About the HarMArchive for Pedagogically Inspired Music Theories

The HarMArchive for Pedagogically Inspired Music Theories aims to promote practical approaches to music theory. 

Music theory, as an academic discipline, and music theory, as a pedagogical discipline, often exist as separate entities. Academic researchers typically specialise in music theory, having acquired the necessary educational training. In contrast, music theory is frequently taught in music universities by individuals whose primary focus may be in other areas, such as composition, choral conducting, or performance. Because these educators often lack extensive scientific training, they may struggle to integrate the latest research findings into their teaching. Meanwhile, academic researchers tend to focus more on the phenomena under study and less on their pedagogical applications. As a result, their findings are often expressed in technical language that may be difficult for musicians without specialised knowledge to understand.

The goal of HarMArchive is to bridge this gap by promoting (1) original approaches to music theory that prioritise pedagogical applicability, or (2) pedagogical applications of existing research that make complex theories more accessible. The founders of HarMArchive believe that one of the key values of any theory that explains music is its usefulness in teaching, as this ensures the theory’s relevance within the broader musical culture—essentially, its vitality.

HarMArchive encompasses approaches from all traditional areas of music theory, including ear training, solfeggio, harmony, counterpoint, and form analysis. It also welcomes innovative and unconventional methodologies.

See here for a more detailed description of the journal.