Music Appreciation is a tour through the world of music from Medieval chant to rock.
Students begin by studying the elements of music (sound, harmony, melody, rhythm, form, etc.) and build a comprehensive vocabulary with which to understand and evaluate musical expression. After this introduction, six historical periods of music are presented: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern/Contemporary. Students learn to match composers of various periods with particular styles and characteristics. Composers are presented within the context of their era, including a study of how social, political, and economic factors influenced their writing.
The 28 Web lectures are embedded with over 160 audio and video examples. There are film and book recommendations and links to other resources on the Web. The course also features a weekly chat and a library of quizzes that you can use to test yourself and prepare for exams.
This course meets the All-University Core Curriculum (AUCC) requirements for Arts/Humanities (Category 3B) and is approved under gtPathways in the content area of Arts and Expression (GT-AH1).
Textbooks and Materials
Textbooks and materials can be purchased at the CSU Bookstore unless otherwise indicated.
- Music Appreciation: Listening E-Book*
*Book is optional, but recommended.
Adam A. Torres has served on the faculty of Colorado State University since Fall 2011 and specializes in online curriculum for the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. Torres additionally serves CSU as the coordinator for the Summer Master of Music in Music Education Program, Conducting Emphasis and as the producer of the Annual Holiday Spectacular Concert. Other appointments include principal conductor, Loveland Opera Theatre; assistant conductor, Denver Young Artists Orchestra and Fort Collins Symphony; acting principal keyboard, Cheyenne Symphony; and music director, Zion Lutheran Church of Loveland.
Torres has appeared as a pianist, conductor, and clinician with numerous ensembles, including the Colorado State University Orchestras, the CSU Ralph Opera Center, Chamber Orchestra of the Rockies, Agnes Scott College Orchestra, Alpharetta Symphony, Colorado Springs Conservatory, Bas Bleu Theatre, and Opera Orvieto (Orvieto, Italy). He has also worked as a narrator in many performances and has appeared with the Colorado Symphony, Denver Young Artists Orchestra, and Lakewood Symphony in this capacity. Adam also maintains a small studio of private piano students, and works as a clinician for public school bands and orchestras throughout Colorado.
Denise Apodaca received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a minor in Spanish. She later received her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and a second Master of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy from Northwestern University. She graduated with honors from both universities.
She has been on the teaching faculties of The Chicago Academy for the Arts where she was Director of Instrumental Studies, Sherwood Conservatory of Music, De Paul University, Pasadena City College, Pasadena Conservatory of Music and Front Range Community College. She served as a Board member for Beet Street in Fort Collins, Colo. She founded and directed the Chicago Young Instrumentalist Program, served on the Leadership Council, was Director of Early Childhood Programs, director of Class Piano, chair of Group Instruction and chair of the Piano Department at Sherwood Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Ilinois. She served as district coordinator for the California Association for Professional Music Teachers. Denise has performed throughout the United States as a soloist and as a chamber musician. Demonstrating her expertise of Latin American music, she has given several concerts in Mexico. She has been an adjudicator for several area music teachers associations and has given several workshops on piano technology, piano pedagogy, piano performance, and early childhood music. She serves on the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County and was the Spanish community health educator at Poudre Valley Hospital for Bright Beginnings, Colorado in Larimer County for over five years.
Denise is currently Piano Proficiency coordinator at Colorado State University.