Guest Scholars
The MSU Music Theory Area has a vibrant guest-scholars program. Seven renowned theorists visit us each year to present their research, guest-teach our classes, and mentor our students.
A highlight of my time at MSU was getting to talk about my research and my future plans with a variety of prominent theorists in the field through the guest scholar program. One of these guests eventually became my doctoral supervisor, and many others have remembered me months later when our paths crossed at various conferences, creating a valuable start to my professional network.
Guest Lectures
Graduate students in the music theory area are exposed to cutting-edge research through guest lectures. Visiting scholars present their most current thinking on a variety of topics, bringing the plurality of the music-theoretic discipline right here to East Lansing.
Guest Teaching
Our students interact directly with the guests as master pedagogues. Visiting scholars are selected so that their expertise aligns with a seminar or workshop in our graduate curriculum in music theory. Each of them guest-teaches this course, and many of them teach a graduate course for performers and/or a course in our undergraduate core sequence as well.
Professional Mentoring
We reserve time in each guest scholar's itinerary for individual meetings with any interested students, as well as a group lunch with graduate students in music theory. These conversations offer opportunities for candid mentoring about students' research projects, professional development, teaching, and applications for jobs and doctoral programs.
Distinguished Residency in Music Theory Pedagogy
Each year, one residency is dedicated specifically to music theory pedagogy with the goal of impacting our curriculum from top to bottom. The visitor, a renowned scholar of theory pedagogy, presents a keynote-style lecture intended to provoke curricular discussions at MSU. In addition to teaching our theory pedagogy seminar, the guest also observes several of our graduate assistants in their own classrooms and meets with them to mentor them as developing teachers.
2018-2019: Anna Gawboy (Ohio State University)
2017-2018: Elizabeth West Marvin (Eastman School of Music)
Fall 2021 Guest Scholars
Archive of Guest Scholars
Spring 2021
Fall 2020
Spring 2020
Fall 2019
Spring 2019
Fall 2018
Spring 2018
Fall 2017
Spring 2017
