What is Music?

Explorations in 20th Century Music and Beyond

Secondary General Music Course Proposal by Broderick Lemke

Grades 9-12

Approximately 20-25 Students

Classroom/Equipment Requirements:

This course may be taught in a regular classroom, but it would be much preferable to teach it in
a music classroom. There will need to be adequate seating for all students, and writing surfaces
such as desks or tables for them to work on. Technology requirements for this course include a
projector, a computer or laptop to run presentations from, a sound-system (portable to built-in)
to play musical examples, CDs or MP3s of the music in this course.

Non-Essential but Extremely Helpful Equipment:

Access to a piano for aide in composition activities as well as live performances of works by the
teacher, access to a variety of auxiliary percussion and keyboard instruments, scores to the
pieces we are talking about (especially the experimental pieces). 12 sided dice, cardstock paper,
 Course Information:

Students eligible to take this class:

Students do not need to have any experience in music already, but experience in any
instrumental or vocal performance will help. Students merely need to have an open mind to
learn about many styles of music. This class will be open to grades 9-12, and can be offered
every semester, or could be alternated with a more extensive exploration of music history to
increase the exposure students have to a variety of styles of music.

Course Description:

In what world is listening to microphone feedback, the same pattern of 7 notes, or even
notes picked at random considered music? In the 20th century of classical music anything was
fair game, which led to some quirky yet thought-provoking works of music. This course will help
students to learn various movements in the twentieth century of music, as well as composers
and seminal works from this period. The course will begin with a unit of condensed music
history, covering music from the medieval era through the late 19 th century. The second unit
will explore how composers took influences from previous musical styles and adapted them
into new and exciting styles. The final unit will spend time exploring experimental works, and
will include philosophical discussions about what music is and is not.

Other Important Information:

This class should meet every day over the course of one semester to cover all of the
information presented in this proposal.
 Course Outline

Unit 1 A brief Musical History

It is important that we know where we come from, because if you do not know where you come from, then you
don't know where you are, and if you don't know where you are, you don't know where you're going.
-Terry Pratchett

Unit Description:

This unit explores a very brief musical history leading up to the 20th century. Knowledge gained in
this section will pertain to techniques adapted and embraced by future composers/styles. The knowledge
here will be succinct, but crucial to the learning process as without it we have no context for
understanding what more contemporary composers were doing.

Week by Week Plan:

Week 1: Syllabus/Introduction/Medieval and Ancient Music

Week 2: The Renaissance Era

Week 3: The Baroque Era

Week 4: The Classical Era

Week 5: The Romantic Era

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Unit 2 Influence and Adaptation

The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.

-Albert Einstein

Unit Description:

This unit picks up right where the previous left off in music history, but now we have finally
entered the 20th century! We will begin discussing several movements within classical music, many of
which lead us to consider, what is music? This unit also focuses on how composers were able to use
elements of previous styles as inspiration and adapt them in new ways. Each week will discuss a new
style, complete with listening, discussion and other activities to come to a complete understanding.

Week by Week Plan:

Week 6: Neoclassicism

Week 7: Impressionism
 Week 8: Minimalism

Week 9: Electronic Music and Computer Music

Week 10: Aleatoric Composition and Extended Technique (Berio)

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Unit 3 Is This Really Music?

I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.

-John Cage

Unit Description:

This unit really brings to the forefront the name of this course. We will spend a large
amount of time learning about two main movements in the 20th century: Atonality and
Experimental music. Students will listen to a wide variety of music that many people would
dismiss as not being music, but many members of the classical world would disagree! These
techniques have opened the door, and almost everything is fair game for composers to tackle in
their compositions now. By the end of this unit, students should have two compositions that
would be great final products to showcase.

Week by Week Plan:

Week 11: Atonality/Serialism Pt. 1 History and Listening

Week 12: Atonality/Serialism Pt. 2 Composing and Performing

Week 13: Experimental Music Pt. 1 History and Listening

Week 14: Experimental Music Pt. 2 Composing and Performing

Week 15: Discussions on Music and Review for final Exam

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Finals Week Final Exam Topics/Format

Week 16:
CD/MP3 Tracks Required: