MA in Music Theory

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Admission Requirements

  • A Bachelor of Music with specialization in Music Theory, a Bachelor of Arts with Honours Music, or equivalent
  • Minimum 70% average in last 2 years of full-time studies

Application Materials

  • A recent assignment or essay that demonstrates skills in analysis
  • A recent essay that demonstrates abilities in research and writing (3,000-5,000 words)
  • A  statement of interest 
  • Two confidential letters of reference
  • Transcripts from all institutions attended, uploaded in PDF
  • Proof of English language proficiency (if applicable)

Application Deadline: December 1

The Master of Arts (MA) in Music Theory is a 12-month degree program unique in Canada that serves students with a diverse range of interests in an environment that combines the strengths of both course-based and project-based learning delivered by world-class music professors.

Students benefit from a diversity of course offerings building toward a customized MA Research Project in collaboration with leading faculty members.

Jack Etchegary photo"A key feature of the MA program at Western is definitely the flexibility and the freedom that students have to work on whatever they like, and whatever their interests are across all the courses offered." 

Jack Etchegary, MA Music Theory (2024)

Learn more about Jack Etchegary and our MA program

Program Requirements

Project-based  

Number of courses

 5 half courses (2.5 credits)

Mandatory and recommended courses

9725 Introduction to Music Research (0.5 credit)

4 additional half courses (2.0 credits), at least 3 of which are in theory and chosen in consultation with Department Chair. 

(check timetable for scheduling details)

Milestones

Academic Integrity Module

To support success in graduate studies, all incoming graduate students are required to complete the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS) Academic Integrity Module in order to progress beyond the first term of their degree. Eligible students can access the module in the Graduate Student Web Services Portal.

Students who do not complete the module will not be able to progress beyond the first term of their degree.

This module is designed to provide you with the necessary knowledge and resources to abide by academic principles during your graduate career and to help combat scholastic offenses. After reviewing the material and finishing the readings, students are required to complete both a multiple-choice assessment and a series of short case studies to evaluate their knowledge of academic integrity. Students have unlimited opportunities to pass the module. 

MA Research Project

pdf iconGuidelines for Research Project

Important Deadlines:

April 1: 500-word proposal and bibliography for MA research project is submitted to Project Director for feedback and approval. Approved proposal is sent to department Chair and Graduate Program Assistant.

May 1: student submits outline of research project to Project Director and meets with Project Director to discuss.

June 15: student submits full draft of research project to Project Director for feedback.

Aug. 1 or sooner: student submits final version of research project to Project Director.

Aug. 15: Project Director and second faculty member (appointed by Chair) each assign final grade and submit grades and the final version of research project  to Associate Dean for final approval.

Expected duration of program

 3 terms (12 months)

 

Timeline for 1-Year MA in Music Theory 

Fall Term
(Sept-Dec)		 Winter Term
(Jan-April)		 Summer Term
(May-August)

3 courses: Introduction to Music Research, and 2 others

2 courses

no courses

Preliminary planning for MA Research Project

Discuss topic for project with assigned project director

Submit and discuss outline for MA Research Project

Submit proposal for MA Research Project to project director for feedback and approval

Submit and discuss draft of project

Submit final version of project

Recent Courses Offered in Music Theory and Musicology

2024-2025 

9520 Transformational Theory; instructor: Dr. Catherine Nolan

9526 Schenkerian Analysis: Small Forms; instructor: Dr. Peter Franck

9530 Contexts of Music Analysis; instructor: Dr. Catherine Nolan

9542 Special Topics: Posthuman Musical Futures; instructor: Dr. Kevin Mooney

9550 Opera: Don Giovanni: Texts and Commentary; instructor: Dr. Ed Goehring

9725 Introduction to Music Research; instructor: Dr. Ed Goehring

9739 Cognitive Musicology; instructor: Dr. Jonathan De Souza

9740 Research Creation: Studies in Songwriting; instructor: Dr. Robert Toft

 

