Course instructor:
Dr Tan Yuting

Course schedule: Thursdays, 2–4pm (Semester 2, AY2023/24) 

*Additional dates may be involved for projects/assessments during the semester period of 15 Jan – 11 May 2024. Added make-up classes may also be scheduled due to public holidays coinciding with class dates.

Objectives
The course helps learners build their compositional skills and contextualise various theoretical concepts through analytical exercises and style writing. With a better understanding of the basic building blocks of western compositional techniques and the stylistic features of the period, music educators can apply the skills and knowledge acquired to their own teaching practices.

Content
The course introduces style writing of the Classical period of European composers like Mozart. Topics on harmonic progression, voice leading, and texture are addressed, as are relevant compositional concepts like repetition, variation, and elaboration. Class time is dedicated to lectures and demonstrations as well as hands-on practice. Simple compositions in the style of common practice European music form the bulk of the assessment. While prior experience with music composition is not required, a familiarity with music theory rudiments is highly recommended.