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What is Music Theory and Composition?

Music Theory and Composition is a field of study emphasizing the practices, creation, and possibilities of music.   Music theory can be unpacked into three primary components that include historical context, rudiments, and organization.  The historical context of music theory include the study of writings about music given the time frame it was created and context of which it was made.

Rudiments are taught as the elements of music (notation, key signature, rhythmic notation, time signature) to best understand harmony, form, pitch, texture, volume, timbre, and duration.  Music theory also is constructed to organize the principles and processes of music by understanding the individual elements of a music piece versus deconstructing a song.  Music composition refers to the process of creating a music piece or song, analyzing the structure of a music piece, or an instrumental music piece or song.

Career Summary

MEDIAN SALARY

$60,630

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

38.87%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

18,380

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Music Theory and Composition Degree

Columbia University in the City of New York's Music Theory graduate degree program strives to expose students to the wide range of current and past scholarship. Students are expected to read current periodicals and books and hence to become well-rounded theorists. They are also trained to think logically, read critically, and in a penetrating fashion. Students normally take the Proseminar in Music Theory in their first two years of graduate study. The Proseminar is an overview and sampling of current concerns in the field.

Acceptance Rate

5.45

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

The Juilliard School's Music Composition Department has a faculty of renowned individuals in the field. The department remains especially notable for the diversity of styles represented by its teachers and alumni. There are ample opportunities for composers to have their work performed. They are devoted to working with department competition winners and to collaborating with various choreographers, actors, and some of the best young instrumentalists in the world.

Acceptance Rate

6.88

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Stanford University's Music Theory degree provides the technical foundations for music study. The program informs students' work in composition, performance, and musicology. It is a concentration of its own, encouraging students to develop their understanding of music's inner workings through analysis, research, and practical engagement. Their courses range from introduction to music notation, harmony, and aural skills to jazz harmony and advanced classes in the analysis of music from the 15th century to the present.

Acceptance Rate

4.34

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Northwestern University's Music Theory & Cognition degree is unique in its combination of two related disciplines that share a common goal. The program includes the reconstruction of historical listeners circumscribed by stylistic conventions. They understand the interaction of music theory and cognition as fluid and capable of taking different forms and using different methodologies. This breadth of epistemological perspective and diversity of methodological approaches is reflected in the wide spectrum of repertoires.

Acceptance Rate

9.05

Student to Faculty Ratio

6:1

Cornell University's Department of Music has a flexible music theory curriculum for its students. They develop their own course of study in a close relationship with a Special Committee of three or our faculty members chosen by the student. Students are highly encouraged to take advantage of all course offerings within the Department of Music as well as explore other disciplinary fields. Graduate students also have many opportunities to present their own work in different lectures offered by the institution for the betterment of their education.

Acceptance Rate

10.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Rice University's Music Theory Major demonstrates to students technical and musical competence in solo performance, composition, or music-historical research appropriate to the standards of a four-year undergraduate program. Students possess intermediate skills in music theory and an understanding of how those skills inform music performance. They will be able to acquire a fundamental understanding of the relationships between music theory and music performance. Students will develop superior technical collaborative skills in the area through a combination of practice, coaching, and rehearsal in large and small ensembles.

Acceptance Rate

8.72

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

Vanderbilt University's Music Composition & Theory program seeks to equip students with the creative, technical, and critical mechanisms central to developing their artistic and intellectual lives as scholars. Student composers have numerous opportunities to hear their music performed each year, culminating with a full-length portrait recital during the senior year. The program also develops opportunities afforded by access to Vanderbilt's excellent musical and non-musical course offerings. They highly encourage their students to understand how their own music relates to a host of other disciplines.

Acceptance Rate

9.12

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

Johns Hopkins University's Music Composition degree program is one of the most sought-after programs of its kind in the world. Their faculty is composed of the most honored composers today. They are committed to creating the ideal environment for the composers of tomorrow. Graduates can be found teaching at elite institutions across the United States and abroad.

