Zoom Lectures

Photo by LUM3N on Unsplash

I have written about music as an amateur for years, but during pandemic times, there was a different sort of opportunity to introduce and share music, so I began preparing a sort of program to introduce famous pieces throughout history, and they’ve continued. I talk for a bit, then walk you through a piece of music with the hope that you’ll appreciate it more than if you’d just listened on your own. It’s not as scary or difficult to enjoy classical music as you think it is, nor is it only for a select few.

My purpose, basically, is to introduce great music with the goal of helping you learn how to listen and thus be able to enjoy other pieces of music. There’s only so much you can cover with sessions once a month.

There was also a separate series between the regular classes called Offbeats, where we discussed more modern pieces. You can learn more about that here.

The next lecture will be on Saturday, December 13 at 7:30 pm Taipei time (GMT+8), featuring Beethoven’s seventh string quartet.

You’ll need the relevant Zoom info to join the sessions, which you can get by contacting me.

The List

Season 5: 2025-26

  1. Sept 6: Brahms Symphony no. 1 in Cm, op. 68
  2. Oct 11: Mozart Symphony no. 39 in E flat, K. 543
  3. Nov: Beethoven Piano Sonata no. 4 in E flat, op. 7
  4. Dec: Beethoven String Quartet no. 7 in F, op. 59 no. 1
  5. Jan: Schubert Symphony no. 9 in C major, D. 944
  6. Feb: Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
  7. Mar: Saint-Saëns Symphony no. 3 in Cm, ‘Organ’
  8. Apr: Mahler Symphony no. 4
  9. May: Ralph Vaughan Williams ‘A London Symphony’ (Symphony no. 2?)
  10. May: Sibelius Symphony no. 5 in E flat, op. 82
  11. Jun: Scriabin Piano Sonata no. 5 and Prokofiev Piano Sonata no. 7
  12. Jul: Shostakovich Violin Concerto no. 1 in Am, op. 77
  13. Aug: Mozart Symphony no. 40 in Gm, K. 550

The Spotify playlist with the recordings I’ve chosen for each piece is here.

  • If you want to see the list from Season One (2021-22), it’s here.
  • If you want to see the list from Season Two (2022-23), it’s here.
  • If you want to see the list from Season Three (2023-24), it’s here.
  • If you want to see the list from Season Four (2024-2025), it’s here.

Schedule subject to change with as much notice as I can manage. If you’d like to know about upcoming sessions or want to request one at a specific time, please send an email to let me know. I’m also more than happy to repeat previous lessons if there is enough interest.