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Join us at NYU on June 6–8th for an exciting weekend of hands-on pedagogy workshops, collaborative poster sessions, and lively discussion as we reflect on recent curricular changes and highlight evolving directions in music theory pedagogy—including global music traditions, popular music, repertoire by underrepresented composers, and innovative approaches to curriculum.
Dates: June 6–8, 2025
Location: NYU Steinhardt, Education Building, 35 West 4th Street, New York, NY
Hosts: The NYU Steinhardt Music and Performing Arts Professions Department and the NYU College of Arts and Sciences. Financial support is provided by the NYU Teaching Advancement and Working Group grants.
Cost: The workshop is free to attend, but spaces are limited. Registration is required.
Panelists & Workshop Leaders: Paula Maust, Jocelyn Neal, Sooyeon Lyuh, Trevor de Clercq, Tomoko Deguchi, Adem Birson, Lina Tabak, Sarah Louden, Clifton Boyd, and Kevin Laskey.
About the Workshop
About the Workshop
In recent years, NYU and several other universities have undertaken a significant shift in music theory pedagogy, moving from traditional curricula centered on Western art music to an array of approaches that integrate popular and global musics, along with diverse examples from underrepresented composers. Now, after a couple of years of implementation, we have the opportunity to reflect on this transition—examining both its successes and the challenges it has presented in the classroom.
Supported by the NYU Teaching Advancement and Working Group grants, this workshop will serve as a space for instructors to share experiences, exchange ideas, and reinforce our commitment to a more inclusive approach to music theory. We will highlight the progress made at NYU and peer institutions while fostering a collaborative environment for educators to learn from one another as they develop lesson plans and teaching models that incorporate a broader range of musical cultures and styles.
The workshop will feature speakers who have spearheaded curricular changes in the field and at their institutions, and have been teaching in this new paradigm for the past few years. Through interactive discussions, hands-on workshops, and participant-driven poster sessions, we will work toward concrete takeaways: actionable lesson ideas, practical strategies for ethical engagement with unfamiliar traditions, and methods for supporting students in navigating this expanded theoretical framework.
Beyond pedagogy, this workshop aims to build a network of camaraderie and mutual support for faculty working to implement these curricular changes. By fostering an ongoing dialogue and shared resources, we hope to strengthen and sustain this movement, ensuring that music theory education continues to evolve in ways that reflect the richness and diversity of musical traditions worldwide.
Workshop Organizing Committee
Workshop Organizing Committee
Sarah Louden, Adem Birson, Eva Sze, Matt Pellegrino, Clifton Boyd, and Barbie Matthews.
Questions
Questions
Questions about the event may be directed to Sarah Louden at sarah.louden[at]nyu.edu.
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