The Music Theory Division is involved in all courses offered at the School of Music, from those concerning tonality, jazz theory, hearing training, form and structural analysis, instrumentation through to composition analysis.
In addition, the School of Music also offers a Master's degree program in Music Theory. This enables graduates with adequate previous training in music theory to extend their qualificational profile. The purpose of the course is to familiarize participants with historical and systematic musical theory. A consideration of various theories of music, professionalization with regard to analytical procedures, practical instrumental application of insights gained, style-based set exercises, instrumentation, arrangement, improvisation, composition and hearing training all play an important role in the course. The spectrum of areas covered includes jazz-specific compositions and arrangements was well as electronic and computer music. Other music-related courses and events are offered in collaboration with the Institute of Musicology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Faculty 07). The division also provides lectures and seminars on the history and classification of music theory and lecture seminars on musical theorists. And, last but not least, students are prepared for vocations in which the teaching of music theory will play a central role through courses in didactic methodology that also involve trial classroom sessions. In addition, interdisciplinary aspects provide a bridge between specialist training and general education.
In contrast with the courses offered at other schools of music, our Master's program integrates practical didactics and music training, offers participants the option of majoring in the history of music theory and the opportunity to take music theory or composition as elective subjects in the second year of the course. This diversity should provide course graduates with a broad range of training that will benefit them later in their vocation.
The Mainz School of Music also offers graduates the opportunity to obtain a doctoral degree in music theory and thus consider in depth current research into music theory.
Potential vocational fields for course graduates include the teaching of theory at music schools, universities and conservatories, work as freelancers, work in media professions that require extensive expertise in music theory (e.g. as music editors or reviewers for newspapers, magazines and publishing houses) and, of course, creative work as composers and arrangers.
Professors:
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Immanuel Ott
Univ.-Prof. Dr. habil. Birger Petersen
OtherProfessor:
Prof. Dr. Karl Böhmer (style and effect in music of the 18th century)
Lecturers:
Hye Min Lee (music theory)
Viktor Maier (music theory)
Julia Mihaly (music theory)
Benjamin Scheuer (composition)
Michael Weickenmeier (harmony & counterpoint)
Philipp Zocha (music theory)