Classical Music: Exploration and Appreciation

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Task Navigation 

Introduction

Introduction

Hello and welcome to the study group! Please introduce yourself here. Don't forget to post a link to your blog!

To make things easier, I think it would be best if we kept all of our study group discussions on this course's comments (as opposed to comments on each other's blogs) - that way we'll have the discussion in one place!

Note: I've removed the shcedule from here because I feel that it'll be easier if we work at our own pace and set up group listening events at times that work for everyone.

Things to do:

  • Introduce yourselves to your study group members
  • Complete Tasks #1 and #2 to find resources, research materials, and to learn more about music and the public domain
  • Complete task #3 - Listen to Something!
  • Add piece suggestions for Task #4 - Group Listening
  • Create Group Listening events and invite others to join

Task Discussion


  • Jayanthi   April 27, 2012, 4:36 a.m.

    I play the violin quite seriously and have been studying classical music formally for several years. I plan to begin my bachelor's degree in music performance this fall. I enjoy playing in the student and chamber orchestras in Bangalore, India and hope to join a professional quartet and chamber or symphony orchestra someday. I am a violinist but lately I've been trying out the cello. I am looking forward to sharing ideas and views about all things music in this group. 

    Some of my most loved composers are Johann Sebastian Bach (he wrote some very beautiful pieces for the violin), Fritz Kreisler (very fast and tricky but fun to play) and Antonin Dvorak (especially Humoresque for solo violin and the Cello Concerto in B minor). There are so many more but I think they deserve a separate post. 

  • Scarlet Scholar   April 25, 2012, 3:45 p.m.

    I've been an admirer of classical music since infancy.  My parents played it for me often.  They told me it was to help with my learning capabilities, but I know it was just to get me to go to sleep when they were annoyed with my crying.  HA!  But from that moment on I've been listening to a wide range of music, from different genres.  If it sounds good, listen to it!

  • Philipp   Nov. 20, 2011, 4:53 a.m.

    I am a music fan and listener - and find things that I like in almost all genres. I've always had an interest in classical music, but making a concerted effort to learning more about it seemed daunting. There are a few pieces that I know and like, but I don't know enough to tell apart which period or composer a given piece comes from and my mind doesn't seem to attach to classical music in the same way that it does to jazz or more popular stuff. 

    Probably my all time favorite is the The Unfinished by Schubert, and particularly the deep cello/bass in the beginning and the moment when the theme comes in for the first time (0:38 in this recording -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCpuCDNnVl8&feature=related)

  • Justine Lavoie   Nov. 19, 2011, 10:59 a.m.

    Hello~ I'm organizing this study group, as well as partcipating in it.

    In middle and high school I played as a percussionist (mostly snare drum) in the symphonic band, as well as drumset in jazz band. Playing in the symphonic band was probably the closest I've ever gotten to "understanding" classical music. I can't remember too much about it now (though I'm sure there are some horrifying vhs tapes just waiting to be unearthed somewhere that would refresh my memory just fine), but I remember playing some stuff by Sousa in particular.

    I'm interested in classical music and open learning, so organizing a study group like this seemed like a good idea. It also motivates me to learn more as well. If I was just researching and listening to music alone it wouldn't be as fun.

    Let me know if you have any questions or want to provide feedback about the study group.

    Blog: http://heyjustine.com/

  • crip_wiz   Nov. 18, 2011, 6:39 p.m.

    Hi. I am a student and DJ on a local radio station in my area. I wish to learn more about classical music. I enjoy listening to the classical hour on the local NPR station from 10-11 AM most days.

    My blog is here. kiss