Saturdays, 1:15 – 2:00 PM
Instructor: Hsin-Hao (Vincent) Yang
Ages: 12 and up
Fall 2026: September 12-January 16
Tuition: $480

You have the knowledge to understand music—you know how to read the notes, count the rhythm, and hear the major and minor keys. But have you ever wondered how composers actually used those tools to define entirely different eras of music? What makes Bach’s music sound so different from Taylor Swift’s?

This class takes you past the basics and straight into the minds of the musical masters. We won’t just look at what they wrote; we will explore how and why they wrote it, equipping you with the necessary historical and theoretical knowledge.

In this intermediate course, we treat music history and music theory as two sides of the same coin. Each unit focuses on a specific musical era. We’ll start by setting the scene: exploring the culture of the time, and how culture influences the aesthetics of the great creators. Once we understand the world the musicians lived in, we’ll open up the hood and examine the details.

You’ll learn how rigid rules guided the music of Bach’s era, how Mozart’s period valued clear structures and balanced phrases, and how Chopin and his contemporaries expressed the most innate human emotion through their music. We will then discuss what happened in the 20th century that made classical music “weird,” and how jazz was born and shaped by the hands of masters like Louis Armstrong. Finally, we will uncover what led to the great artists today like Taylor Swift and Laufey.

You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how history shapes sound, and the theoretical knowledge to understand exactly what you are hearing. If you are ready to take your listening and playing to the next level, join us as we explore the music that changed the world!

For questions about you or your child’s musical journey at CMCB, contact our Student Services Team at registration@cmcb.org.

Learn more about tuition information and the financial aid application process by clicking here.