Why do so many pop and rock songs sound so similar? Why are some songs so catchy, and what makes a hit song so successful? In this two-hour course, we will explore basic music theory to better understand how pop and rock music is written. Specifically, we will cover the major scale, how to identify and create chords therein, how to create certain note/chord progressions that sound especially good, and what effects various progressions evoke.

In 33 seasons of CBS’s hit reality show Survivor, winners have come from different races, genders, sexual orientations, and religions—no two winners have been exactly alike. Indeed, the game itself is never quite the same two seasons in a row; what gets someone far in one season may get them voted out early in another. We will trace the evolution of the Survivor to understand what does and does not work in the game today, focusing on past winners and their strategies, as well as monumental, game-changing shifts throughout the show’s history.

What is the best move to make? How do you know? Want to learn a new game? Through basic principles of probability, statistics, and game theory, we will explore how to make the best decision in any game. Specifically, we will utilize the hit board game Settlers of Catan to better understand these principles and their application. In the first half of the class, students will learn how to play the game, then be introduced to mathematical concepts that will aid them in their quest for victory; in the second half, students will apply what they’ve learned as they play Catan with their teachers and classmates.

Have you ever wanted to write a song? Maybe you want to know why so many pop songs sound similar? In this 2 hour class, we will learn some very basic music theory and chord progressions; specifically, how you can write a song using only 4 chords, in a variety of progressions. We will identify numerous songs that use one of these 4-chord progressions, and building on that, we will use any remaining time to attempt writing a basic song.