Music Theory

Career potential

Music theory involves studying music structures and forms, musical ideas and critical thinking. By studying music theory, you will focus on music as a form of art and gain a better understanding of how different styles and forms of music are created.

For music theory majors, a bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas could be the first step toward a teaching career at a college, university or conservatory. It also may be used to develop skills and insights for interpreting music. Combined with a major in performance, it can lead to a career as a performer or private instructor.

UNT's Career Center can help you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff can help you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies and interview preparation.

Majoring in music theory

As a music theory major, you will take courses in aural and keyboard skills and theoretical concepts. You will study counterpoint by 16th- and 18th-century composers, and form and harmonic styles. You will also study Schenkerian and 20th-century analysis. You will complete a course in advanced sight reading and three courses in music composition.

You must complete two years of French or German, 12 academic hours of private lessons in voice or in your instrument and 4 academic hours of piano lessons. If your instrument is the piano, you will complete 4 academic hours of lessons in another instrument or in voice.

UNT's music theory faculty offers expert guidance in research areas of interest from ancient Oriental music through contemporary popular music, with in-depth study in Western music from the Renaissance through contemporary atonal practices.

In addition, you will meet some of the world's top music scholars through a lecture series sponsored each year by the division of history, theory and ethnomusicology.

Getting hands-on experience

As a music theory major, you will participate in a student ensemble each long semester. Instrumentalists might perform with the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, or one of the nine jazz lab bands. If you were in your high school marching band, you can participate in UNT's Marching Band. A smaller group performs at all home basketball games.

Ensembles in the College of Music for singers include the A Cappella Choir, Canticum Novum, Concert Choir, Jazz Singers, Men's Chorus and Women's Chorus. Members of the A Cappella and Concert choirs belong to the Recital Choir. The college also is home to the Opera Theatre.

As a music theory senior, you will complete a research project that will help you acquire the investigative skills needed to attend graduate school and teach at a university.

UNT's Murchison Performing Arts Center is a major benefit for you. The center features the 1,100-seat Winspear Performance Hall designed for orchestra, choral and band concerts, and the 400-seat Lyric Theater for opera. Both performance halls, as well as the center's large rehearsal space, have state-of-the-art acoustics.

Preparing for UNT

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

• English … 4 years
• Math … 4 years
• Social science — economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
• Science … 3 years
• Foreign language … 3 years
• Fine arts … 1 year

You will need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT) that you should take during your junior year.

To prepare for a major in music theory, you should take private lessons and participate in your high school band, choir or orchestra. You also should study music theory and take piano lessons, because once you are accepted into the college, you will take placement exams in music theory and piano.

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Music audition and scholarship application

The Undergraduate Music Audition and Scholarship Application must be completed for acceptance to the College of Music, to schedule an audition and to be considered for a music scholarship.

You'll need to be admitted to the College of Music through an audition before declaring a major in music theory. Auditions are held on and off campus during the spring semester for enrollment the following school year.

The application, audition requirements and repertoire are available at www.music.unt.edu by clicking on the admissions link and then the undergraduate info link. Live auditions are preferred, but you can submit a high-quality cassette tape, CD or VHS tape if you are unable to audition in person. Students in the piano concentrations must audition in person.

Charting your path with academic advising

Degree plan advisors in the College of Music will help you each semester select courses that are necessary to earn your degree. Your professors also will guide you in selecting courses and offer career advice. The undergraduate advising office is in the Music Building, Room 260. The main office of the College of Music is in the Music Building, Room 247.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.