The Eastern Shore Institute for Lifelong Learning’s fall music appreciation class will focus on the American Broadway musical.

Utilizing lectures by scholar and professional musician Bill Messenger the course will cover two centuries of the American musical: from the minstrel era, through vaudeville, ragtime, the revue and to the age of book musicals in the 1950s and beyond.

Many familiar songs like “Ol’ Man River,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Hello, Dolly” and “Almost Like Being in Love” were written for stage productions.

Messenger will explain some of the intricacies of song construction and he’ll demonstrate how certain songs were used to create specific effects.

The class officially began Sept. 17 but the second session starts Oct. 1.

For more information, call ESILL faculty member and course moderator, Vincentine Williams, at 626-2712.