Appreciating Classical Music

SUMMER 2026 Instructor: Bruce Lorenzana Dates: August 3 - 28 (4 wks) Mtg. Days: Tue. & Thu. (2 days/wk) Mtg. Time: 9:00 - 9:50 AM Credits: None Class Description: A crown jewel of Western civilization is our musical tradition. The ability to appreciate the bulk of this tradition, however, has been lost. We are quickly bored by songs that last longer than three minutes. We are disappointed when a song lacks a dopamine-dumping “bass drop.” We fill our minds with vapid lyrics. But music can be, and has been, much more than this. In this course, students will be introduced to the major movements of classical Western music. By listening to great pieces of classical music, reading short articles on music by the late Sir Roger Scruton, and engaging in class conversation, students will learn principles that will enable them to (1) intelligently enjoy the glorious music of our past, (2) use music to more deeply perceive the beauty of God’s world, and (3) understand how learning to listen to classical music can help us pursue the good life in the world of today. Required Materials: Articles on music from "HOME", Sir Roger Scruton (student will not need to buy anything) If you are already enrolled in LOS, simply log in to your ClassReach account--you'll see a summer registration notification on your homepage beginning March 2.