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  • Welcome!

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    Welcome to [CMUS 1013] Music Appreciation!


    Image credit: Title: Music | Creator: Gerd Altmann | Source: Pixabay | License: Pixabay License (Links open in new tab)

    Course Introduction

    This is a nontechnical course open to all interested persons, designed to increase the response to music through a knowledge of the art and development of perceptive listening skills and study of various styles and principles from non-Western, Western European, and American music, Renaissance to the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This course is summarized as: basic elements and vocabulary of music; appreciation and understanding of diverse styles of music past and present; developing listening skills. It includes opportunities for experiencing music (recorded and/or live). 3 credit hours.

    This course has no prerequisites.

    Course Learning Objectives:

    Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

    1. Describe/identify elements of music using correct musical terminology.
    2. Identify works of music it their appropriate historical and cultural contexts.
    3. Discuss a wide variety of musical styles.
    4. Analyze the stylistic features of diverse musical styles.
    5. Identify cultural or national traits in music.
    6. Discuss musical diversity and how it relates to our global society.

    Navigating in this course

    This course is set up in Modules covering various topics which may be accessed from the course navigation menu on the left or by scrolling below. Modules may be collapsed in the menu and it the body of the course to minimize scrolling. Each module includes the relevant chapters followed by various activities, which may include discussion forums, listening activities and quizzes, practice quizzes, module tests, and other relevant activities as appropriate for each module. Many items are required and may be marked as completed automatically when the activity has been submitted (the broken check box), but others will marked as done by the student (the solid check box).

    Please move through the items below and continue through the Learner Support and Getting Started modules before moving on to Module 1: Music Fundamentals. Be sure to check for announcements and due dates to stay on track.

    Check the News and Announcements Forum below regularly.

    Again, Welcome to Music Appreciation!

    Creative Commons License
    This course and its contents are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (link opens in new tab) by LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network, except where otherwise noted.

  • Learner Support

    This section includes information on obtaining technical support, and other institutional policies and resources. Please refer to these sections as needed.

  • Getting Started

    This module contains all the items you should review and complete before you begin Module 1. Before moving on, be sure to:
    1. Read the Course Syllabus
    2. Introduce yourself to the class
    3. Read the instructions for the Q & A Forum
    Good luck in the course!
    • File icon
      Music Appreciation Syllabus File
      Students must
      Mark as done
    • Forum icon
      Introduce Yourself! What Does Music Mean to You? Forum
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Music is part of our everyday lives.  Music can uplift us, inspire us, make us happy or sad.  Music can influence our emotions and effect our experiences on a greater level.  Your Instructor and your classmates would like to learn a little about you and your interests in music.

      Use this forum to tell us a little about yourself and your interests. Some topic ideas:

        1. What is your field of study/research interest or concentration?
        2. What are you most interested in learning about in this class and why?
        3. Have you ever taken an online class before?
        4. Do you play an instrument or sing in a choir?
        5. Who is your favorite band /or singer and why?
        6. Any other information you would like to share with your classmates, such as special interests or activities.

      Once you have introduced yourself to your classmates, remember to read and respond to at least two of your classmate's posts to receive credit for the assignment.  

      You are welcome to post a picture!  We look forward to meeting you.

      Discussion Board Rubric

    • Forum icon
      Q & A Forum for Students

      Use this forum to ask your instructor any questions you have about the course. You may post at any time, and your instructor will respond here. Be as specific as possible.

      Please keep in mind that others can see your posts, so do not post any personal information. If you have questions about your grade, please email your instructor directly. You can expect a response to posts and emails within [X] hours. [Recommendation is 24 hours M-F, next business day on weekends.]

      Subscription should be set to Auto.

  • Module 1: Music Fundamentals

    In this section we will explore music fundamentals, listening to examples of music written recently and in time periods of the past. This module includes chapters on how music makes sense, how it is created, and musical roles, contexts and categories.

    Image credit: Abstract music notes | Artist: OpenClipArt-Vectors | Source: Pixabay | Pixabay License




    Learning Objectives:

    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

    1. Define basic fundamental terms of music.
    2. Identify instruments of the orchestra.
    3. Identify how music makes sense through consistency and repetition.
    4. Identify ways in which humans have used music for social and expressive purposes.

