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.
Schedule
2024-2025 Schedule TBC
- Date of first class: September/early October 2024, exact date TBD
- Date of last class: Late April 2025
- Where: Zoom or In-Person
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 & 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 reccomended for Overture and Interlude students.
Brittany Newell, Portland Overture Conductor
Eri Noguiera, Hillsboro Overture Strings Conductor
Music Theory Fundamentals (Online)
Students focus on developing a strong foundation in reading modern standard music notation, rhythm, ear training, as well as understanding scales, key signatures, and basic compositional ideas like form, color, and texture.
Music Theory Level 1: Music Literacy and Creativity (Online)
Builds on the foundation of the Music Theory Fundamentals class by reinforcing musical literacy and encourages creative autonomy by building a composition quickly through improvisation and group composition exercises.
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.
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.