Music Theory Department

Wennerstrom Music Theory Associate Instructor Fellowship

The department is pleased to announce the establishment of an annual fellowship that recognizes outstanding achievement as an AI in music theory.  The name of the award recognizes Dr. Mary Wennerstrom’s decades-long commitment to the teaching and mentoring of future teachers of music theory.  Dean Wennerstrom’s devotion to music theory pedagogy was recognized with the 2006 Gail Boyd de Stwolinski Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Music Theory Teaching and Scholarship, a prize which enabled the establishment of this award for AIs in the department to which she has devoted her entire career.

Formal Guidelines

1. A fellowship of $500 will be given every April by the music theory department of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington.
2. Eligible associate instructors should submit an application by February 15 to the chair of the music theory department.  To be eligible, an AI must be a doctoral student in the last semester of eligibility as an associate instructor in the Jacobs School of Music and must have completed at least three semesters teaching in the music theory department.
3. AIs need not be music theory majors and could have taught in any kinds of courses in the theory department.
4. The application should contain the following items:
   1. Curriculum vitae of the individual.  Include degree status at Indiana University
   2. Number of years of teaching at Indiana University; list of specific music theory courses taught (course number, title, and enrollment) and dates for each course.  Include duties in the course (e.g. AI for two written sections, lecturer in a skills course).  If applicable describe other teaching either at Indiana University or elsewhere.
   3. Two- to three-page statement about the individual’s teaching philosophy and how it is put into practice.  Include any efforts undertaken to improve teaching and any contributions to course development.  If relevant, include samples of syllabi or course materials.
   4. Complete set of student evaluations for at least two semesters: include a summary sheet (tabulation and averaging of item responses, if relevant) as well as student comments.
   5. Recommendation letters from two people (music theory faculty or supervising instructors) who can speak to the individual’s teaching.  Referees should substantiate why the person is qualified for the fellowship by references to specific teaching qualities and activities.
5. Selection will be made by a committee of music theory faculty members, including the chair of the department.