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, 1946-47) 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.
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Department Leadership
Joel Puckett—Chair Music Theory, Ear Training, and Keyboard Skills
JOEL PUCKETT is a composer leaving both audiences and the press buzzing. His music has been described as, “soaringly lyrical” (Minneapolis Star Tribune), “Puccini-esque” (Wall Street Journal), and “containing a density within a clarity, polyphony within the simple and - most importantly - beautiful and seemingly spiritual.” (Audiophile Audition). Parterre Box recently proclaimed, “Puckett should be a household name” and the Philadelphia Inquirer’s David Patrick Stearns mused, “if the name Joel Puckett isn’t etched into your brain, it should be.” In 2011 NPR Music listed him as one of the top 100 composers under 40 in the world.
Pianist Agustin Muriago has performed throughout the United States, Spain, China, Brazil, and his native Argentina, in venues such as Steinway Hall and Yamaha Artist Services in New York City, the Teatro Ópera in Buenos Aires, and the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing. His repertoire ranges from standard piano works to contemporary music premieres with an emphasis on Spanish and Argentine music. He has recorded for the Acte Préalable label and for NPR affiliates.
In Argentina, Muriago has earned degrees in piano performance, piano pedagogy, and composition. As a prize winner of the 2008 “Teachers del Norte-Pianists del Sur” auditions under the direction of Mirian Conti, he continued his studies in the United States, earning degrees in piano performance from The Hartt School (DMA), New York University (MM), and Rowan University (BM summa cum laude).
Prior to his appointment at the Peabody Conservatory, Muriago served on the faculty at Kansas State University, where he coordinated the keyboard skills and piano pedagogy programs. He has also offered group and private lessons at The Hartt School Community Division and at New York University.
Jenine Brown—Ear Training division coordinator
Jenine Brown teaches courses including the undergraduate ear training core curriculum and an upper-level post-tonal ear training elective. These courses offer Brown the opportunity to guide students on their journey to hearing musical structure, a pursuit in which she is extremely passionate.
