From Notation to Performance: Understanding Musical Scores (FutureLearn)

Offered by The Open University,
From Notation to Performance: Understanding Musical Scores (FutureLearn)

Find out how musicians turn the notation of a musical score into a memorable performance. Change how you listen to music. Understand musical scores and how musicians use notation. Would you like to know more about what musicians do in rehearsal and performance? Are you keen to learn different techniques for listening to and understanding music?

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This online course will help you understand a musical score, what musicians do with the notation they contain, and how the notation you see is connected with the music you hear – from a short melody to a full orchestral score.
Focussing on Mozart, Schubert, Beethoven and Mahler, we’ll introduce you to a pianist, small chamber group and conductor who will explain how they create memorable performances from the notes on the page.

What topics will you cover?

Week 1 Understanding the principles of musical scores
Week 2 Pianists and piano scores
Week 3 Musical collaboration and the role of the score
Week 4 Understanding orchestral scores

What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Develop and understand the reasons for different musical notations
  • Apply and understand the relationship between notation and performance
  • Demonstrate hoe to navigate printed music
  • Engage and listen to a simple musical example alongside its notation
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