Acceptance Rate

11.17

Student to Faculty Ratio

7:1

The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Doctor of Philosophy in Composition & Music Theory is a unique joint program leading to the Ph.D. in Composition & Music Theory. It is designed to take advantage of the unusual strengths of the institution's School of Music, Theatre & Dance in both Composition and Theory. It is for students seeking the highest degree in the field. Offering rigorous instruction to cater to the needs of individuals who are deeply passionate about the area.

Acceptance Rate

22.91

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

The University of Southern California's major in Music Composition program strongly emphasizes performance opportunities for student composers. The composers in the institution are outstanding members of the international musical community. The program's curriculum offers thorough training in composition, musicianship, theory, analysis, orchestration, counterpoint, and electro-acoustic composition. The USC Thornton choruses, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and chamber music program provide composition students with significant reading and performance opportunities as well.

Acceptance Rate

11.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Carnegie Mellon University's School of Music places a strong emphasis on contemporary music theory. Professional composers work with their students in a master/apprentice relationship. Providing performance and reading opportunities for new student works. Senior year students compose an orchestral piece to be performed and recorded by the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic.

Acceptance Rate

15.44

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Boston University's degree in Composition and Music Theory help students gain a broad knowledge of contemporary and historical composition practices and mastery of analytic techniques for tonal and post-tonal music. The program will help them work to attain a personal compositional aesthetic and the techniques to express it through sound. The Master of Arts in Music Theory program is designed for students seeking to acquire a secure foundational scholarly music theory prior to entering the doctoral study. This foundation can be crucial to success in graduate school and beyond. Students develop a close familiarity with essential approaches and techniques for the theory and analysis of tonal and post-tonal music.

Acceptance Rate

18.94

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

The University of Rochester's Music Theory degree plays a central role in the education of every Eastman student. The program includes a wide range of subjects from hands-on training in musical skills to advanced research on musical structure and music's cultural context. Their goal is to encourage their ongoing intellectual engagement with music as an art form and provide students with a solid technical foundation. The department offers a wide variety of courses designed to meet the interest and needs of students.

Acceptance Rate

29.71

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Bucknell University's Music Theory major refine the students' skills and expression while preparing them for a career under the direction of highly accomplished faculty artists. Students build a solid foundation in music theory, history, and performance. The bachelor of music program offers two specialized concentrations in performance and music education. Students take advantage of ensemble performance opportunities in musical styles.

Acceptance Rate

34.23

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Brandeis University's (Master of Fine Arts) MFA in Music Composition and Theory has a faculty that comprises award-winning instructors, scholars. instrumentalists, vocalists, and conductors. Offering a one-year and a two-year MFA in composition and theory. Both are designed to help students develop a command of the craft of composition.  

Acceptance Rate

29.9

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

New York University's major in Music Theory and Composition students work closely with their faculty of internationally recognized composers. They receive robust training in music theory and music core classes. Students have the opportunity to learn music history from a wide variety of approaches. They spend many hours in the recording studio to expand their knowledge and skills in the field.

Acceptance Rate

16.2

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Manhattan School of Music's Composition degree program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to be creative while engaging with the specific context of the time. The program allows students to develop their musical and creative gifts to the fullest. Specialized courses for composers include counterpoint, instrumentation/orchestration, form and analysis, notation, just to name a few. Composition students are given the opportunities for response to present their work in masterclasses by world-renowned guest composers and performers.

Acceptance Rate

35.54

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Pepperdine University's Music Department prepares students for musical careers. Their students develop knowledge of the music industry and demonstrate a deeper understanding of music technology and music theory. The music department is personal and unique, offering high-quality instruction and an exceptional learning experience for each individual. The nurturing environment allows their students to refine their talents and skills for a successful career in music.

Acceptance Rate

31.72

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Case Western Reserve University's Department of Music is an academic department within the College of Arts and Sciences. The program serves undergraduate and graduate students. The institution fosters preeminent research, creative endeavors, and learning. Offering a wide range of courses, degree programs, and ensemble experiences. Their faculty specialize in historical performance practice, music education, and musicology.

