Seconda pratica quiz: The second page of this quiz contains a role-playing exercise about the development of the seconda pratica, where students are asked to recreate the arguments of both sides of the debate.
Form analysis activity: This exercise is designed to teach cantabile-cabaletta form in class. Students are given a translation and asked to mark places where they hear formal breaks of different sizes while the aria "Casta diva" plays. They then confer in small groups, and finally the groups provide their answers to the whole class while I take board notes. When the form has already been diagrammed on the board, I introduce the Italian vocabulary for the sections and we apply it to other arias.
Paper prompt: This prompt is for the Clara Schumann song "Liebst du um Schönheit," for the second of three (very) short paper prompts in a class. It attempts to provide guiding questions while being more open to individual preference and interpretation than a first prompt would be.
Sample syllabi:
"Music in Western Society." North Carolina State University, Fall 2024.
"Hamilton and Its Traditions: Music, Tragedy, Revolution." Duke University, Spring 2024 (and Spring 2025)
"Writing 101: Love Songs." Duke University (Thompson Writing Program), Fall 2023.