Learning Objective
This course aims to:

1. raise an awareness of the textural domain of music
2. provide tools for the analysis of musical texture 
3. give students tools to compose using texture as a creative starting point
4. expose students to twentieth- and twenty-first-century repertoire

Course Content

Texture is one of the most important elements of music but also one of the least understood ones. In the twentieth century, the term ‘texture’ became widely used in musicians’ discourse, yet even today, after so many composers explored this aspect of music, a formal understanding of texture is lacking. During the course, we will examine texture as a perceptual phenomenon, explore how we experience texture, and develop conceptual tools to describe it. Furthermore, we will engage in composition assignments.
The course is suitable for composers, jazz musicians, performers, and music theorists. Classes are conducted as lively discussions where students are encouraged to rely on their intuition and areas of expertise to develop a personal understanding of the topic. By the end, participants will have an opportunity to record a composition inspired by the course material.