Music History Courses and Certifications

Institute for Advanced Study

Broadcasting Fidelity: A Lecture Demonstration

Explore the historical challenges of broadcast sound quality and how German scientists' innovations led to electronic music development, illustrated with live musical performances.

• YouTube
• 1 hour 51 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Gresham College

Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles' Psychedelic Era and Musical Innovation

Explore the musical innovation and experimentation of The Beatles' psychedelic era, from Sgt. Pepper to Let It Be, examining the intricate layers of harmony, melody, technology, and composition that created their timeless sound.

• YouTube
• 59 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Gresham College

Send in the Clowns - The Making of Sondheim's Most Successful Song

Explore the fascinating journey of 'Send in the Clowns', examining its unique composition, theatrical context, and evolution into a beloved standard through notable covers by Sinatra, Collins, and Vaughan.

• YouTube
• 52 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

NDC Conferences

A Brief History of Computer Music

Journey through computer music history: pioneers, video game soundtracks, algorithmic compositions, and its cultural impact. Explore vintage tech and code behind iconic sounds.

• YouTube
• 48 minutes
• On-Demand
• Conference Talk

文物精品与文化中国：文字与乐礼 | Relics of Chinese History - Part 3: Writing System, Rites and Music

1 review

Discover how writing systems and music played a major role in Chinese history through the study of artifacts and relics. This course uses high-quality cultural relics as an introduction and uses the academic process of exploring Chinese civilization as a…

• edX
• 5 weeks, 2-4 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Valerio Velardo - The Sound of AI

History of Generative Music - Generative Music AI

Explore the evolution of generative music across five eras, from Mozart's dice games to cutting-edge AI models by Google and Meta, revealing key innovations and technological advancements in musical creation.

• YouTube
• 25 minutes
• On-Demand
• Free Video

Music and Technology (Contemporary History and Aesthetics)

Explore the evolution of music technology from 19th century to today, covering electronic instruments, recording studios, synthesizers, computer music, and contemporary practices.

• MIT OpenCourseWare
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

First Nights - Beethoven's 9th Symphony and the 19th Century Orchestra

13 ratings at edX

Learn about Beethoven’s monumental 9th Symphony and forms of orchestral music.

• edX
• 3 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

First Nights - Handel's Messiah and Baroque Oratorio

12 ratings at edX

Discover Handel's Messiah in this installment of First Nights, which will explore five masterpieces of western music.

• edX
• 2 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

First Nights - Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo and the Birth of Opera

10 ratings at edX

Learn about Claudio Monteverdi's L'Orfeo , one of the first operas ever written.

• edX
• 3 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

20世纪西方音乐

基于20世纪西方音乐，什么是音乐、什么是20世纪西方音乐及什么是有效聆听为全课核心线索，引导学生发展美感能力，促进其全面聆听能力的培养。

• XuetangX
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course

First Nights - Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique and Program Music in the 19th Century

6 ratings at edX

Learn about Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique , an iconic Romantic symphony that ushered in an era of narrative "program music."

• edX
• 3 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Defining the String Quartet: Haydn

5 ratings at edX

Explore Haydn's pivotal role in establishing the string quartet genre, its aesthetic values, and its enduring influence on Western musical culture.

• edX
• 10 weeks, 3-6 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

19th-Century Opera: Meyerbeer, Wagner, & Verdi

1 review

Learn the music and cultural impact of three canonical operas from the 1800s: Les Huguenots , Das Rheingold , and Otello.

• edX
• 6 weeks, 3-5 hours a week
• On-Demand
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Adventures in Classical Music—Music Appreciation for All!

1161 ratings at Udemy

Understand and enjoy classical music at your own pace. A music history course, including a music theory introduction.

• Udemy
• 1 day 7 hours 11 minutes
• On-Demand
• Paid Course