Music Theory Concentration Requirements
The Theory Program is intended to provide a strong foundation for students who wish to pursue a graduate degree in music theory, or who are otherwise interested in developing their understanding of the inner workings of music, especially within the Western tradition. Interested students should ask one of the teachers of theory and analysis to serve as your advisor.
Core Requirements (42 Units)
Upper-division Music Theory and History: 12 units
Complete three upper division courses:
1. Choose one course among these three:
- Develop compositional and analytical skills focus on tonal and post-tonal contrapuntal practices
- Music 122A: Counterpoint (4 units)
- Learn analytical methods
- Music 122B: Analysis of Tonal Music (4 units)
- Music 122C: Introduction to 20th- Century Composition (4 units)
2. Choose one course among these eight that satisfy the Writing In the Major (WIM) requirement:
- Acquire the capacity to write about music
- Music 140: Studies in Music of the Middle Ages (4 units)
- Music 141: Studies in Music of the Renaissance (4 units)
- Music 142: Studies in Music of the Baroque (4 units)
- Music 143: Studies in Music of the Classical Period (4 units)
- Music 144: Studies in Music of the Romantic Period (4 units)
- Music 145: Studies in Western Art Music Since 1900 (4 units)
- Music 146: Studies in Ethnomusicology (4 units)
- Music 147: Studies in Music, Media, and Popular Culture (4 units)
3. Choose one more course among the remaining nine listed in 1 and 2.
Note: A course cannot be used to satisfy more than one major requirement.
Performance: 3 units
Choose a course or some courses among the following, for a minimum of 3 units
1. Develop proficiency with at least one instrument or voice
- Private lessons (1-3 units)
2. Ensemble
- Play/perform in various acoustical combinations: Solo, Chamber, and Large ensembles.
- Play/perform music with various repertoire
- Ensembles include:
- Music 159: Early Music Singers (1 unit)
- Music 160: Stanford Symphony Orchestra (1 unit)
- Music 160A: Stanford Philharmonia (1 unit)
- Music 161A: Stanford Wind Symphony (1 unit)
- Music 161B: Stanford Jazz Orchestra (1 unit)
- Music 162: Stanford Symphonic Chorus (1 unit)
- Music 163: Memorial Church Choir (1 unit)
- Music 165: Chamber Chorale (1 unit)
- Music 167: University Singers (1 unit)
- Music 171: Chamber Music (1 unit)
3. Acquire conducting skills
- Music 130B: Elementary Instrumental Conducting (2 units)
- Music 130C: Elementary Choral Conducting (2 units)
4. Play/Perform electronic music
- Music 128: Stanford Laptop Orchestra: Composition, Coding, and Performance (3-4 units)
5. Play/Perform improvised music
- Music 126A: Introduction to Thoroughbass, historically informed stylistic improvisation (1-3 units)
- Music 156: [sic] Improvisation Collective (1 unit)
6. Play/perform contemporary music, and collaborate with performers in having your music performed
- Music 160B: Stanford New Ensemble (1 unit)
- Music 161B: Jazz Orchestra (1 unit)
Note: A course cannot be used to satisfy more than one major requirement.
MST/Composition/Orchestration: 3 units
Choose a course or some courses among the following, for a minimum of 3 units
MST (Music, Science, and Technology)
- Music 101: Introduction to Creating Electronic Sounds (3-4 units)
- Music 155: Intermedia Workshop (3-4 units)
- Music 192A, B, C: Sound Recording (192A & B: 3 units each, 192C: 1-2 units)
- Music 220A, B, C: Computer Generated Sounds (2-4 units each)
- Music 223: Composition for Electronic Musicians (3-4 units)
- Music 223B: Sonic Experiments in Composition (1-3 units)
- Music 223C: Tradition, Experimentation, and Technology in String Quartet Composition and Performance (1-3 units)
- Music 223D: Sound Practice: Embodiment and the Social (2-3 units)
- Music 250A, C: Design of Digital Sounds for Interactive Performance (3-4 units each)
- Music 256A, B: Music Computing, Design (3-4 units each)
2. Composition
- Music 20C: Jazz Arranging and Composition (3 units)
- Music 112: Film Scoring (3 units)
- Music 113: Introduction to Instrumental Composition (2-3 units)
- Music 123A: Composition seminar: Rhythmic design (1-2 units)
- Music 123B: Composition seminar: Pitch design (1-2 units)
- Music 123C: Composition Seminar: World Music (1-2 units)
- Music 123i: Undergraduate Seminar in Composition (2-3 units)
- Music 124A: Songwriters Workshop (1-2 units)
- Music 131A: Musical Indeterminacy & Advanced Notation (2-3 units)
3. Orchestration
- Music 127A: Instrumentation and Orchestration (3 units)
- Music 127B: Advanced Orchestration (3 units)
Note: A course cannot be used to satisfy more than one requirement.
Music Theory Requirements
Courses and Capstone Project: 19 or 20 units
Whichever course or courses remain from:
- Music 122A, B, or C and a second WIM course (Music 140-147) (8 units for the two courses);
One course chosen from:
- Music 126: Thoroughbass (1-3 units)
- Music 127A: Instrumentation and Orchestration (3 units)
- Music 129: Advanced Ear Training (1-2 units)
- Music 129K: Advanced Keyboard Musicianship (1-2 units)
One course chosen from:
- Music 154: History of Electronic Music (3 units)
- Music 184A: Editing and Performing Early Music (1-3 units)
- Music 251: Psychophysics and Cognition (1-5 units)
- Music 269: Research in Performance Practices (1-5 units)
Either:
- Music 43: Ethnomusicology (3-4 units)
- Music 18A or B: Jazz (3 units)
And:
- Music 198, a capstone project (2 units).
Students are strongly encouraged to attain proficiency in at least one language relevant to their research interests. We may recommend German as the principal language besides English for music theory and musicology, with French and Italian not far behind, while Latin is important, especially for studies in ancient and medieval topics.
Recommendations
Beyond the Major
This 62-unit structure is designed to provide you with a strong basic education in music theory; but students who are interested in graduate studies and academic careers are especially encouraged to explore more deeply and widely still, and should work with their advisor to tailor a plan suited to their aspirations and the expectations in the field.
In addition, we strongly recommend that you:
- Be an active part of the community, in composition, performance, and discussion, collaborating with your peers.
- Use the library and online resources to develop your knowledge of music within and outside your specific areas of research.
- Take advantage of the Stanford Overseas Study Program, and explore other possibilities for summer study and music-making; partial funding (e.g., during Sophomore Summer) may be available to support your endeavors.
- If you are considering graduate studies in theory, select target programs and study their entrance requirements and exams.