"The Arts of Music" in a Scientific and Humanistic Approach : With a focus on the Department of Science and Engineering
"The Arts of Music" in a scientific and humanistic approach for the department of science and engineering starts with a basic premise that music courses established as liberal arts in college should focus on certain topics instead of an introduction to the study. That is, the intent of this study was to show that music as liberal arts in college could achieve more efficient and rational operation and generate greater educational effects when being integrated into certain topics based on its connections with other majors. Presenting a concept of music history, appreciation, and theory combined together, "The Arts of Music" was designed to increase the thinking abilities and emotional expressive skills of students in the Department of Science and Engineering and offer an ideal course in the line of correlations between music and science in the approach of humanities and social science.
The lecture schedule of "The Arts of Music" was determined to include 32 hours over total 16 weeks according to the undergraduate school. Each of the four topics, which were mathematics, natural science, space science, and applied science, would have four weeks. The first category would cover correlations and interactions between music and mathematics within their relations including the creation of notes according to the vibration rate, Roman numeral analysis to analyze music chords in numbers, and the acoustic features of the Baroque Period represented by figured bass. The second category would cover natural science and music, presenting The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, The Pastorale Symphony by Beethoven, Raindrops by Chopin, and Winterreise by Schubert. The third one would cover space science and music. Music began to be discussed in the principles of celestial bodies in the literature of Middle Ages. There is man in the universe, and man creates music. Adopting the philosophy, the study talked about stories about space science in music history. The topic featured Pierre Lunaire by Schoenberg, Clair de Lune by Debussy, and The Planet by Holst. The final category would cover applied science meeting music, dealing with various changes caused by the impact of electricity and electronics on music. Its examples include Sinfonia by Berio, Ionisation by Varese, and modern versions of Canon by Pachelbel arranged by many pop musicians.
The teaching method-based approach will help the students in the Department of Science and Engineering increase their interest and participation in lectures, efficiently cultivate artistic and humanistic culture, and develop the ability of seeing music from a humanistic perspective, thus recognizing that music language can be a means of enriching their lives.