Students in the HS piano class have expressed an interest in a unit discussing the music of 1900-present. Therefore, we will devote Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during our first semester to the music of 20th Century France, Germany, and Russia. Mondays will be devoted to Music Theory review, Ear Training, and Keyboard Harmony. Fridays will be reserved for student presentations. Students can plan to work in class during half the class (45 minutes), and can plan to practice during the other half of class. During practice periods in class, students are expected to be on task practicing.

Week 1
Impressionism and the Life and Music of Debussy
Reference to visual art and poetry, non-developmental forms, "The Afternoon of a Faun", Debussy biography, Maeterlinck and Pelleas et Melisande, early Debussy contrasted with late Debussy, Children's Corner, late instrumental Sonatas

Week 2
The Life and Music of Ravel
Ravel biography, Ravel vs. Debussy, Conservatoire, Sonatine , Apaches, Ravel and Diaghelev, Paul Wittgenstein, Pictures at an Exhibition

Week 3
Les Six, Erik Satie, and the Life and Music of Francis Poulenc
1917 and Parade, Arthur Honegger, George Auric, Louis Durey, Germaine Tailleferre, Darius Milhaud, Jean Cocteau and Stravinsky, short biography of Poulenc

**Quiz over Debussy, Ravel, Erik Satie, and Les Six**

Week 4
The Life and Music of Igor Stravinsky
Biography of Stravinsky, First Period and Diaghelev andFirebird, Petroushka, and The Rite of Spring, Second Period and Neoclassicism, Third Period and Twelve-Tone Compositions

**Quiz over Stravinsky**

Week 5
The Second Viennese School
The Lives and Music of Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern Wagner and Romanticism, Verklarte Nacht, Sprechstimme, Wozzeck,Klangfarbenmelodie, Webern and Boulez, effect of the Nazis

**Quiz over The Second Viennese School**

Week 6
Twelve-tone composition

Week 7
Complete work on 12-tone composition

**12-Tone Composition Due**

Weeks 7 and 8
Preparation for juries and recitals

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