Resources at a Glance
Ah, the life of a scholar–someone whose whole existence is dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge! With all the resources available now, what could be more marvelous than spending our time pursuing the deepest ideas of the past, sequestered amid stacks of books, patiently seeking new insights.
Well, that’s not me, and it’s probably not you either. I may live amid stacks of books, but there’s nothing peaceful about it. But I hope the many offerings on the ProfessorCarol website will make it easier for you to incorporate the Beauty of our Western Cultural Heritage into your daily life and into your home.
The website continues to grow with courses, webinars, galleries, and more. Many of these resources are offered free. Of course, we hope you will consider joining our Circle of Scholars (just $15 per month) to enjoy access to everything.
Here’s the roadmap. Some are helpful resources, some are time savers, and some are observations from decades of teaching. Explore all you wish, and I’ll keep posting more as quickly as I can get to it.
Over 300 “Friday Performance Picks” are available free to everyone. Mostly relatively short works with brief commentary, we feature music of enduring value: classical standards, folk and jazz, and many intriguing works you might have thought to look for.
Our courses often include galleries of art relevant to a particular unit. Here are some galleries of fine paintings, with brief commentary, to whet your appetite.
Especially with the lockdown, our webinar offerings are expanding almost weekly. If you can’t attend live, watch the recordings. Many are free, some have a nominal charge of $5, and all are available free in the Circle of Scholars.
Interviews on various topics, pre-concert presentations for arts organizations, and some reflections on my frequent travels.
Whether you intend to enter the university or look at the growing list of alternatives, a serious education remains a wonderful thing, and becoming well-versed in the riches of Western Civilization is the key.
Heroic themes, bold orchestrations, and manly melodies—perfect antidotes to anyone tempted to think that “classical music” is just sentimental and relaxing. The works on this list go well beyond being simply loud.
The Fine Arts belong at the core of a comprehensive education. Explore our courses in music, history, art, and culture. The Circle of Scholars includes free access to all of our online courses, webinars, and special features.
 Our signature course Discovering Music connects music with visual arts, political and economic history, and Western Culture from 1600 to 1914. Music was recognized in ancient times as one of the seven essential subjects comprising the Liberal Arts, and music has always been central to Classical Education. By connecting music history to political and cultural history, we make all of history more memorable and more interesting. |
 Opportunities for viewing high-quality opera productions at home are increasing. In fact, you can now rent them on demand just as you would with a movie.
So periodically we will be offering live webinars on upcoming productions and maintaining them in recorded form for future viewing. This collection of webinars will become the core part of our new course on opera. |
 For the youngest members of the family. Children naturally gravitate toward music and art, and not just “kid” songs. They may not be ready to perform or analyze the most sophisticated music, but they are ready to hear it and love it. It’s never too early to orient a child toward Beauty. |
Have you wondered about the roots of sacred music and wanted to learn more? This history of early sacred music and the forces that shaped it takes you deep into Old Testament times, ancient Greece and Rome, Medieval kings and conquests, and the establishment of Christianity in the Western World. This two-semester online course will take you on a journey through American music, art, literature, history and culture. From the Puritans and Native Americans; through the founders and pioneers; to the immigrants of Ellis Island and today’s newest immigrants, Americans have used music, paintings, poetry, dance and architecture to express the essence of life in America. |
 Exploring America’s Musical Heritage is a 4-hour DVD program that takes you across America to experience and learn about our history and art. From Puritans and Native Americans; through the founders and pioneers; to the immigrants of Ellis Island and today’s newcomers, Americans have used music, paintings, poetry, dance and architecture to express the essence of life in America. |
From its Christianization in 988 to the Bolshevik Revolution – travel with Professor Carol through Russian history and culture and discover the intrigue of its tsars, the strengths of its culture, and the astonishing beauty of its art, music, and architecture.
This practical and accessible guide to the basic principles of music takes you from point zero to a solid understanding of the elements of music and how they work.
The course is for everybody. Students do not need to read music (although they will learn) or play an instrument (although they may be inspired to take one up). Those who are learning to play an instrument or sing in an ensemble will find the course particularly useful. Children sing before they speak and dance before the walk.Children respond to music at the earliest stages of their development. They enjoy listening. But music is not just a source of entertainment for children. It provides them with essential skills and constitutes an important part of their earliest development. |
 Do you think it’s difficult to get started with listening to great classical music? Yes, there are almost endless choices of where to start and things to learn that would put the music in some perspective. We have taken 50 Friday Performance Picks and organized them into a course. The focus is on listening within categories and having just a few important facts at your fingertips. |
 Will a Google search get you the information necessary to write that term paper? Does anybody really care if your prose is dull and your syntax awkward? Yes, they absolutely do. To master any discipline, you must first acquire the tools of learning and the skills to present what you know clearly and effectively. |
 Stuck on dates and biographies? You could begin your study of art from many perspectives that a student might find more compelling, such as chemistry, math, or marketing. You could look at what it really takes to put on an exhibit or to transport valuable art to new locations. Professor Carol suggests practical exercises that teach your students about how art is presented, created, or sold. Art history is not just about what’s inside the frame. |
