Taught by vocalist-composer Sara Serpa, this ear training class will focus on the music of Duke Ellington (1899-1974 ) and Béla Bartók (1881-1945) as learning material. Topics may include transcription, dictation, class listening and performance, with analysis of intervals, harmony, rhythms and composition exercises. Students will work on: hearing and sight-singing, performing pieces by both composers, and composing and improvising using both composer’s pieces as point of departure. Goals are: to develop aural process and the ear as a tool for performance, to develop greater awareness of contemporary music, to develop creativity in improvisation/composition