Work has begun on a software system to support net-based teaching of core music theory courses at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). The first milestone in the project has been the development of kernel software capable of performing automatic analysis of music. Because of the continuing importance of four-part writing in theory textbooks and coursework, the software is initially being developed and tested using Each chorales as the primary source material. Automatic chorale analysis includes triad/seventh identification, inversion analysis, nonharmonic tone identification and classification, tonal center identification, cadence classification, functional harmonic analysis, and detection of stylistic anomalies. The ability to analyze different styles of composition will be addressed in future releases of the software. The analysis program described in this article provides the analytical basis for implementing the Music Theory Workbench (MTW), a network-based software environment supporting classroom instruction and individual practice in harmony, counterpoint, and score reading.