Acceptance Rate

27.36

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

The University of Texas at Austin's Composition offers a Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctoral of Musical Arts degree. Offering students maximum flexibility in pursuit of their musical interests and career goals. The traditional core courses in music history and music theory have been streamlined to increase the number of hours available for individual electives. Students utilize their elective hours freely or may devote them to an official emphasis area.

Acceptance Rate

31.82

Student to Faculty Ratio

N.A

The University of Miami's Bachelor of Music Composition is designed to provide students with a learning environment conducive to the pursuit, fostering, development, and exchange of ideas and information. Providing student access to varied composition communities. They strive to continue to build upon the Frost School of Music's reputation as an innovative, forward-thinking, and first-rate center for advanced study. They are committed to maintaining the highest educational, professional, and ethical standards.

Acceptance Rate

27.13

Student to Faculty Ratio

12:1

The University of California-Santa Barbara's Music Theory degree program consists of a core curriculum devoted to the theory and analysis of tonal and 20th-century music, complemented by seminars on a wide variety of topics. The topics reflect musicological as well as theoretical interests. Their faculty consists of prolific instructors imparting their knowledge to passionate students who are deeply interested in the field. The institution produced highly competitive individuals who are ready to excel in the area.

Acceptance Rate

29.56

Student to Faculty Ratio

22:1

Oberlin College's Music Composition major is based on the primary performance in musical creation. The goal of the program is to train aspiring composers to hone their skills at presenting their musical ideas. Students have many opportunities to perform student-organized presentations in just about any medium that can be assembled. providing intensive training in the fundamentals of the craft of musical composition.

Acceptance Rate

36.4

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

The University of Georgia's Bachelor of Music Composition is a professional degree preparing qualified students for work in the music industry and/or graduate study. Providing three years of applied lessons in a primary instrument and three years of intensive study in composition. The program includes a strong foundation in music theory and music history. Composition majors are also required to perform recitals in their applied area.

Acceptance Rate

45.3

Student to Faculty Ratio

17:1

Cleveland Institute of Music's Music Theory major provides students with the aural and analytical skills that aid in the development of the perceptive and thinking musician. Theory instruction is provided for every degree program, from basic musicianship and remedial courses to upper-level specialized seminars. Students can double major in music theory at the institution. Their faculty constitutes a diverse and distinguished collective of musician-scholars.

Acceptance Rate

36.6

Student to Faculty Ratio

5:1

Top Music Theory Degree

The primary objective of a degree program in music theory and composition is to prepare students for their future roles in the music industry.  Graduates from the music program may go on to become composers, writers, educators, promoters, teachers, or collaborators.  Many schools provide an array of degree levels and areas of specialization in music for students to consider.  The most popular areas of specialization include:

Pedagogy

The pedagogy track emphasizes the teaching of the Artist-Teacher-Scholar.  More specifically, it provides key insights into the evolving roles of musicians and music.  A typical framework includes relevant aspects of music in art, teaching artistry, and teaching itself as a means to explore music, perspectives, and scholarly analysis.  Research serves as a catalyst for learning about related areas of social, emotional, and spiritual development.

Pure Theory

The study of Pure Theory allows students to study a broad swath of theories or a specific theoretical model.  Examples of theoretical models in music include the set theory, Schenkerian analysis, transformation theory, and Riemannian analysis.  Pure theory can be directly related to an existing repertory or more abstract in nature by allowing students to choose a compositional model or blend them to arrive at variations of existing possibilities.

Composition

A school’s composition concentration helps peel back the layers of complexity of music with theoretical models, deep analysis, and repertory performance practice.  Taking an interdisciplinary approach to contemporary music visa vi literature, visual arts, science, computation, mathematics, and architecture are emphasized throughout the program.  Professors leverage technology to analyze and synthesize music composition.

Performance

Performance sub-category of music theory allow students to intimately explore the relationship between concept, perception, and performance.  In other words, how language fluency affects the perception of a musical piece in relationship to its intended purpose.  By using comparative evaluative tools plus in-depth analysis, inferences and theories can be deduced within the nexus of the performance.

