Introducing Music Theory through a Global Perspective – Ian Quinn

Dr. Ian Quinn discusses his introductory music theory course “Melody, Rhythm, and Notation in Global Context.” This course aims to introduce students to a music-theoretical vocabulary without utilizing Western staff notation, and instead begins by having students sing and listen to Carnatic music. The course then moves through a series of repertoire-based case studies from throughout the world, always emphasizing skills in embodied musical knowledge and aural intuition. This course will continue to be offered as MUSI 110. After taking this course, undergraduate students will then typically move into MUSI 218, which applies the knowledge from MUSI 110 towards attaining fluency in the Western staff and theories of functional tonality.