In this course, students will be exposed to Western music of all types to gain a better understanding of how music developed throughout the ages. The course begins with an introduction into the elements of music – melody, harmony, rhythm, structure, and form. Students will then be exposed to the variety of instruments that make up an orchestra to gain a better sense of how music is produced. Each music family will be explored: wind, brass, string, and percussion. Each period of music will be presented to the student in detail, including what societal issues influenced the music and an in depth look at composers of that time that helped to define that period. Examples of music from each period will be given, along with key terms used to describe the music to assist the students in discussing music in a more analytical manner.