it was just so fun to learn about musical history with her. She was exceedingly kind and understanding, and made the material understandable and engaging. I strongly recommend taking Music Hum with her!
Modulation, meter, augmented 6th chords, phrasing
Western and non-western music theory, counterpoint, harmony, basics of composing
Very chill--five quizzes on canvas, one midterm and one final (also on canvas), an opera review, one other (short) paper, and an extra credit essay. Everyone I know has an A right now.
I learned the basics of western music theory and composition as well as form and analysis of various genres of music and an intro to music of a few non-western cultures.
Knar was great! Super insightful, certainly didn't glorify the problematic pasts of some musicians studied but it made the class a much more interesting and reflective space (as opposed to a purely music theory class). She was genuinely invested in our well-being, taking us to a jazz club, the opera (obviously), and on "sound walks" in Riverside. Hearing horror stories from other monotonous and miserable music hum classes, I am super grateful that I got her as my prof :)
Must have a preliminary knowledge of music (i.e very fluent in triad compositions, reading music), focuses mainly on composition techniques but builds the foundation for more complex harmonic and melodic analyses 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Spring 2023 Course: MUSIUN2318_001_2023_1-MUSICTHEORYI : MUSIUN2318_001_2023_1 - MUSIC THEORY I Instructor: Knar Abrahamyan