- Docente: Carla Cuomo
- Credits: 6
- SSD: L-ART/07
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
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Corso:
Second cycle degree programme (LM) in
Music and Theatre Studies (cod. 6737)
Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Music and Theatre Studies (cod. 8837)
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from Feb 09, 2026 to Mar 17, 2026
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student: - knows a model of musical comprehension with a historical and cultural basis; - learns by listening some fundamentals of various languages of Western art music; - learns strategies for the intuitive reading of musical text; - learns strategies to correlate intuitive musical reading with the cognitive processes associated during listening. This knowledge provides the student with: - competences in arriving at mental representations of the musical pieces studied; - linguistic and historical-musical competences to interpret the meaning of a musical piece; - competences in the methodology of teaching listening to understand music in history and culture.
Course contents
The course focuses on a musical pedagogical and didactic model that, through critical and reflective listening, teaches students how a piece of music is constructed, its structure and form, its functions in the context of production and enjoyment, and how it has been received, past and present. The course will present various musical pieces from the Eighteenth to the Twentieth century and the contemporary era, with a particular focus on dance music. Through inductive-deductive, cognitive, and metacognitive strategies, the listening approach will promote the learning of the musical languages specific to the pieces presented, as systems of codes underlying cultural traditions, ideas, values, and ways of thinking. It will also teach students how to correlate what they have learned through listening with music reading, also for the purpose of understanding dance dictation. Therefore, integration with the teaching of Scrittura coreutica will be essential.
Readings/Bibliography
- Carla Cuomo, Dall’ascolto all’esecuzione. Orientamenti per la Pedagogia e la Didattica della musica, Milano, FrancoAngeli, 2018.
- Carla Cuomo, La valenza formativa della musica d’arte a scuola, in «Nuova Secondaria», XL, 6, febbraio 2023, pp. 48-54.
- Elena Randi, Un modello di edizione critica coreica: problematiche relative al testo musicale e alla sua connessione con il dettato coreografico, in «Danza & Ricerca. Laboratorio di studi, scritture, visioni», n. 18, dicembre 2025.
- Antonio Sorgi, Musica e Danza, NeP edizioni Srls, Roma, 2012, ristampa 2014, nuova edizione, capitoli IV-X (pp. 45-100).
Teaching methods
The course includes lectures, listening training workshops with final exercises led by tutors.
Assessment methods
During the exam, students will report:
1. on the topics covered in the course;
2. on the indicated bibliography;
3. on a simple piece of art music for ballet, paying attention to correlating the musical dictation with the choreographic one.
A comprehensive understanding of the topics covered, mastery of the specific language, originality of the reflection, and familiarity with the concepts of music pedagogy will be evaluated with excellent to good marks. A predominantly mechanical or rote knowledge of the subject matter, poorly structured synthesis and analysis skills, correct but not always appropriate language, and an uncertain command of the objects, contents, and methods of music pedagogy will result in fair grades. More or less serious educational gaps, inappropriate language, poor knowledge of music pedagogy, and a lack of bibliographical orientation will be evaluated as barely sufficient or failing.
PLEASE NOTE - Students with DSA or temporary or permanent disabilities: please contact the responsible University office promptly (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ): they will be responsible for suggesting any adaptations to the students concerned, which must however be submitted, 15 days in advance, to the professor for approval, who will evaluate the appropriateness also in relation to the educational objectives of the course.
Teaching tools
Dance music scores and/or scores, video viewing, lectures and conferences by dance music experts.
Office hours
See the website of Carla Cuomo
SDGs




This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.