Overview
This course is designed for performers and composers who desire to get a deeper knowledge of how the elements of music interact with each other, giving a resulting combination we call “form”.
For the performers, it will bring a profound understanding of the pieces they are studying, providing insight into their aesthetic decisions as musicians, and acquiring more detailed information about the stylistic choices of the composers.
For composers, it will structure their thinking to get into a higher level of interconnectedness between the elements that conform to their music, giving them a more detailed view of their own pieces, and setting strategies into the composition process. The course is based on the renowed theorist and analysis, Jan LaRue, who provides a clear method, his “Style Analysis” to understand the music in simple steps, seeing it organically, and taking it as a whole musical “being”.
The last part of the course adds the Schenkerian method of analysis
This method is an invaluable tool for composers and performers, providing a unique lens into the underlying structure of music. For composers, it enhances narrative crafting, while performers gain nuanced insight into a work’s thematic progression. This method represents more than a technique;it is a paradigm shift in understanding music optimising creativity, and elevating performances.
Discover the Schenkerian method to appreciate the true sophistication of music’s inherent design.
Skills you will gain
Analyse the relationship between the technical details and aesthetics of any piece, regardless of the style.
Discover ways in which music theory may be relevant to enjoying, communicating, composing and performing music.
Gain confidence in musical self-analysis that can help you develop your own musical ideas and performance.
Bibliography
The material and insights of this course are based on the analytical approach of Jan LaRue in his book “Guidelines to Style Analysis”.
The Schenkerian approach of Analysis is based on Three books “Structural Hearing”, “The Study of voice Leading in Composition” and “Free Composition”.
Uses of Musical Analysis for composers and performers
Use of Musical Analysis for Performers:
- Understanding the Composition: Musical analysis allows performers to gain a deeper understanding of the music they’re performing. By studying the structure and elements of a piece, they can better interpret the composer’s intentions and deliver a performance that aligns with that vision.
- Communication: Analysis can help performers effectively communicate the composer’s musical ideas to their audience. thus making more informed choices in their performances.
- Expressive Performance: Understanding the underlying structure and thematic content of a piece can enable performers to deliver a more expressive and emotive performance. They can use the insights gained from analysis to inform their phrasing, dynamics, and interpretative choices.
Purpose of Musical Analysis for Composers:
- Inspiration and Learning: Composers often analyse the work of others to draw inspiration and learn new techniques. By understanding how other composers have structured their work, they can incorporate similar techniques into their own compositions.
- Evaluation: Composers can use musical analysis as a tool for self-evaluation, allowing them to scrutinise their own works in progress and make necessary alterations.
- Innovation: Through analysing music, composers can understand conventional musical structures and techniques, which they can then choose to adhere to or deviate from in their own work. This can lead to innovative compositions that push the boundaries of existing musical forms.
Course Information
Course Instructor
