SENIOR MUSIC THEORY
RESEARCH PROJECT
PURPOSE
- To provide students with the opportunity
to develop basic research procedures necessary for success in
the field of music theory study in graduate school.
- To provide students with the opportunity
to develop analytical skills beyond those offered in the junior
Form and Analysis classes.
- To help students develop the ability
to derive useful information resulting from an in-depth analytical
study (as opposed to a "historical" study) of a musical
composition.
PROCEDURE
- At some point before or at the beginning of their senior
year the student should meet with the Chair of the Music Theory
Department to discuss possible topics for their research paper.
- During this meeting some decision will be made on the following
points:
- A possible composer or composers.
- The project might involve the study of several works in order
to develop some understanding of compositional style .
- The project might involve the study of some aspect of music
(melody, counterpoint, harmony, rhythm, form, etc.) as found
in one composer's output, or how several composers approach a
particular aspect.
- An analytical technique:
- The project could concern itself with information gained
by approaching various compositions or compositional elements
using a particular analytical technique. (Schenker or graphic
analysis, set theory analytical techniques, information theory,
etc.)
- Either at this meeting or somewhat later an Examining Committee
will be formed. This Committee will read the final paper and
meet with the student to discuss any aspect of the paper that
seems appropriate. The Committee will generally suggest changes
to the final form of the paper. This Committee usually consists
of the mentor (see the next point below), the Chair of the Music
Theory Department, and one other full-time faculty member. This
last member has often been a member of the Music History and
Literature faculty but it could be any full-time faculty member
suggested by the student.
- At the meeting with the Department Chair a full-time member
of the music theory faculty will be selected to guide and mentor
the student's research and analytical work.
- Together the student under the mentor's direction will do
the following.
- Develop a Research Proposal
that will need to be approved by the full-time faculty of
the Music Theory Department or the student's Examining Committee.
- Meet with the full-time faculty of the Music Theory Department
to discuss the proposal, a possible time-line for the completion
of the paper, and any major ramifications that might need to
be considered before the project actually begins. (It is possible
that this meeting need only be with the Chair of the Music Theory
Department. Regardless it is expected that the student will be
actively engaged in defending all aspects of their project.)
- Develop a time-line for research, analysis and writing the
final paper. (It is possible that this information will be part
of the Research Proposal.)
- Meet on a regular basis (weekly is recommended) to track
the development of the research and analytical information being
developed. (It should be expected that this phase of the project
will take a great deal of time.)
- Begin drafting the final paper once the majority of information
and data has been collected.
- The paper is to be considered an undergraduate thesis that
will be bound and placed in Jones Music Library.
- Previous Senior Music Theory Research Projects are available
for perusal.
- The paper is to be organized into chapters with a Table of
Contents and a Bibliography. If examples from copyrighted music
are to be included in the paper a letter of approval for such
use from the copyright holder must also be included in the paper.
- In general, the first chapter of the paper is to be an introduction
to the project. It should contain at least:
- A defense of the topic and analytical approach.
- A brief discussion of the of the organization of the paper.
- The middle portion of the paper will be a report of information
and data gained from the analysis of the music. This will be
in written form (generally requiring two or more chapters organized
by topics) augmented by one or more of the following: analytical
graphs, musical examples, any audio/visual materials that seem
appropriate. Each of the chapters in the middle portion may end
with a summarization of the content of the chapter although this
is not a requirement.
- The last chapter will be a summarization of the information
presented in the previous chapters.
- Once the paper is completed and approved by the mentor a
copy of the final draft is to be made for each member of the
Examining Committee, the mentor, and the student. It is not advised
that the Jones Library copy be made at this time since there
will undoubtedly be changes suggested by members of the committee.
- The Examining Committee will convene one or two weeks after
receiving the Research Paper.
- The scheduling of the Examining Committee should be timed
so that the student has one to two weeks to make a final, corrected
copy of the Research Paper which will be bound and placed in
Jones Music Library.
QUESTIONS
Any questions should be directed to the
Chair of the Music Theory Department. At present the Chair is
Dr. Lawrence Hartzell.