Overview
At MYS we believe that music theory and composition work together at the earliest stages of musical understanding in order to become a vital component of any musician’s development. Integrating composition with the teaching of theory is one of the most effective ways of codifying music theory principles into actual practice for young musicians.
Under the innovative leadership of MYS’ theory director Ryan Francis, our theory program supplements students’ instrumental education with a series of classes that introduce them to practical and contemporary music theory concepts coupled with diverse forms of musical creation and composition.
Building on a strong foundation of understanding modern standard musical notation, ear training, and notation software, students will be given the opportunity to compose in historical and contemporary musical styles and will complete musical projects with readings by MYS ensembles. MYS instructors are experienced teaching artists who effectively communicate this integrated approach.
Registration and Tuition
New Students
Students who are entering MYS’ Music Theory program for the first time will be placed in a class based on an evaluation. This evaluation will be sent out to new students in September 2024 and placements will be sent out before the beginning of classes. In order to receive this evaluation, students must first register for the program. The MYS Music Theory program is open to all MYS and non-MYS students.
Returning Students
Students who participated in our Music Theory program for the 2023-2024 season will be placed in a class for the 2024-2025 season based on the recommendation of their prior instructor. If you are a returning student to our Music Theory program and have questions about your class for the 2024-2025 season, email production@playmys.org.
Tuition
Tuition for all Music Theory Students for the 2024-2025 season is $215. We offer tuition assistance: contact programs@playmys.org for more information.
Registration
All new and returning students must register in order to participate in our 2024-2025 classes.
Music Theory registration for the 2025-2026 season will open in Summer 2025.
2024-2025 Schedule
- Music Theory: Rhythm & Music Reading
Saturday, September 14 – Saturday, April 26 - Music Theory 1
Monday, September 30 – Monday, April 28
No class dates: 11/25, 12/23, 12/30, 1/20, 3/24 - Music Theory 2 – 4
Tuesday, October 1 – Tuesday, April 29
No class dates: 11/26, 12/24, 12/31, 1/21, 3/25
- Music Theory Reading Sessions
at the MYS office building
1. Tuesday, January 21
2. Tuesday, May 6
Classes Offered and Instructors
Music Theory classes will meet in-person or online via Zoom for the 2024-2025 season. Zoom links will be emailed to students if placed in an online class.
Music Theory: Rhythm & Music Reading (In person, Portland & Hillsboro)
Taught by the two Overture Strings conductors, this applied class teaches the fundamentals of playing, reading and writing music notation. It focuses on rhythm and music notation, including scales and intervals of the major scale. This course reinforces foundational concepts of music and prepares musicians to advance to the next orchestra. This class is highly recommended for Overture and Interlude students.
Brittany Newell, Portland Overture Conductor
Saturdays at 12:00 pm at Dr. King Elementary in NE Portland
Eri Noguiera, Hillsboro Overture Strings Conductor
Saturdays at 12:05 pm at First Congregational in Hillsboro
Mondays at 5:30 pm on Zoom
Music Theory Level 1: Music Literacy and Creativity (Online)
Builds on the foundation of the Music Theory: Rhythm & Music Reading class by reinforcing musical literacy and encourages creative autonomy by building a composition quickly through improvisation and group composition exercises.
Kirsten Volness is an electro/acoustic composer and pianist whose music is inspired by nature, myth, science, spirituality, and environmental and sociopolitical issues. She has received commissions from New Music USA, the BMI Foundation, ASCAP/SEAMUS, The American Opera Project, Metropolis Ensemble, Hotel Elefant, NOW Ensemble, Transient Canvas, Ann Arbor Symphony, and Experiential Orchestra. She performs with Providence-based Verdant Vibes, a new music ensemble and concert series she co-founded in 2015. Recipient of the MacColl Johnson and RISCA Fellowships in Music Composition, Kirsten was 2017 composer-in-residence at the Music Mansion, creating the First Fridays concert series, and served on the board of directors as Secretary. She collaborates with Meridian Project on multimedia performances exploring astrophysics, writes and performs operas with the homeless advocacy group Tenderloin Opera Company, and is an affiliate artist of Sleeping Weazel theatre company. She earned composition degrees from the Universities of Michigan (DMA, MM) and Minnesota (BA summa cum laude) and has taught privately, at Lewis & Clark, Reed College, and the University of Rhode Island.
Tuesdays at 5:30 pm on Zoom
Music Theory Level 2: Tonal Composition (Online)
Introduces composition using modern standard tonal theory. This class focuses on composing with chord structures, including and beyond standard cadential progressions, such as added note chords, quartal/quintal harmonies and clusters. A wider variety of scales (chromatic, pentatonic, whole tone, modes) will also be introduced.
Ryan Francis’s music has received grants and awards including from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Jerome Foundation, and the Augustine Foundation, and his music has been performed across the U.S. and internationally. Francis is a faculty member at Pacific University where he teaches music technology, music theory, and international music studies. Francis holds a B.M. in music composition from the University of Michigan and an M.M. and D.M.A. in music composition from the Juilliard School.
Tuesdays at 5:00 pm on Zoom
Theory 4
Tuesdays at 6:00 pm on Zoom
Music Theory Level 3: Modern Composition (Online)
Explores contemporary harmonic and formal ideas and score analysis. Third year will focus on a small core of 20th century repertoire to be studied in depth and explore post-tonal and experimental composing techniques. Composition exercises to explore non-standard scales, polyrhythms, mixed meters and graphic notation.
Music Theory Level 4: World Traditions of Composition (Online)
Fourth year will put the orchestra in a greater world context and focuses on individual composition projects. Students will learn about different international ensemble traditions, and analyze musical styles associated with them, including Arabic and Indian classical music, Chinese bamboo and silk ensemble, Congolese soukous, and Indonesian gamelan. Students will work on composition exercises that utilize aspects of these musical traditions.
Kirsten Volness is an electro/acoustic composer and pianist whose music is inspired by nature, myth, science, spirituality, and environmental and sociopolitical issues. She has received commissions from New Music USA, the BMI Foundation, ASCAP/SEAMUS, The American Opera Project, Metropolis Ensemble, Hotel Elefant, NOW Ensemble, Transient Canvas, Ann Arbor Symphony, and Experiential Orchestra. She performs with Providence-based Verdant Vibes, a new music ensemble and concert series she co-founded in 2015. Recipient of the MacColl Johnson and RISCA Fellowships in Music Composition, Kirsten was 2017 composer-in-residence at the Music Mansion, creating the First Fridays concert series, and served on the board of directors as Secretary. She collaborates with Meridian Project on multimedia performances exploring astrophysics, writes and performs operas with the homeless advocacy group Tenderloin Opera Company, and is an affiliate artist of Sleeping Weazel theatre company. She earned composition degrees from the Universities of Michigan (DMA, MM) and Minnesota (BA summa cum laude) and has taught privately, at Lewis & Clark, Reed College, and the University of Rhode Island.