Music Theory at the Peabody Conservatory

The Department of Music Theory, including the affiliate areas of Ear-Training and Keyboard Studies, strives to intensify the musicianship of conservatory students and provide the required skills for a profound and concentrated understanding of music.

In George Peabody’s charge to the original trustees of the institute, he sought “to furnish that sort of instruction, under able teachers, in the theory and higher branches of music, for which there has heretofore been no provision, and which students have been obliged to seek abroad.” The current department of music theory continues to realize this original vision.

The faculty in the department of music theory is comprised of scholars, composers and performers following in the tradition of such distinguished Peabody music theory faculty as Danish Composer Asger Hamerick, first director of the Conservatory (1871) and professor of music theory, Otto Ortmann, pioneer in the psychology of music and director of Peabody, the renowned pedagogue and composer Nadia Boulanger (music theory faculty, 1942-43), and composers Elliott Carter (music theory faculty, 1946-7) and Henry Cowell (1951-56).

Students at Peabody work closely with the music theory department in their three-year undergraduate curriculum, graduate seminar classes, and advising towards their doctorates.

Graduate students may also pursue a Masters in Music Theory Pedagogy.

Dr. Khannanov with a graduate music theory class, at the Library of Congress at a viewing of their collection of Rachmaninoff's private archives, standing behind Rachmaninoff's writing desk.