African Music Theory & Composition

African music theory encompasses the diverse systems and principles used to understand and create music across the continent and diaspora. This field explores African art music that has been composed and notated using Western notation systems, as well as oral transmission and communal participation. Orchestration and notation conventions are explored, along with harmonic and melodic structures, form and rhythmic complexity. This theoretical approach provides a rich, multifaceted perspective on musical organization and expression that is deeply rooted in the cultural and historical contexts of African societies.

Teaching music theory and orchestration from an African perspective involves integrating traditional African musical concepts with Western notational systems, often adapting and expanding them to reflect African rhythmic and melodic structures. Students might learn to map complex rhythmic and melodic patterns onto Western staff notation while also exploring how these patterns function within traditional African music contexts. This method fosters a deeper understanding of both musical systems and encourages students to appreciate and bridge diverse musical traditions, enriching their overall musical education.