Music Theory Area

Two men looking over music score

The teaching and research of theorists are concentrated upon developing models and methods for understanding musical languages. How are specific pieces of music put together and how may this be generalized to relate to the way other pieces of music are composed? First and second year theory classes incorporate a combination of writing skills and analysis, whereas teaching in upper years focuses upon analysis. More specialized courses in such subjects as the application of mathematical models to music analysis and Renaissance-style counterpoint are available to the advanced theory major.

Learn more

Recent graduate seminar topics in music theory have included:

Timbre and Form, Origins of Classical Phrase Structure, Historical Improvisation in Theory and Practice, Music of Messiaen, Music and Narrativity, Oster's Note: Research Problems in Schenkerian Theory and Analysis, Twentieth-Century Choral Music, Music and Chance, Schubert and Beethoven, Analysis of Sibelius Symphonies, Theory and Analysis of Rock Music, Theories of Rhythm and Meter, Music Theory Pedagogy, Cadence, Tonality and Form in Schubert, Darmstadt Avant-Garde, Music Since 1980, Analyzing Monteverdi.

Undergraduate

Program overview and requirements:

Graduate

Program overview and requirements:

For all admissions聽information, see聽our Undergraduate Admissions and Graduate Admissions webpages.