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Department of Composition and Music Theory

In-depth musical expertise in one of the best performing arts universities in the world.

We provide education in composition, music theory and music history to the major students of our department and students from other departments. We nurture the traditions of composition and music theory education and research both internationally and in Finland, carry out research and development work, and operate extensively in the field of art and research. Our alumni are leading artists and researchers: they have diverse careers as composers, experts in positions that require in-depth knowledge of music, teachers, journalists, researchers, and musicians both in Finland and around the world.

The department’s adjunct professors consist of composers Jukka Tiensuu and Eero Hämeenniemi, Emeritus Professor Eero Tarasti in the field of musicology, Doctor Tiina Koivisto in the field of music theory, and Doctor Timo Virtanen in the field of music philology.

Composition, music theory and music history are emerging fields, and we are constantly working to promote education and research in the fields. We organise continuing education in cooperation with the DocMus and MuTri doctoral schools of the Sibelius Academy, and we also engage in cooperation in teaching, research and artistic work between other departments, the History Forum, other research centres as well as the Theatre Academy and the Academy of Fine Arts, the other two academies of the University of the Arts Helsinki.

Location

Contact information

  • Minna Holkkola

    Lecturer, music theory, Composition and music theory, Sibelius Academy
    +358505296492
    minna.holkkola@uniarts.fi

Studying composition and music theory

The core of our training consists of stylistic composition, music analysis, aural skills, music history, instrumentation, and instrument studies. Composers’ main subject studies include both different traditions of notated music and the latest music and electroacoustic music. The content and forms of education reflect the needs of the changing composer image and the strengthening of educational cooperation between the academies of the University of the Arts Helsinki. Music theorists, on the other hand, focus on music research and studies designed to deepen their understanding of their own research topic.

Check out our online study materials

We support teaching by publishing online learning materials in composition, music theory and music history.

Artistic work and events

Research and doctoral education of composition and music theory

Those who have completed their master’s degree in the department of Composition and Music Theory can continue their studies at the doctoral schools of the University of the Arts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy. The professors and other researchers and composers of the department collaborate in teaching and research with both of Sibelius Academy’s doctoral schools (DocMus and MuTri) as well as research centres, especially the History Forum.

Full-time teachers and arts teachers

Find all our department’s teachers