Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Aural Skills

Oberlin College Development; Oberlin (OH); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits

Job summary

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music at Oberlin College invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Music Theory and Aural Skills, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year.

The division seeks candidates who will teach across core theory and aural skills while contributing to a diverse and intellectually vibrant conservatory community. Review of applications will begin October 16, 2026.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in music theory by May 2027 (or equivalent professional experience).
• One or more years of full-time teaching experience preferred.
• Background in performance or composition welcome.

Responsibilities

• Teach six full courses per year, normally with no more than two preps per semester.
• Advise a diverse population of students and participate in divisional and conservatory meetings.
• Administer departmental placement examinations and contribute to curricular innovations.
• Engage in curricular governance and service within the department.

Job description

Assistant Professor of Music Theory and Aural Skills

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

Job Summary

The Conservatory of Music at Oberlin College invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the level of Assistant Professor in Music Theory and Aural Skills, beginning with the 2027-2028 academic year. The Division of Music Theory is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute through their teaching, research, and/or service to the diversity and excellence of our academic and musical community. We encourage applications from candidates who will bring a fresh perspective to our existing courses and whose expertise encompasses a broad range of repertoires and methodologies. We also encourage applications from previous applicants.

About

The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, founded in 1865, is the nation’s oldest continuously operating conservatory, and the only major music school in the country linked with a preeminent liberal arts college. Students are enrolled in undergraduate programs leading to the Bachelor of Music in performance, jazz studies, composition, technology in music and related arts, recording arts and production, music theater, and musicology. Oberlin also offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Music in conducting, the Master of Music in performance on historical instruments, the Master of Fine Arts in piano technology, and artist diplomas.

Oberlin’s Music Theory Division consists of eleven tenured and tenure-track faculty members with a shared commitment to innovative pedagogy and research excellence. We serve over 600 conservatory and college students per semester in core theory, core aural skills, upper division seminars, and courses directed to majors and non‑majors from the college of arts and sciences. Our students are creative, musical, and engaged. We have recently reconceived our theory curriculum, which now consists of a first‑year core embracing topics including rhythm and meter, melody and counterpoint, harmony, form, and texture and timbre, and which creates space for engagement with music from a variety of perspectives. The second‑year curriculum consists of elective courses determined by faculty interest; upcoming offerings include "Analyzing American Musicals," "Cycles," "East Asia in Western Art Music," "Large Forms," "Music in Time," "Polyphonies," "Questioning Genius," "Scales, Sets, Series, and Spectra," "Theory and Analysis of Post-2000 Pop Music," and "Writing in Tonal Style." The division’s pedagogical ethos is collaborative; new hires will be given materials and guidance to help them prepare for the first‑year core but will also have freedom to adapt the course content to suit their own pedagogical and intellectual interests.

Candidates are encouraged to think creatively about potential second‑year elective courses they would like to offer and describe them in their cover letter. Oberlin provides resources of both time and money in support of faculty research. Faculty are eligible to apply for grants to fund research expenses and are entitled to a pre‑tenure sabbatical leave after three years of service.

Responsibilities

Faculty members teach six full courses per year, normally with no more than two preps per semester. Teaching responsibilities include music theory courses in a recently redesigned two‑year core curriculum, aural skills, upper‑division seminars assigned according to faculty interests, and courses targeting music majors and non‑majors from the college of arts and sciences. Class sizes typically range from twelve to twenty students. Candidates whose courses could contribute to one of Oberlin’s integrative concentrations and/or interdisciplinary minors (African American music; arts administration and leadership; music and cognition; pedagogy, advocacy, and community engagement; and public humanities) are encouraged to highlight relevant expertise in their cover letter.

Faculty members are also expected to advise a diverse population of students, participate fully in divisional and conservatory meetings, administer departmental placement examinations, contribute to curricular innovations, and serve on curricular and faculty governance committees.

Qualifications

Candidates must demonstrate potential for successful undergraduate teaching, evidence of ongoing scholarly productivity in the field of music theory, keyboard competence, and accomplished musicianship. One or more years of full‑time teaching experience (beyond the graduate assistant level) is preferred, as is a background in performance or composition. The Ph.D. degree in music theory by May 2027 (or the equivalent professional experience) is required.

Oberlin College offers a competitive compensation package with excellent benefits.

Review of applications will begin on October 16, 2026.

Office of Human Resources

Oberlin College
173 West Lorain Street
Oberlin OH 44074

http://new.oberlin.edu/office/human-resources/

Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Hours: M-F 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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