Course instructor: 
Dr Frances Lee

Course Schedule: Thursdays, 2pm-4pm (Semester 1, AY2025/26) 

*Additional dates may be involved for projects/assessments during the semester period of 11 Aug – 6 Dec 2025. Added make-up classes may also be scheduled due to public holidays coinciding with class dates.

Objectives
Through this course, learners will assess the repertory and canon of keyboard works with a critical eye, and broaden their scope of vision when engaging with composers and their music. They will deepen their understanding of the development of genres, styles and forms throughout history, and independently formulate well-reasoned judgments, aesthetic and otherwise, when encountering new works. They will sharpen and hone their communication and research skills. Learners are encouraged to apply the modes of thinking exercised in this course to their own practice by making informed decisions on programming and interpretation.

Content
Pianists have a wealth of repertoire available to them, including both works within the musical canon and those without. This course explores the various genres of keyboard music throughout history, acknowledging the composers who have gained widespread popularity, while simultaneously delving into the works of those who have received less attention. The course covers topics such as variation sets, preludes, fugues, suites, studies, and single-movement works. Learners will think critically about the significance and evolution of each genre over time, and emerge with a fuller picture of music written for the keyboard and a curiosity to continue discovering and rediscovering this repertoire.