Musicianship

  • Everything I experienced at Walden was designed and implemented toward a single end – the development of the individual student's sense of her or his own worth as a creative human being.

    – James Mobberley, composer

Fun at a Walden Frolic

Musicianship is the cornerstone of The Walden School’s academic program. It is an organic approach to the study of music in which students are led to discover new materials and concepts for themselves. Following discovery, they are given thorough aural, keyboard and written drill work in each area of study. Finally, they are encouraged to apply the materials to an improvisation or a composition. Musicianship begins with a foundation in basic acoustics and proceeds through intervals, triads, and modes to functional harmony. Musicianship classes offer lessons in basic aoustics, intervals, major and minor triads, cycles, modes, functional harmony, advanced/extended harmonic language, jazz musicianship and analysis, among other topics.