Music of the Beatles revolves around music theory, complete band discography
It is a Tuesday afternoon and students are milling in to fill the seats of Zimmer Hall’s auditorium for a very unique class. The professor walks in with a guitar strapped to his back and sets up a piano, indicating this course is a bit different from the average University of Cincinnati lecture. “I teach Music of The Beatles — quite possibly the coolest class at the University of Cincinnati,” said Roger Klug, a music theory graduate from the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He has been teaching the course for five years now.
Five years ago, CCM was looking to expand courses to students outside of the department and Klug was approached to write the outline for a Beatles-themed class. “It sounded like fun. It sounded like work. It sounded like fun work,” Klug said with a grin. When the original class of 70 students quickly filled up, two more were added during its first semester of existence.
Now, Music of the Beatles is offered during the day and night, as well as online with open enrollment to all students in any field of study. In fact, Klug says the vast majority of his students are non-music majors. The key to getting through to students who do not study music, Klug said, is pure enthusiasm.
After sitting through just one class meeting with professor Klug, it is impossible to deny he is enthusiastic about The Beatles. The man is filled with personal stories of the four band members — including George and John’s first experience with LSD when their dentist slipped the drug into each of their drinks.
Klug knows the music theory of each Beatles’ album, as well as the creative collaboration that went into making the technologically impossible, possible. But, how did he garner such excitement about a band that came up before Klug was even born? “I’m too young,” Klug said. “I missed The Beatles when they were happening. I was the next generation after that."
By: Kalley Schneider
Source: The News Record
