Scholars Online Music Sequence

Why Study Music?

The study of music history and theory isn’t just for professional or even amateur “musicians.” Everyone is affected by music, because music is all around us—in films, in grocery stores, on iPods, blasting from other people’s cars.

Like any other form of art or entertainment, music can be experienced passively or actively. Music isn’t neutral. It evokes feelings and exacerbates moods. Most of today’s popular music, as well as jazz, is a descendant of the Western classical tradition. And of course, the fit amongst classical music are themselves still alive and well. So we, as listeners, can either let a piece of music wash over us, or we can understand it as it goes by.

We don’t have to listen to music analytically every time we hear it, but we should have the ability to analyze if we so choose. We don’t all have to be the performers, but we should all be able to be the critics.

What We Offer

Music Theory: Music theory is the study of the structures of Western classical music: the forms, the harmonies, the motifs. Basic Music Theory is a technical class in which students learn the parameters of the system and analyze and create accordingly. Analyzing music is like going backstage—rather than ruining the mystery, it increases the admiration.

Music History: Music History discusses the historical and philosophical questions of music: why, when, how? As we follow the development of Western classical music over time, we’ll see that music is very much a part of the world it inhabits—affected by politics, theology, geography, fashion, and even individuals. Music thus has semantic value (meaning) as well as syntactic (theory).

Our Vision

Our vision is to offer the basics to everyone. Once the basic program is established, we would like to be able to offer upper level theory (making it a two year sequence) and specialty summer classes, possibly such as Form Analysis or Russian Music.

One of the things we’ll discover in studying the development of music, both in theory and in history, is there is a constant search for “newness.” This is what drives music and keeps it alive, but it is frustrated by futility: as the Preacher says, there is nothing new under the sun. But we have a promise in Revelation that in heaven there will be a new song. While looking forward to that, let’s glorify God by studying what He’s given us now.

Individual courses

If you would like to see a couse not yet listed, please use the EMAIL US link below to contact Scholars Online Administration with your course request.

Students who were enrolled in courses from previous years will find the teacher, text, and course description information available from the student's unofficial transcript, which can be reached from the parent's Account Management Center, or from an alumni's own Account Management Center.

Individual course requirements are being reviewed and updated for the 2012 summer and 2012-2013 cademic year.

To enroll in any of the courses listed above, log into your Scholars Online Account Management Center using the login link at the bottom of any page and select the member you wish to enroll. If you do not have an account, you may create one using the Membership and Enrollment link in the SiteMap to the left of any page.