This course will give students the tools to explore a broad range of musical styles. It will culminate in a self-directed final project in which students will develop their own theoretical model to analyze a musical genre, artist, or body of work of their choice. Students will be introduced to a variety of contemporary concepts in music theory, including but not limited to timbre and rhythm studies and interdisciplinary approaches. Project work will reinforce course concepts, including analyses and model compositions, composing within constraints, and improvisation, with the intention of supporting students' individual areas of interest