Back to Music and Social Action
Yale University

Music and Social Action

What is a musician’s response to the condition of the world? Do musicians have an obligation and an opportunity to serve the needs of the world with their musicianship? At a time of crisis for the classical music profession, with a changing commercial landscape, a shrinking audience base, and a contraction in the number of professional orchestras, how does a young musician construct a career today? Are we looking at a dying art form or a moment of reinvigoration? In this course we will develop a response to these questions, and we will explore the notion that the classical musician, the artist, is an important public figure with a critical role to play in society. The course will include inquiry into a set of ideas in philosophy of aesthetics; a discussion about freedom, civil society, and ways that art can play a role in readying people for democracy; discussion on philosophy of education as it relates to the question of positive social change; and an exploration of musical and artistic initiatives that have been particularly focused on a positive social impact. Guiding questions for this course inquiry will include: - How can classical music effect social change? - How has music made positive change in communities around the globe? - What can the field of classical music learn from other movements for social change? - How have educators and philosophers thought about the arts and their connection to daily contemporary life? Each class will explore one critical question through lectures, discussions, interviews, or documentaries.

Status: Education and Training
Status: Community Organizing
Course31 hours

Featured reviews

EN

5.0Reviewed Jun 14, 2020

A course that helped me refresh and affirm my intentions and motivations to continue pursuing music as a mode to social action.

AO

5.0Reviewed Nov 12, 2024

I loved the discussions with other students as well as the links to readings.

AG

5.0Reviewed Apr 3, 2025

Course gave me lots to think about in ways I had not considered before. I'll keep exploring this subject.

EJ

4.0Reviewed May 3, 2016

there wasn't' much classroom discussion lead by staff/or mentors. having more then two people peer-review would be ideal. readings were not easily accessible.

KS

4.0Reviewed May 30, 2018

Very interesting course. I would like to point out that some material is not accessible for international learners, like me. Appart from that it is a balanced course, with a lot of food for thought.

DO

5.0Reviewed Mar 15, 2018

This is exactly what I needed. I have upgraded from just having a passion for music to having a passion for what music can do to the society. I am a better leader. Thank you YALE, thank you Coursera!

TG

4.0Reviewed Oct 31, 2020

This course is a little confusing, as it is not just music but also art. As well as the relation of Social Action (political expects).

A

5.0Reviewed May 25, 2022

I want to wait a bit with this course, can you please remove It?

UA

5.0Reviewed Jun 20, 2022

I​t really gave me a more ample perspective on the intersection of music and social justice.

L

5.0Reviewed Jun 2, 2020

This course was so informative and insightful. I have thoroughly enjoyed the lectures and the readings and look forward to doing further research on the subject.

SI

5.0Reviewed May 27, 2020

This course has given me so much more than I had ever hoped for! A true eye-opener for anyone who is involved in the arts!

VB

5.0Reviewed Jun 5, 2020

I thought the course was great!. I enjoyed all the lectures and videos, and hope to meet professor Sebastian personally some day.

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 63

Klaus D Pluemer
5.0
Reviewed May 4, 2017
Education Junkie
4.0
Reviewed May 3, 2016
Eric MacTaggart
2.0
Reviewed Aug 4, 2016
adahauyeechan@gmail.com
5.0
Reviewed Mar 29, 2017
Elena Arzani
5.0
Reviewed Aug 6, 2020
Farid Hamka
5.0
Reviewed Jan 13, 2017
Barbara Kaffee Atkins
5.0
Reviewed Aug 29, 2017
Sebastian Johan Karstad
5.0
Reviewed Jul 19, 2021
Robert J. B. Ellis
5.0
Reviewed Oct 12, 2018
Kimberlynn Kleasen
5.0
Reviewed Jun 20, 2020
Marie Alexis
5.0
Reviewed Jul 25, 2018
Virgilio Alberto Rodríguez Acosta
5.0
Reviewed Apr 5, 2017
Nikoletta Polydorou
5.0
Reviewed Jul 7, 2017
effi minakoulis
5.0
Reviewed Aug 19, 2020
Gillian Sheppard
5.0
Reviewed Apr 16, 2016
Jacqueline Sleesman
5.0
Reviewed May 9, 2020
ana mary mora machado
5.0
Reviewed Oct 29, 2020
Jahmar Rodgers
5.0
Reviewed Sep 15, 2020
Douglas Ogutu
5.0
Reviewed Mar 16, 2018
Linda ten Bras
5.0
Reviewed Aug 19, 2016