The Long and Winding Road: Music Takes Form

This session is all about how music tells time. We’ll look at the building blocks of form—repetition, contrast, variation, and return—and how composers turn those basics into satisfying musical narratives. You’ll leave with practical “road-map” listening skills you can apply immediately in the concert hall: when to expect a return, how to hear transitions, and why endings feel earned.

About Music 101 Lecture Series

Engage with history in this introduction to Western classical music! Led by Michael Gerdes, Director of Orchestras at San Diego State University and a longtime guest lecturer for our organization, this free, five-part public series is designed for anyone curious about the composers, works, and cultural movements that shaped the music we know and love. No prior musical background is required. Each lecture builds on the previous one, yet every session stands on its own, so you can join at any point in the series.

No tickets will be issued or required, but we kindly ask that you RSVP.