Music History
Our Music History courses are less about memorizing dates and events, and more about instilling music appreciation, and exploring how to actually listen to music, and what to listen for. In order to truly appreciate the magic of music, and convey that magic to listeners, it's important to know the significance of what one plays - and to understand that significance, one must know where that musical work fits in within the grand timeline of musical evolution.
LMA Core History courses are divided into groupings of levels 1-10, starting from the very beginner level, through expert compositional level courses. Beyond the 4 core offerings, there are also elective courses which can be taken if students pass out of earlier levels.
Every student must take a placement exam in order to be enrolled in the appropriate level.
Music History 100
An introductory course covering levels 1-3 exploring how composers tell stories through music (Carnival of the Animal by Saint-Saens, and Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf). We also introduce the orchestra, and cover Dances by Bach.
Credits: 5
Course Duration: 12 weeks
Music History 200
An intermediate course covering levels 4-6. Throughout these levels we introduce the use of voices in music (Mozart's Queen of the Night, Handel's Hallelujah Chorus), as well as introduce the styles of the Baroque and Classical Eras.
Credits: 5
Course Duration: 12 weeks
Music History 300
In levels 7-8 we explore the styles of the Romantic era covering works by Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and others. We also touch on nationalism in music, and the differentiations between regions of the world through sound.
Credits: 5
Course Duration: 12 weeks
Music History 400
Advanced level hisotory covering levels 9-10 cocering 20th century music, exploring music during the time of war, and the rise of innovation in composing styles utilizing technology and other methods that thrust us into the 21st century.
Credits: 5
Course Duration: 12 weeks
The Rise of the Piano
A music appreciation course exploring the history of one of the most beloved instruments. See the progression from Bach to Liszt, and beyond.
Credits: 5
Course Duration: 12 weeks
The Classical Symphony
A course which covers the invention of the symphony by Haydn, and an exploration of how the symphony was used, and evolved through Mozart, Beethoven, and more.
Credits: 5
Course Duration: 12 weeks
Jazz: The American Sound
A course exploring the rise of Jazz, a purely American genre. From its deep African roots, to being hailed as the Rock 'n Roll of its time, you learn about the music that has come to represent
the sound of a nation.
Credits: 5
Course Duration: 12 weeks
Music's Game Changers
There are amazing composers, and then there are those who completely changed the course of music history. This class covers some of those individuals (Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, and others), and explores what made them true "Game Changers".
Credits: 5
Course Duration: 12 weeks