Music Writing Assignment

Over the years, I’ve noticed that many students enter my MUS 105 class believing they don’t know much about classical music, that it all sounds the same to them, or it’s not “for them.” I believe that music is music. If you enjoy any genre of music at all, you probably know more about classical music than you realize! Whether or not any particular genre we study in this class becomes something the really appeals to you, I know that you will be able to learn to listen to it more actively, distinguish between various styles, and find a deeper connection with all types of music.

Listen to the two videos below, and respond to the following to complete this assignment:

Which video features better music-making?

What about it makes it better? Describe in as much detail about the music as you are able.

What about the other video makes it worse? Describe in as much detail about the music as you are able.

How can you you tell these videos are performances of the same song when they sound so different? Describe in as much detail about the music as you are able.

Most students who have not studied music before will have a strong and immediate preference about which performance they prefer and believe is “better.” That’s proof you have a discerning ear! The more difficult task is describing what you heard and explaining WHY you prefer one over the other. As you work through this course, you will develop your ability to listen actively, describe what you hear and communicate about your musical preferences. I believe these are powerful skills that help us connect to the emotions within us and the people around us!

Rubric

MUS 105 short answer homework