The arts are an essential part of any classical education. Examining a painting or listening to a masterpiece can draw out the humanity in all of us. By understanding the history and theory behind the arts, you can prepare yourself to more fully appreciate what you see and hear.
In this lesson, I focus on both fine arts and music (two topics commonly studied in the Ivies). For each section, I provide no-cost resources for studying the history and the theory of the topic. I also provide links to sites that offer free images of prominent artwork and free mp3s of public domain music.
Assignment 1: Explore Fine Art
Art has been a part of the human experience from the earliest times. Before we had the written word, people left messages by drawing on the walls of caves. Today, fine art continues to inspire us, confuse us, and make us think.
History
Studying the prominent periods of art history can help you understand the context in which pieces were created. Keep in mind that art isn’t always a free expression. Much of the great art we have today was commissioned and directed by patrons.
Theory
Learning the theory behind the art will help your appreciation grow. You don’t need to know how to paint a masterpiece, but it’s helpful to know how to approach the paintings you encounter. Learn what questions to ask yourself and how to effectively critique a piece.
Experience
Looking at the masterpieces is the most important step. It’s best to visit museums and see artwork in person (something is simply lost when they are shown on the screen). However, you can prepare yourself by browsing through the impressive collections online.
Assignment 2: Explore Music
From early Gregorian chants to rock and roll, music has enriched the lives of our ancestors and been a subject of much controversy. Music is such a powerful art that people commonly try to control it. Even today, governments and schools ban and censor songs they find questionable. Familiarizing yourself with music history and theory will open up a new world of understanding every time you turn on the radio or borrow a CD. Often, people who study music become captivated by genres they never even noticed before.
History
Music both reflects its time of creation and creates culture around it. These websites will give you an overview of the most important periods of music history.
Theory
Understand the theory behind the notes played and you’ll have a new appreciation the next time you go to a concert. Even if you’re not a musician, the study of theory will enrich your experience as a listener.
- Ricci Adam’s Music Theory Lessons
- Fundamentals of Music Theory, MIT OpenCourseWare
- Music Education from Berklee Shares
Experience
Reading about music isn’t very helpful unless you have songs to accompany your studies. Although you may have to pay for newer works, you can download thousands of public domain songs for free.
- Classic Cat, Free Classical Music Directory
- Wikipedia Sound List Streaming Music
- Archive.org Audio Music
Assignment 3 – Develop a creative talent
Once you’ve explored the basics of fine art and music, consider developing a creative talent of your own. Learning how to paint or play the guitar can enrich your life and bring you enjoyment. Choosing an artistic form to practice is highly personal and dependent upon your interests and natural abilities. If you’re stuck, consider any of the following:
Fine art: drawing, cartooning, charcoaling, watercolors, oil painting, sculpture, etc.
Music: piano, guitar, drums, flute, saxophone, singing, harp, harmonica, etc.
You can learn a lot by browsing the list of free online classes on this website and checking out other sites that provide no-cost instruction. You might also want to seek a mentor or tutor to help you get started. Many learners trade tutoring services with people in their area (i.e. I’ll teach you Spanish for an hour a week if you teach me how to play the guitar).
Wrapping it Up
Keep in mind that the arts are meant to be experienced. When you have the opportunity, visit a museum, see a symphony, or watch an opera. These real-life encounters will have a much greater impact than browsing through informational sites on the web.
Know of a useful art / music resource I missed? Have a learning tip to share on this subject? Please leave your suggestions in the comments section. The more resources and ideas we have, the better.
Next Week: Moral Reasoning
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This year, I can’t tell you how much the Smart History website that I found on your self-ed resource page helped me with my art history classes. This post is also going to be extremely helpful since I’m an art major. Thanks so much.
Tamrat, you’re certainly welcome. I’m glad you found the list / post helpful. Smart History really does offers a wealth of info about the subject. I’ve been enjoying browsing through it just for fun.