Marvin William

Marvin William is an Associate Professor of Music Theory at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester. He holds a Ph.D. in Music Theory from Eastman (2002) and has taught at Eastman since 2002, previously serving as an instructor at Oberlin College Conservatory. His research focuses on Schenkerian analysis, tonality in 19th-century music (Wagner, Mozart, Mahler), and aural skills pedagogy, particularly for visually impaired students. He oversees Eastman’s undergraduate aural musicianship curriculum and has published widely in journals like Music Theory Online and Journal of Musicology.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Music Theory, Eastman School of Music (2002)
• MA in Music Theory, Eastman School of Music (1994)
• BA in Music, SUNY Binghamton (1986, highest honors)

Research Interests: Schenkerian analysis, operatic tonality, sonata form, aural skills education, and 19th-century French organ improvisation. Notable works include studies on Mahler’s Third Symphony, Wagner’s Die Meistersinger, and pedagogical approaches to teaching blind musicians.

Awards:

• Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Teaching (2014, 1992)
• Outstanding Graduate Teaching Prize (1990)

Academic Service: Chair of Undergraduate Theory Curriculum Committee, affiliate faculty in Musicology, and editorial roles for Theory and Practice and Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy. He has advised numerous doctoral and master’s theses in music theory and performance.

Labs/Teams: Leads Eastman’s aural musicianship program and collaborates on projects involving interdisciplinary music analysis and pedagogy.