While Berkshire County is renowned for its classical music there are many who do not have a background in this particular art form. This course, by popular request, provides an introduction to classical music for the general listener. The course will consider what we mean by classical music and will include a brief history, an introduction to the most common forms such as symphonies and concertos, the importance of great composers such as Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, an introduction to opera, and an overview and discussion on how to listen to and what to listen for in classical music. No prior musical knowledge is required. The course will use short audio and video examples to illustrate the various points. While it is primarily aimed at those who have no background or training in classical music, the course may also be a useful refresher for those who have some background. By the end of the course the participant will feel comfortable and knowledgeable attending concerts at venues such as Tanglewood and discussing classical music with friends and colleagues.

After fifty years as a self-taught musician, Brian Hailes began his formal music education when he moved to the Berkshires ten years ago. He has an MM from UMass, a BA (Music) from Westfield State University and an Associate’s Degree in Fine Arts (Music) from Berkshire Community College. Brian sings and plays guitar in hotels, restaurants, and outdoor festivals throughout the Berkshires, and has sung in the chorus of a number of operas with the Berkshire Opera Festival. He has served on the board of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Georgia Council for the Arts Music Panel. In his previous lives Brian was a telecom development engineer, an international business executive, and an executive recruiter. He has a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering, a graduate Diploma in Management Studies, and is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology.