Ph.D Music Theory & Composition | 6 years of teaching experience

Collin K.

Thanks for stopping by.

I specialize in teaching music theory and composition, particularly to those preparing for to enter college or who would like extra guidance getting through the core music undergraduate curriculum. I also offer composition lessons, portfolio reviews, and general musicianship guidance. For those looking for a deep-dive, my doctoral research is in the intersection between Latin American folk and concert music. I'm always happy to incorporate folk or ethnomusicology elements into my teaching when it's of interest.

I have a BA in saxophone performance rom Case Western Reserve University (saxophone) and the Cleveland Institute of Music (theory and composition) where I was a founding member of the Ingeniare quartet. I earned my masters in composition from the University of Colorado Boulder, and my Doctorate in Composition and Theory from the University of Texas at Austin.

As an instructor of music theory at the University of Texas at Austin, I taught the core music theory sequence, music appreciation for non-majors, and the complete aural skills sequence. While at UT, I received an average course evaluation rating of 4.6/5, placing above both the College of Music and university averages. Additionally, I have over two years tutoring music theory and composition to high school students, undergraduates, and life-long learners, ranging from ages 15-75.

My teaching style is goal oriented, as I prefer to tailor content to each student's unique interests and ideal outcomes. While much of my music theory curriculum is heavily structured and oriented towards entrance exams or the typical college syllabus, the music, focus, tangents we take along should be what interests you. For composition, I like to start with your music and use your week's work to guide us into discussions on orchestration, score analysis, form, etc.

I look forward to getting to know you and your music!