Workshops held in the past include:
| ~ Fundamentals of Music Theory Instructor: Ramona Borthwick Dates: Oct 21, 28, Nov 4, 18, Dec 2, 9 2004. 6-week course held on Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. Venue: Watertown High School, 50 Columbia St., Watertown MA 02472. To enroll, visit the Watertown Adult Education Center website, or call 617-926-7764. Course Description: Music theory is the study of simple concepts that determine how music is written, played, and heard. Understanding these concepts opens the doorway to more sophisticated listening, playing and writing abilities for those with no prior training in music theory. For those with no experience playing a musical instrument, this course will help them better appreciate the process of how music is created. The course will review elements of music such as notes on the staff, treble and bass clefs, rhythm and meter, review major and minor scales, sharp and flat key signatures, triads and simple chords. At the end of the course, participants will possess enough skill to read and notate simple music, transpose a given melody into any key, build triads and chords, and create melodies to fit over a simple chord progression. The techniques learnt in this class will also improve reading ability (especially sight-reading), and can be applied to playing an instrument, singing, or to the further study of music. Please bring a notebook, music staff paper & pencil to the sessions. Each lesson has an accompanying assignment. Please note: This course may need students to purchase a textbook. Prerequisites: None |
| ~ How To Read Music Instructor: Ramona Borthwick Dates: Oct 19, 26, Nov 2, 9 2004. 4-week course held on Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Venue: Watertown High School, 50 Columbia St., Watertown MA 02472. To enroll, visit the Watertown Adult Education Center website, or call 617-926-7764. Course Description: This course is ideal for adults who have never learnt to read music, but play an instrument by ear, sing in the church but feel intimidated by the graphics in the hymnal, for those who have a song in their head, but can’t notate the musical idea. This is also a good opportunity those who have studied music in the distant past but need a refresher course, and for parents who would like to offer creative support to a child who is studying music. Every symbol represents a sound, a feeling. During the workshop, you will be taught how to look at a piece of sheet music and identify elements in the music, like notes on the treble and bass clef, note values, rhythm, and meter. By combining specific rhythms and note groups, we will attempt to read short tunes. You will also be given an opportunity to notate your own original composition! Upon completion, participants will be able to read music in the standard clefs have the basic skills to start writing down their own music. By increasing your knowledge, you will increase your appreciation for and enjoyment of all types of music. Each lesson has an accompanying assignment. Please bring music staff paper, notebook and a pencil to class. This workshop is not instrument specific. |
| ~ Fundamentals & Structure of Music A must for every student of music - these workshops cover the study of music fundamentals, and are offered to beginner and intermediate students |
| ~ Harmony & Counterpoint Procedures and common practices in harmonic writing. Creating melodies, and harmonizing them - a study of vertical as well as horizontal aspects of music composition. |
| ~ Aural Perception These workshops are highly recommended for students who are keen on developing their skills at listening, transcribing & writing music. Designed to improve the ability of students to identify aural phenomena (pitch, rhythm, timbre, etc.) with an increasing degree of precision. |
| ~ Analysis of Music A study of musical architecture - familiarizes the student with design & tonal structure in music, phrases & sentences, motivic associations, rhythmic, harmonic & melodic patterns. Allows the student to analyse a piece of music and improve music communication skills. |
| ~ Basics of Composition This course will enable the student to write melodies, apply them to lyrics, and the create harmonies for the same. Students will initially write responses to written free-response questions. They will also set music to given lyrics. For each type of question, there are several strategies students might use to approach the exercise. It is recommended that the student attend the Aural Perception Course since the development of aural skills strongly benefits the technical & creative process of composition. |
| ~ Music History & Appreciation A study of music literature combined with listening and analysis of important compositions from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. This course is open to all individuals who have an interest in the history of music and the stylistic developments within each period. Sessions will include listening to recordings; research into the creative lives and musical works of leading composers, reading & discussion, recommended listenings will be given at the end of each session. |