Skagit Valley College

Catalog Course Search Details

 Course Title:   Music Appreciation

 Title Abbreviation:   MUSIC APPRECIATION

 Department:    MUSC&

 Course #:    105

 Credits:    5

 Variable:     No

 IUs:    5

 CIP:    500902

 EPC:    n/a

 REV:    2018


 Course Description  

As an introduction and exploration of music, this foundation course examines Western music from the Middle Ages to the present, focusing on significant composers and compositions and the historical context in which they were written.

 Prerequisite  

Prerequisite: Appropriate placement or grade of 2.0 or higher in ENGL 099.

Additional Course Details

Contact Hours (based on 11 week quarter)

Lecture: 55

Lab: 0

Other: 0

Systems: 0

Clinical: 0


Intent: Distribution Requirement(s) Status:  

Academic Humanities  

Equivalencies At Other Institutions

Other Institution Equivalencies Table
Institution Course # Remarks
CWU 104
OTHER Meets GUR at 3 BI
UW T
WSU 160 T
WWU T

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the student will be able to:

  1. Recognize styles of music by period and composer.
  2. Write and define in essay form the relationship of music to the historic chronological events of Western Civilization.
  3. Use music vocabulary to define forms and functions of music.
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of musical forms through listening.
  5. Identify specific musical selections through listening.
  6. Research and articulate specific musical contributions by composers.
  7. Analyze and define specific cultural influences in music.

General Education Learning Values & Outcomes

Revised August 2008 and affects outlines for 2008 year 1 and later.

1. Information Literacy

Definition: Recognizing when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
1.1 Determine the extent of information needed.
1.2 Access the needed information effectively, efficiently, ethically, and legally.
1.3 Evaluate information and its sources critically.
1.5 Effectively integrate and use information ethically and legally to accomplish a specific purpose.

2. Critical Thinking

Definition: The ability to think critically about the nature of knowledge within a discipline and about the ways in which that knowledge is constructed and validated and to be sensitive to the ways these processes often vary among disciplines.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
2.1 Identify and express concepts, terms, and facts related to a specific discipline.
2.2 Analyze issues and develop questions within a discipline.
2.3 Identify, interpret, and evaluate pertinent data and previous experience to reach conclusions.
2.8 Describe how one’s own preconceptions, biases and values affect one’s response to new and ambiguous situations.
2.9 Apply and/or create problem-solving strategies to successfully adapt to unpredictable and/or changing environments.

3. Communication

Definition: Understanding and producing effective written, spoken, visual, and non-verbal communication.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
3.1 Recognize, read, and comprehend academic and/or professional writing.
3.2 Recognize, produce and demonstrate appropriate interpersonal, group, and public speaking skills.
3.3 Demonstrate effective listening skills.
3.4 Produce academic and/or professional writing and integrate it into written and spoken projects.
3.5 Recognize, comprehend, and use non-verbal behaviors appropriate to a given context.
3.6 Recognize, comprehend, and use visual communication appropriate to a given context.

6. Individual Awareness & Responsibility

Definition: Understanding, managing, and taking responsibility for one’s learning and behavior in varied and changing environments.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
6.2 Demonstrate standards of professionalism in manner, appearance, and setting appropriate to the context, including the classroom, workplace, and community.
6.3 Apply successful organizational strategies of planning, goal setting, prioritizing, resolving conflict, and managing time to specific goals and/or projects.

7. Aesthetics & Creativity

Definition: Interpreting human experience through engagement with creative processes and aesthetic principles.

Outcomes: Students will be able to . . .
7.1 Demonstrate an understanding of the creative process.
7.2 Demonstrate knowledge of aesthetic principles.
7.4 Demonstrate an understanding of the role of arts and creative expression in societies.

Course Contents

  1. The Greek Ethos of music making
  2. The role of the Catholic Church in the Medieval period
  3. Humanism in the Renaissance
  4. The 17th century and the impact of J.S. Bach
  5. The Age of Enlightenment: 18th century
  6. Romanticism and the 19th century
  7. The Beginnings of the 20th century