    Module Activities

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read, view, and listen to the content in the chapters on Music Fundamentals:
      1. How Music Makes Sense
      2. How Music Is Created
      3. Listening to Musicians
    2. Complete the Module 1 Discussion
    3. Listen to audio examples of Music Fundamentals, provided in Pressbooks and in Moodle 
    4. Complete the Module 1 listening quiz on the identifying the audio music examples
    5. Look up the terms and definitions provided in Pressbooks and fill in the study guide provided to prepare for the Module 1 test
    6. Complete the Module 1 test 

    Note the check boxes that help you track your progress: some are automatic and some are manual which you should check as you complete activities.

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    The chapters from the Pressbooks textbook Music Appreciation are linked in this module and may include interactive activities such as test-your-knowledge practice quizzes, timelines, and listening guides to accompany certain embedded audio/visual materials. Be sure to read the entire chapter(s). Use the navigation links in the course menu on the left to move between chapters in a module.

  • Module 2: History of Western Music before 1600

    This unit includes an outline history of music with a timeline from 500 BCE to the present, with in-depth chapters on the music of the Middles Ages and the Renaissance. We will study music of the Middle Ages and end with the creation of music during the Renaissance period, listening to some examples of music written in both time periods.  And finally, we will consider Women's Rights in the Middle Ages and discuss how it effected women composers and performers during this time period.

    Image credit: Medieval musicians  playing a viola and a tambourine, from the manuscript "Chansonnier des Nobles" | Artist: Unknown | Source: Wikimedia Commons | License: Public domain

    Module Learning Objectives

    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

    1. Identify important genres and uses of music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
    2. Identify music selections of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance and evaluate for style and use.
    3. Compare and contrast how women are viewed in the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods and how women are viewed today
    4. Identify ways in which humans have used music for social and expressive purposes.

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read and view the following chapters:
      1. Introduction to Western Music History
      2. Music of the Middle Ages
      3. Music of the Renaissance
    2. Discuss how Women's Rights in the Middle Ages affected women composers and performers in the Discussion Forum
    3. Complete the "What do you hear" activity.
    4. Download and complete the Module 2 Study Guide to prepare for the Module 2 Test
    5. Complete the Module 2 Test.

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    The chapters from the Pressbooks textbook Music Appreciation are linked in this module and may include interactive activities such as test-your-knowledge practice quizzes, timelines, and listening guides to accompany certain embedded audio/visual materials. Be sure to read the entire chapter(s). Use the navigation links in the course menu on the left to move between chapters in a module.

  • Module 3: Music of the Baroque Period (1600 - 1750)

    This module covers the periods from the Baroque Period in Western Music. The term "baroque" originally referred to something misshaped (an irregular pearl) and was not applied as the name of this period of history until the end of the 19th century. In fact, there were many significant developments in music around 1600: the beginnings of independent instrumental music, the invention of opera, a change in thinking about and notating music (basso continuo, figured bass).

    Image credit: Frederick, Prince of Wales, and his sisters (1733) | Artist: Philippe Mercier (1689-1760) | Source: Wikimedia Commons | License: Public domain


    Learning Objectives:

    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

    1. Discuss the historical and cultural contexts of the Baroque Period.
    2. Identify musical performing forces (voices, instruments, and ensembles), styles, composers, and genres of the Baroque.
    3. Describe ways in which music and other influences interact in music of the Baroque Period.
    4. Identify selected music of the Baroque, making critical judgments about its style and use

    Module Activities:

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read, view, and listen to the content in the Pressbooks chapter, "Music of the Baroque Period"

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    The chapters from the Pressbooks textbook Music Appreciation are linked in this module and may include interactive activities such as test-your-knowledge practice quizzes, timelines, and listening guides to accompany certain embedded audio/visual materials. Be sure to read the entire chapter(s). Use the navigation links in the course menu on the left to move between chapters in a module.

  • Module 4: Music of the Classical Period

    This module covers the music of the Classical Period, its major composers, genres of Classical music, and the Symphony specifically.

