Writing About Music (Honors 345A): Home

What is music? A universal language? The art of ordering tones in succession? Humanly organized sound? A sonic refraction of cultural beliefs and values? Whatever your definition, music's meta-linguistic mode has a powerful capacity to affect us. And perhaps because of this, when we attempt to convey its meaning and impact, words may fail. Despite this we keep trying. We look for that turn of phrase or metaphor to describe how it is we feel. 

During the fall 2018, students in my Writing About Music course leaned in together. We explored a variety of prompts, from song reviews and artist bios, to genre descriptions and deeper cultural critiques. We shared our work with one another. We heard from professionals in the field. Ethnomusicology and music criticism served as disciplinary touchstones. It was a privilege to help facilitate this journey. 

This site features essays written by many of those students. Enjoy...

John Vallier