Music and Social Action from Coursera

What is a musician’s response to the condition of the world? Do musicians have an obligation and an opportunity to serve the needs of the world with their musicianship?

At a time of crisis for the classical music profession, with a changing commercial landscape, a shrinking audience base, and a contraction in the number of professional orchestras, how does a young musician construct a career today? Are we looking at a dying art form or a moment of reinvigoration?

In this course we will develop a response to these questions, and we will explore the notion that the classical musician, the artist, is an important public figure with a critical role to play in society.

The course will include inquiry into a set of ideas in philosophy of aesthetics; a discussion about freedom, civil society, and ways that art can play a role in readying people for democracy; discussion on philosophy of education as it relates to the question of positive social change; and an exploration of musical and artistic initiatives that have been particularly focused on a positive social impact.

Guiding questions for this course inquiry will include:

- How can classical music effect social change?

- How has music made positive change in communities around the globe?

- What can the field of classical music learn from other movements for social change?

- How have educators and philosophers thought about the arts and their connection to daily contemporary life?

Each class will explore one critical question through lectures, discussions, interviews, or documentaries.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Music and Social Action

Learn what this course is about, who's teaching it, and other ways you can explore this topic. Meet and greet your peers as well!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Examines the connection between classical music and social change

Taught by instructors Sebastian Ruth, who is recognized for their work in music and social action

Explores the role of artists in a democracy and how they can further civil society

Develops an understanding of how arts and urban renewal are connected

Explores examples of artists who have made positive contributions to political and social issues

Requires students to have come in with extensive background knowledge first, such as familiarity with philosophy of aesthetics

Reviews summary

Music's role in social action

According to learners, this course offers a valuable and inspiring exploration (positive) of the connections between music and social action. Reviews frequently highlight the thought-provoking lectures (positive) and praise the brilliant and articulate instructor (positive). Students appreciated the course's ability to challenge their thinking and provide a strong theoretical foundation (positive) using engaging historical and contemporary examples (positive). However, some reviewers found the philosophical sections occasionally dense or disconnected (warning) and expressed a desire for more practical guidance (warning) on implementing social action through music, feeling the focus was sometimes too academic (warning) for those seeking direct tools. Overall, it is seen as highly relevant (positive), especially for musicians and artists reflecting on their societal role.

Uses valuable historical and contemporary cases.

"I especially appreciated the focus on historical and contemporary examples."

"...the case studies on urban renewal and artist examples were very engaging and practical."

"The historical examples were fascinating. I enjoyed the interviews with contemporary artists."

Lectures are thought-provoking and inspiring.

"A truly inspiring course! Prof. Dent's lectures were incredibly thought-provoking..."

"Fantastic course! It challenged my thinking... The lectures were clear and passionate."

"Excellent course! Professor Dent is brilliant and articulate. The course content is timely and important, especially for musicians..."

Some philosophy sections are dense or disjointed.

"The philosophy sections (Dewey, Greene) were a bit dense at times..."

"Interesting subject matter, but sometimes the course felt a bit disjointed. The philosophical parts felt separate from the practical examples."

Provides strong theory, but less practical 'how-to'.

"I was hoping for more practical guidance on *how* to use music for social action, but this course was very heavy on philosophy and history."

"Some lectures could have gone deeper into the 'how' of creating social action through music, rather than just the 'why' and 'what'."

"It provided a good theoretical foundation, but I wish there were more concrete examples of current projects or methods."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Music and Social Action with these activities:

Contribute to Open Music Projects

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Engage with the open source music community to enhance your understanding of collaboration and innovation in the field.

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Find open source music projects on platforms like GitHub or SourceForge.
Review the project documentation and code.
Make contributions to the project, such as bug fixes, code improvements, or feature additions.

Create a Playlists on the Power of Music

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Explore the emotional and social impact of music by curating a playlist that showcases its power to evoke feelings and inspire action.

Browse courses on Music and Emotion

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Brainstorm different themes or emotions you want your playlist to evoke.
Research and select songs that align with your theme.
Create your playlist on a streaming platform.

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Career center

Learners who complete Music and Social Action will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Arts Advocate

Arts Advocates promote and support the arts through lobbying, public relations, and community outreach. This course will provide you with a deep understanding of the arts and their role in society, as well as the skills necessary to effectively advocate for the arts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Arts Advocate

Music Therapist

Music Therapists can use music as a tool to help people improve their physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being. This course can help you build a theoretical foundation for your practice, as well as deeper understanding of how music can be used for positive social change. Additionally, this course may help you connect with potential mentors or employers.

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Music Producer

Music Producers oversee the recording, mixing, and mastering of music. This course can provide you with foundational knowledge of the art and techniques of music production, as well as a deeper understanding of the music industry.

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Music Teacher

As a Music Teacher, your daily responsibilities may include planning, preparing, and delivering engaging music lessons to students of all ages. This course can help you build the skills necessary for effective teaching, lesson planning, and student engagement. This course will also help equip you with concepts you can use to inspire and engage your future students.

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Arts Administrator

Arts Administrators plan, organize, and manage the operations of arts organizations, such as theaters, museums, and music venues. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in key concepts in philosophy of aesthetics and the role of art in society, as well as develop your management and organizational skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Arts Administrator

Music Journalist

Music Journalists write about music for newspapers, magazines, and websites. This course can help you develop the writing and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in this field, as well as a deeper understanding of music and its role in society.

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Program Director

Program Directors plan, organize, and manage arts programs for organizations such as schools, community centers, and museums. This course can help build a foundation in key concepts in philosophy of aesthetics and the role of art in society, as well as the management and organizational skills necessary to lead a successful arts program.

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Music Critic

Music Critics analyze, interpret, and write about music performances, recordings, and compositions. This course will help you develop the critical thinking and writing skills necessary to succeed in this field, as well as a deeper understanding of music and its role in society.

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Arts Fundraiser

Arts Fundraisers raise funds for arts organizations through grants, donations, and special events. This course will provide you with the skills necessary to develop and implement successful fundraising campaigns, as well as a deeper understanding of the arts industry.

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Arts Consultant

Arts Consultants provide consulting services to arts organizations, government agencies, and businesses. This course will provide you with a broad understanding of the arts industry, as well as the skills necessary to develop and implement successful consulting projects.

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Performing Musician

Performing Musicians perform music for audiences in a variety of settings, including concerts, recitals, and festivals. This course can help build a foundation in key concepts in philosophy of aesthetics and the role of art in society, as well as the performance skills necessary to succeed in this field.

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Music Director

Music Directors oversee and lead musical ensembles, such as orchestras, bands, or choirs. This course can help you gain a deeper understanding of music and its role in society, as well as develop the leadership and management skills necessary to lead a successful music ensemble.

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Music Librarian

Music Librarians acquire, catalog, and manage music collections in libraries, archives, and other institutions. This course can provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to manage a music library, as well as a deeper understanding of music and its role in society.

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Arts Educator

An Arts Educator, also known as an arts integration specialist, develops and implements arts-based learning programs in schools. This course may provide you with a deeper understanding of the role of arts and music can play in the development of young people, as well as strategies for using music to create transformative learning experiences for students.

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Event Planner

Event Planners organize and manage events, such as concerts, festivals, and conferences. This course can help you to gain an understanding of event planning and management. This course will help you build a foundation in key concepts in philosophy of aesthetics and the role of art in society.

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