Wednesdays, February 4 - February 18 | 10 am - 12 pm | $36 | 3 weeks

Instructor: Dr. Fernanda Nieto

The fundamental elements of musical composition are Melody and Rhythm, Harmony and Harmonic Structure, and Form and Organizational Structure. In this class, we gain an understanding of how these transform our listening experience. We hear how composers create memorable melodies and how they use form to shape an emotional arc. We delve into the architectural world of harmony—the vertical dimension of music that gives melodic lines depth, tension, and emotional color. We explore how these orchestral building blocks have evolved in response to shifts in cultural, social, and aesthetic norms throughout history.

Are you curious about how composers use harmony to shape musical forms and expression? Do you know how chords interact, resolve, and create motion? Ever wondered how composers organize musical ideas across time to create tension, release, expectation, and resolution?  From binary and ternary forms to rondos, sonatas, and through-composed works, we examine how structural choices reflect artistic intention and storytelling.

Class materials include a listening guide and a curated playlist. EXCHANGE attendees will also be invited to a FREE open rehearsal and a private group discussion with conductor Michael Butterman, as well as discounted tickets to the Boulder Philharmonic's March 22, 2026, performance.

About your instructor

Dr. Fernanda Nieto was born in Mendoza, Argentina, where she received her undergraduate degree in Piano Performance. She completed her Master's Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at Ohio University and her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Colorado at Boulder. In 2009, the College Music Society awarded her the Yamaha In-Residence Fellowship, which enabled her to develop an engagement program to promote the diversity of Argentine music. In 2021, she received the Teacher Enrichment Award from the Music Teachers National Association.

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