Degree levels are the next layer of consideration for students.  To help aid this process and make your decisions more straightforward, we have summarized the most common degrees available in the music theory domain below.  Make the most of your time by taking the energy to study the summaries below and simply reach out to schools of interest.  A summary of degrees in musical theories include:

Music Theory Associate Degrees

An associate degree in music theory are two-year programs conferred as an Associate of Arts (AA).  Associate of Arts degree programs fuse general education with core classes to provide students with a well-rounded educational experience.  General education courses may include history, economics, philosophy, creative writing, chemistry, sociology, psychology, communications, and math.

The integrative thinking skills associated with a liberal arts degree have been highly effective to help prepare students for a variety of careers in the public and private sector.  Core classes in the AA degree program provide students with foundational knowledge in music theory to prepare for an advanced degree or the opportunity to launch a career in music.

Music Theory Bachelor Degrees

A Bachelor degree will be conferred as a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Music Theory (BMT).  Both degree programs are generally four-year tracks for full-time students.  You may have the opportunity to take classes on-site or online as part of your degree program depending on the institution’s offerings.

Akin to the associate degree program, students in the bachelor degree track will take both general education courses and core classes.  The net result will be an integration of holistic thinking skills, blending left-brain thinking with right-brain thinking to benefit your long-term success.

Classes you may take in a bachelor’s program will depend on your area of emphasis and the school’s curricular design.  You may take a clustering of classes that include: music application, pure theory, ensemble, artistry, music technology, conducting, harmony, tonal writing, ear training, classical music, keyboard ensemble, contemporary music, romantic music, music analysis, and orchestral scoring.

Music Theory Master Degrees

Master degrees can be conferred in a variety of ways that include Master of Arts (MA), Master of Music Theory (MMT), Master of Music (MM), or Master of Business Administration (MBA).  In either case, a master’s degree will take 2-3 years to complete for full-time students with part-time students taking longer.

At the graduate level, student may be able to customize their degree program or adhere to a pre-existing degree format.  Existing degree tracks may include the following: classical music, vocal pedagogy, harp performance, pure theory, music therapy, contemporary performance, global entertainment, music production, voice performance, music technology, innovation, business management, scoring for film, choral conducting, brass conducting, collaborative piano, composition, marimba performance, orchestral conducting, opera performance, string performance, woodwind performance, music education, special education & autism, and piano performance.

Music Theory Doctorate Degrees

A doctoral degree in music theory can be conferred in the following ways: Doctor of Arts (DA), Doctor of Music Arts (DMA), or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) depending on school’s curricular design.

Doctoral degrees are typically three to five-year degree programs based on full time matriculation.  This timeframe includes the time invested to research and complete an approved dissertation project.  By combining targeted electives with an intensive dissertation project, students will be uniquely qualified to teach, become a practitioner, or perform research for a variety of large and small institutions.

Music Theory Requirements

In terms of educational requirements, music composition and theory majors will take an array of similar classes. Universities will establish exact curricular requirements and electives, however similarities will exist school to school. Examples of common classes you will see across many music theory programs include:

Employment & Music Specializations

Holding a music theory degree from an accredited university will prepare students for additional schooling or work in the field. Students seeking an additional degree, will find several accredited programs at the graduate and post-graduate level.

Students seeking to enter the workforce can do so in a traditional or non-traditional career. Examples of career options can include any combination of the following: high school music teacher, music research scholar, program director, composer, artist, broadcast technician, sound engineer, musician, and author.

Job Growth & Composition Careers

Employment for musicians and music theorists is on pace with the national average of 6% per the BLS.  For an industry employing over 170,000 professionals, a six percent growth represents an additional 11,000 jobs.  Similarly, the job growth for high school music teachers is pacing at 7% during this same timeframe.  The largest employers include performing arts centers, colleges, and secondary schools.

Income for music theorists and musicians will vary wildly.  Seasoned, well-respected performers will make significantly more than their peers.  The national average is currently $35.86 an hour but will vary by geography.  Specifically, professionals in New York, California, and Massachusetts lead the nation for highest median income.

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