This course is about the underlying structure of Western music. We'll learn about the overtone series and how that was used over millennia to build the scales that form the basis of Western music – pentatonic, diatonic and chromatic. We’ll then learn about tonality – major and minor scales and chords, and the key of a piece of music or movement. Last, we’ll learn about tuning and temperament – you’ll learn what Bach meant when he called his books of preludes and fugues the “Well-Tempered Clavier.”  

The course has no formal prerequisite, but a basic knowledge of music theory, such as from Brian Hailes’ course in the Winter 2026 Term, will be helpful. We’ll need a bit of mathematics – mostly fractions – but don’t be scared off. Everything will be gently explained. 

David Garlock is a life-long lover of classical music and an avid amateur pianist. He is part of a longstanding chamber music group, the Da Capo Chamber Players, that gives concerts once or twice a year. David is an experienced teacher, having taught an OLLI course in Washington DC, ESOL classes at Washington English Center, math classes at Georgetown Day School and tax courses at the LLM programs at Georgetown University and the University of Michigan. He retired in 2018 from a career as a tax lawyer. David and his wife Barbara have a summer home in the Berkshires. 

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