2023-2024 

9523 Special Topics: Listening in/to the Anthropocene; instructor: Dr. Kevin Mooney

9523 Special Topics: Topics in Late 20th Century Jazz; instructor: Dr. Peter Franck

9530 Contexts of Music Analysis; instructor: Dr. Catherine Nolan

9535 Research Creation: Covers; instructor: Dr. Robert Toft

9542 Special Topics in Musicology: Music and the Cold War; instructor: Dr. Emily Ansari

9550 Special Topics: The Magic Flute: Texts and Commentary; instructor: Dr. Ed Goehring

9725 Introduction to Music Research; instructor: Dr. Catherine Nolan

9749 Topics in Popular Music; instructor: Prof. Hannah Burge Luviano

 

2022-2023 

9535 Special Topics: Composers and Their Autographs 1000-2000; instructor: Dr. James Grier.

9535 Special Topics: Research Creation; instructor: Dr. Robert Toft.

9542 Special Topics: Music and the Environment; instructor: Dr. Kevin Mooney.

9545 Pedagogy of Music Theory; instructor: Dr. Katie Walshaw.

9547 Popular Music Analysis and Production: Making Popular Music; instructor: Dr. Jay Hodgson.

9725 Introduction to Music Research; Dr. Ed Goehring.

9735 Special Topics in Musicology: Music and Trauma; instructor: Dr. Emily Ansari.

9739 Cognitive Musicology; instructor: Dr. Jonathan De Souza.

Recently Completed MA Research Projects

Louise Concepcion. (2024). Much, Much, Much: MuchMusic and Canadian Youth. Supervised by Dr. Norma Coates.

Leah Dau. (2024). Integrated Music in Visual Media: How Medium Defines Composition. Supervised by Dr. Omar Daniel.

Jack Etchegary. (2024). Exploring Music Categorization, Consumption and Creation Through Genre in the Age of AI. Supervised by Dr. Kevin Mooney.

Rebecca Quinn. (2024). Clarity Through Light: The Development of Wilhelm Stenhammar’s Nationalism Studied Through Songs for Voice and Piano. Supervised by Dr. Emily Ansari.

Nahyeon Shin. (2024). Eco-Friendly Facades: The Contradiction of Environmental Attitudes From Classical Music to the K-Pop. Supervised by Dr. Catherine Nolan.

Huiting (Sara) Zhang. (2024). Western Elements and Chineseness in Mandarin Popular Music. Supervised by Dr. Jonathan De Souza.

Daniele Castellon. (2023). The Ultimate Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel: Original vs Localized Music. Supervised by Dr. Kevin Mooney.

Robin Dangol. (2023). Sonic Analysis of Singing Bowls. Supervised by Dr. Jonathan De Souza. 

Duncan McCallum. (2023). Mastering Audio Mastering: Experiential Learning in Music Production. Supervised by Dr. Jay Hodgson. 

Benjamin Schmalz. (2023). How “Medieval” is the Music of Medieval-Themed Popular Media? An Analysis of Musical Medievalism through Applications of Transformational Theory. Supervised by Dr. Catherine Nolan.

Chloe Carpenter. (2022). Music & Media: A Guide to Marketing and Public Relations as a Musician. Supervised by Dr. Jay Hodgson.

Nathan Nykor. (2022). Form and Harmony in Three Solo Piano Jazz Ballads by Barry Harris. Supervised by Dr. Peter Franck. 

Gillian Radcliffe. (2022). A Study of Two Movements from Ursula Mamlok’s Der Andreas Garten (1987). Supervised by Dr. Catherine Nolan.

Cohen Chaulk. (2021). Triple Hypermeter: A Corpus Re-examined. Supervised by Dr. Jonathan De Souza.  

Contact Info

Department Chair
Peter Franck
TC 318
519-661-2111 x84330
pfranck@uwo.ca

Graduate Program Assistant
Audrey Yardley-Jones
TC 216
519-661-2111 x85354
ayardley@uwo.ca