Founding and Purpose

The Music Theory Society of New York State was established in 1971 to provide a forum for the exchange of information and ideas pertaining to teaching music theory, and to promote music theory as both a scholarly and a pedagogical discipline. A full list of dates and meetings can be found here. Currently there are about 150 members, and about 50 institutions subscribe to our annual journal, Theory and Practice. The goals of MTSNYS include fostering the development of all aspects of the discipline of music theory, including music theory pedagogy and research. MTSNYS provides an annual forum that includes the presentation of research and panel discussions. It both supports and encourages pre-professionals in their pursuit of a career in music theory with a graduate student workshop and the Patricia Carpenter Emerging Scholar Award for the best paper delivered by a graduate student at the meeting. The award carries a cash prize and promise of publication in Theory and Practice.