    Image credit: Sextet | Artist: Louis-Michel van Loo (1707-1771) | Source: Wikimedia Commons | License: Public Domain







    Learning Objectives:

    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

    1. Describe and define the classical era in music.
    2. Identify music of the composers Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
    3. Identify the genres of the Classical Period.
    4. Explain how public concerts contributed to the development of the genre of the symphony.
    5. Identify the essential features of the symphony that appealed to eighteenth-century audiences.
    6. Analyze symphonies by Joseph Boulogne and Joseph Haydn.
    7. Summarize the sonata form procedure and explain how the individual sections (exposition, development, recapitulation) relate to the whole.
    8. Compare and contrast sonata form symphonic movements by Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.
    9. Identify other instrumental genres popularized during the Classical Period.

    Module Activities:

    To achieve these objectives:

    1. Read, view, and listen to the content in the Pressbooks chapters:
      • Music of the Classical Period
      • Classical Period: The Symphony
    2. Complete the Module 4 Discussion
    3. Complete the Module 4 quiz

    Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

    The chapters from the Pressbooks textbook Music Appreciation are linked in this module and may include interactive activities such as test-your-knowledge practice quizzes, timelines, and listening guides to accompany certain embedded audio/visual materials. Be sure to read the entire chapter(s). Use the navigation links in the course menu on the left to move between chapters in a module.

    • File icon
      Module 4 Study Guide File
      Students must
      Mark as done

      Download this file and complete it to help prepare for quizzes.

    • URL icon
      Music of the Classical Period URL
    • URL icon
      Classical Period: The Symphony URL
    • Forum icon
      Module 4 Discussion Forum
      Students must
      Post replies: 1
      Make forum posts: 1
    • Page icon
      Module 4: What do you hear? Page
      Students must
      Mark as done
    • Quiz icon
      Module 4 Listening Quiz
      Students must
      Mark as done
    • Quiz icon
      Module 4 Quiz
      Students must
      Mark as done

      You will complete the Module 4 test by choosing the best answer from true/false, multiple choice, matching, or short answer questions.  The test will be timed and once you open it, you must complete it.  You must not shrink your screen or go to another tab or screen during the test.  

  • Module 5: Music of the Romantic Period and the 19th Century

    This module covers the music of the Romantic Period and 19th Century, influenced by romaniticism, cultural nationalism, and exoticism (fascination with other cultures).

    Image credit: Title: A Musician and his Family | Artist: French School (19th century) | Source: Wikimedia Commons | License: Public Domain



    Learning Objectives:

    Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

    1. Describe the historical and cultural contexts of nineteenth century music, including musical Romanticism and nationalism.
    2. Identify selected genres of nineteenth century music and their associated expressive aims, uses, and styles.
    3. Identify the music of selected composers of nineteenth century music and their associated styles.
    4. Explain ways in which music and other cultural forms interact in nineteenth century music in genres such as the art song, program music, opera, and musical nationalism.

      Module Activities:

      To achieve these objectives:

      1. Read, view, and listen to the content in the Pressbooks chapter "Music of the Romantic Period, below.
      2. Complete the module discussion.
      3. Complete the module quiz.

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      The chapters from the Pressbooks textbook Music Appreciation are linked in this module and may include interactive activities such as test-your-knowledge practice quizzes, timelines, and listening guides to accompany certain embedded audio/visual materials. Be sure to read the entire chapter(s). Use the navigation links in the course menu on the left to move between chapters in a module.

    • Module 6: Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries

      In this module, we will study the ways in which progressive modern music differs from classical music. We will then use the conceptual and listening tools that we have developed in earlier modules as an entryway into the modern repertoire.

      Image credits in order left to right, top to bottom:

      • Claude DeBussy (1862-1918), c1908 | Photographer: Nadar (Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, 1820-1910) | Source: Wikimedia Commons (Link opens in new tab) | License: Public domain.
      • Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971), 1921 | Photographer: Robert Regassi | Source: Wikimedia Commons (Link opens in new tab) | License: Public domain.
      • John Cage (1912-1992), 1988 | Photographer: Rob Bogaerts / Anefo | Source: Wikimedia Commons | License: CC 0, Public Domain. (Links open in new tab)
      • Tan Dun (1957-), 2011 | Photographer: Iluv2write | Source: Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA-3.0 (Links open in new tab)
      • Koji Kondo (1961-), 2006 | Photographer: Sklathill | Source: Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 (Links open in new tab)
      • Caroline Shaw (1982-), 2020 | Photographer: Steven Pisano | Source: Wikimedia Commons | License: CC-BY 2.0 (Links open in new tab)

