I remember the time in the fall of our sophomore year when we received the pamphlet describing what courses would be offered during Winter Study. I was delighted and astonished at the range of the offerings. Many were very enticing, but I finally chose a course taught by Professor Barrow on Introduction to Mediums of Music (or something like that). I came from a family that did not listen or appreciate classical music. Taking that Winter Study profoundly changed my life. Barrow could be a bit of a curmudgeon, but he was an excellent teacher and I loved the class.
The following year I took Barrow’s introductory music course in the first semester and Irwin Shainman’s course on the Symphony in the second semester. As a result of these courses, I developed a lifelong love of classical music, especially symphonic music. Living in Williamstown, I rarely miss a concert of the Berkshire Symphony, enjoy the performances of chamber music at the college and get down to Tanglewood several times each summer, in addition to listening to classics at home and in my car. It was one of the best set of courses I took in my time at Williams.
Megamenu Social