Teaching Music Theory

In recent years, music theory educators around the country have developed new and innovative teaching approaches, reintroducing a sense of purpose into their classrooms. In this book, author and veteran music theory educator Jennifer Snodgrass visits several of these teachers, observing them in their music theory classrooms and providing lesson plans that build upon their approaches. Based on three years of field study spanning seventeen states, coupled with reflections on her own teaching strategies,ÂTeaching Music Theory: New Voices and Approaches highlights real-life teaching approaches from effective (and sometimes award-winning) instructors from a wide range of institutions: high schools, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and conservatories. Throughout the book, Snodgrass focuses on topics like classroom environment, collaborative learning, undergraduate research and professional development, and curriculum reform. She also emphasizes the importance of a diverse, progressive, and inclusive teaching environment throughout, from encouraging student involvement in curriculum planning to designing lesson plans and assessments so that pedagogical concepts can easily be transferred to the applied studio, performance ensemble, and other courses outside of music. An accessible and valuable text designed with the needs of both students and faculty in mind,Teaching Music Theory provides teachers with a vital set of tools to rejuvenate the classroom and produce confident, empowered students.

Jennifer Snodgrass is Professor of Music Theory at Appalachian State University where she teaches courses in music theory, aural skills, analysis, songwriting, and pedagogy. A Grammy-nominated educator, Snodgrass has published in a multitude of theory and education journals and is an active presenter around the country. Most recently she was named a co-editor to the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy and is the assistant director of the Gail Boyd de Stwolinski Center for Theory Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma.

Preface 1. The Golden Circle: "Why," "How," and "What" 2. Why and How: Curriculum and Content 3. The Classroom Environment 4. Teaching Theory on the High School Level 5. The Content: Written Theory (Fundamentals-Diatonic Harmony) 6. Chromatic Harmony and Form 7. Pedagogy of Aural Skills 8. Assessment 9. Empower the Undergraduate 10. Taking the First Steps into Academia 11. What the Best Music Theory Instructors Do Epilogue Appendix Bibliography