"Jewish Music as Midrash" with Dr. Michael Isaacson (10 session)
Jewish Music as Midrash: The Art of Liturgical Composition
Taught by Dr. Michael Isaacson
$500 for ten sessions + $36 for textbook if participants do not own a copy (includes 2 folders of recorded examples referred to in the book); maximum of 8 participants. This course will be taught on Zoom.
Requirements: A copy of the textbook (Jewish Music As Midrash); computer with internet access and Zoom capabilities.
A 10-week course on the art of composing music for the purpose of worship. Dr. Michael Isaacson is one of the leading composers of Jewish music, with a career spanning over fifty years, including commissions from synagogues around the world, and decades as a Hollywood composer. We will use his book Jewish Music as Midrash: What Makes Music Jewish? as the text for the course. Participants will be given weekly composition assignments which will be shared and critiqued in class, with a final composition project that will be evaluated by Dr. Isaacson in 2 individual sessions toward the end of the course. In addition, this course provides a wonderful opportunity for participants to share their original music (scores or recordings) with colleagues and receive feedback in a guided setting. No experience necessary.