Music, Arts, and Ideas (MUSIC 115) teachers, David Meckler and Judy Hiramoto, have been teaching students about individual works of art and music in the historical contexts in which they were created. The class is transferrable to a UC or CSU.

The students use what they learn to interpret pieces of artwork and pieces of music at separate field trips.

“There is a requirement to go see a concert because this music really lives outside of college,” Meckler said. “A lot of different concerts fit this requirement. Opera can be the best choice because it involves the visual aspect of theatre, and it tells a story. …San Francisco offers several great museums. And I like the Legion of Honor because it has some of the oldest art available to see in the city.”

Although students learn about popular art through their text book, they learn to understand and analyze pop art in the modern world; thus, they start to appreciate art and music more.

“Certain principles in art and music apply to all kinds of art and music no matter what the style is,” Meckler said. “For example, an advertisement might use a strong diagonal line and the eye will respond to the diagonal line the same way it would if it was used in a Baroque painting. Musically, things like repetition and variation grab us within our brains whether it’s rap music or Mozart.”

First, students are asked to find: light/dark (value), color balance, types of lines, perspective, foreground/background, and balance of composition when they look at art in their books.

Second, students learn that the composition of art and music are from principles of design. Repetition and Variation are one of the eight principles of design that can be seen in art, or heard in music. The eight principles of design are: repetition, variation, contrast, balance, proportion, emphasis, economy, and scale.

Repetition in music is when the music repeats an image or message. Variation is a form that is an altered version of a given theme, departing from it by melodic ornamentation and by changes in harmony, rhythm, or key.

Third, students learn about the elements of music, which are: pitch, rhythm, melody, timbre, dynamics, and texture.

Here is what the students had to say:

“I’ve begun to appreciate both because I tend to have more respect for the artist,” Iris Phee said. “I’m starting to gain better knowledge for the meaning of art and music. I am now able to interpret certain parts of a song. Paintings have a deeper meaning with the materials and artist.”

Maybelle Zarza said: “Taking this class, I am beginning to understand the various ways art can come alive such as the colors used, shapes and the time period. I am beginning now to identify certain pieces of art because each artist has their own style.”

Tammy Sayles, who is a freshman majoring in interior design, said: “I believe that I’m starting to appreciate art and music more because I’ve learned the background information of each artwork and song. Looking at artwork I understand what it could mean just by looking at the lines, colors, who’s in the picture, etc.”