OSHER 641 - Music from the Inside Out: Patterns

What does the musical experience teach us about life, philosophy, and human nature? In this course we'll review the basics of sound waves, harmonic structures, patterns in intervals, and the character of instruments. We?ll then continue our study of music through the theory of synthesis and instrument design, methods of organization and song forms, (fugue, invention, theme, and development), and modern constructs, including electronic music, music driven by non-musical criteria, bio-music, and artificial intelligence. The final layers will be how music fits into political, religious, and social contexts. No musical experience or previous courses in this subject are necessary.