      Learning Objectives

      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

      1. Explain how progressive modern music sounds different from music of the “common practice era.”
      2. Identify the historical and ideological changes that caused the stylistic upheaval of modernism.
      3. Identify key stylistic attributes of twentieth-century modernist music.
      4. Compare and contrast the stylistic characteristics of different movements in twentieth and twenty-first century music, including impressionism, expressionism, primitivism, neoclassicism, minimalism, and post-minimalism.
      5. Explain ways that technology and media have influenced music in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
      6. Identify important trends in twenty-first century classical music.

      Module Activities:

      To achieve these objectives:

      1. Read, view, and listen to the content in the chapter "Music of the Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries" in the Pressbooks textbook, embedded below.
      2. Complete the:
        • Module 6 discussion
        • Module 6 assignment
        • Module 6 quiz

      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      The chapters from the Pressbooks textbook Music Appreciation are linked in this module and may include interactive activities such as test-your-knowledge practice quizzes, timelines, and listening guides to accompany certain embedded audio/visual materials. Be sure to read the entire chapter(s). Use the navigation links in the course menu on the left to move between chapters in a module.

    • Module 7: Listening to Genres

      This section covers various genres of music including chapters on opera, and jazz.

      Image credit: You Are What You Listen To, 2017 | Photographer: Mohammad Metri | Source: Unsplash | Unsplash License. (Links open in new tab)





      Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
      1. Identify various genres of music.
      2. Identify the challenges of combining drama and music and explain how operatic conventions like recitative, aria, and ensemble help to the music and the text intelligible to audiences.
      3. Compare and contrast the dramatic and musical attributes of recitative, aria, and ensemble in opera.
      4. Compare and contrast the operatic styles of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner.
      5. Identify representative music from various jazz styles.
      6. Identify important style traits of Early Jazz, the Blues, Big Band Jazz, Bebop, Cool Jazz, Fusion.
      7. Identify important composers and performers of Early Jazz, the Blues, Big Band Jazz, Bebop, Cool Jazz, Fusion.

      Module Activities:

      To achieve these objectives:

      1. Read, view, and listen to the content in the chapters in "Listening to Genres" linked below:
        • Introduction to Opera
        • Romantic Period: Opera
        • Listening to Jazz Styles
      2. Complete the Module 7 Discussion.
      3. Complete the Module 7 quiz.


      Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

      The chapters from the Pressbooks textbook Music Appreciation are linked in this module and may include interactive activities such as test-your-knowledge practice quizzes, timelines, and listening guides to accompany certain embedded audio/visual materials. Be sure to read the entire chapter(s). Use the navigation links in the course menu on the left to move between chapters in a module.

    • Module 8: Music of Louisiana, the Americas, and the World

      This module covers music from various countries and cultures, beginning with music of Louisiana, expanding to music of the Americas, on to music from around the world.

      Image credit: Cedric Watson & Bijoux Creole (Rudolstadt-Festival, Germany, 2010) | Photographer: Schorle | Source: Wikimedia Commons | License: CC BY-SA 3.0


      Learning Objectives

      Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:

      1. Identify music from various countries and cultures.
      2. Describe how everyday life influences music from various countries and cultures.
      3. Identify musical instruments unique to various countries and cultures.
      4. Describe how the music of various countries and cultures influences that in other countries and cultures.

        Module Activities

        To achieve these objectives:

        1. Read, view, and listen to the content in the chapters:
          • The Music of Louisiana
          • Vernacular Music of the Americas
          • Music Around the World
        2. Complete the Module 8 Discussion


        Module Pressbooks Resources and Activities

        The chapters from the Pressbooks textbook Music Appreciation are linked in this module and may include interactive activities such as test-your-knowledge practice quizzes, timelines, and listening guides to accompany certain embedded audio/visual materials. Be sure to read the entire chapter(s). Use the navigation links in the course menu on the left to move between chapters in a module.