Music Appreciation & History

Duration: One-semester course offered in both fall and spring (17 weeks, starting spring 2021).
Suggested High School Credit Value: 0.5 credits.
Suggested Grade Level: 9th grade level and up.
Tuition: $349 for HSLDA members/$399 for non-members.

Description: Music Appreciation & History explores music history through its various stylistic periods, from medieval chant to 20th century music. The course utilizes listening examples of influential composers alongside historical context to gain greater understanding of the growth and development of music. Students will explore artistic ideals and issues related to the Biblical worldview reflected in music. No prior music knowledge is required as the course begins with understanding the basic elements of music. 

Watch a sample class of an Academy live class session

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Live Online Class Session Schedule

Spring: January 11, 2021 – May 7, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions

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• What topics will I learn about in Music Appreciation & History?

  In Music Appreciation & History, students will learn about:

  • The elements of music: sound, rhythm, timbre, melody, and harmony
  • Music in the middle ages and the Renaissance
  • The Baroque period, including artists Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann, and George Frideric Handel  
  • The Classical period, featuring artists Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Joseph Haydn
  • The Age of Romanticism, including Hector Berlioz, Johannes Brahms, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
  • 20th Century Music, featuring artists such as Gustav Mahler and Arnold Schoenberg as well as new styles in jazz and theatre.  

  By the end of the course, students will demonstrate knowledge of the different components of music and apply concepts of music to an exploration of the history of classical music. Students will also develop a greater understanding of music in its various stages of development and identify important works and distinguish composers' styles. Finally, students will discuss issues relating to Biblical worldview as reflected in music. 

• How much homework is in Music Appreciation & History?

  We estimate that the course workload will take 5–7 hours per week.

  During a typical week in this course, students will complete the following coursework:

  • 90 minutes of live class instruction
  • Recorded lectures
  • 25–40 pages of reading
  • Music listening assignments

  Throughout the semester, students will also complete the following tasks:

  • Participate in discussions
  • Take unit tests
  • Complete a final paper

• What books will I use in Music Appreciation & History?

  The official booklist for Music Appreciation and History is now available. In the official booklist, you will find information about the editions, book descriptions, and ISBN numbers.

  You can order course materials for competitive prices through the Christianbook.com bookstore. Use the Textbook Finder to locate the required resources for your courses. Please note that while most books are available through Christianbook.com, some titles are not carried and will need to be purchased elsewhere.

• Am I ready to take Music Appreciation & History?

  Students should be able to read and write at a 9th grade level, and should be able to work independently and meet deadlines. Please visit our Academic Readiness page for more information.

• What is a Live Online Class Session in Music Appreciation & History?

  In every HSLDA Academy course, students meet weekly with their instructor and classmates in an online classroom for additional teaching, discussion, Q&A, or group activities. The class sessions are interactive and are conducted using a web meeting software with video, audio, chat, and application sharing capabilities.

  Scheduled, real-time sessions in the online classroom are not the only form of instruction available in a HSLDA Online Academy course, but are offered in addition to lectures or other instructional materials that students are able to access online at their convenience.

  When they register, students will need to select a particular class section and live class meeting time. Additional class sections may be added to the schedule at a later point in the course registration period. Registered students will be notified of any changes to the live session schedule.

• What if I have a schedule conflict with the listed Music Appreciation & History class times?

  All live class sessions are recorded for later viewing. While it is recommended that students attend each live class session, students can make arrangements to watch the recordings and receive full participation credit.

  Students should contact their instructor at the start of their course to inform the instructor of any foreseen schedule conflicts. 

• What is the tuition for Music Appreciation & History?

  Please visit our tuition and discounts page for a full summary about course costs.

  HSLDA members save $50 on semester high school courses in addition to Early Registration discounts!