Award-Winning AP Music Theory Tutors
Award-Winning AP Music Theory Tutors
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
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Award-Winning AP Music Theory Tutors
I am currently a rising Junior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and minoring in Science, Technology, and Society. From early on, the intellectual deve...
Education & Certificates
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor in Arts
ACT Scores
I am a firm believer that clear, precise communication between student and tutor makes for a productive and fulfilling learning experience. When I work with students, I strive to listen carefully to f...
Education & Certificates
Boston University
PHD, American Studies
Harvard University
Bachelors
SAT Scores
I am a current sophomore at Vanderbilt University! I am double majoring in Public Policy and Human & Organizational Development with a minor in Spanish. I first started tutoring in high school, when I...
Education & Certificates
Vanderbilt University
Current Undergrad Student, Public Policy Analysis
ACT Scores
I am liberal arts trained and excel at connecting concepts across academic disciplines.
Education & Certificates
Yale University
Master of Arts, Sacred Music
Vassar College
Bachelor in Arts, Music
I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in violin performance at the Juilliard School. I have tutored privately and through Chegg Tutoring, Varsity Tutors, PrepExpert, and iLearn World throughout hi...
Education & Certificates
Yale University
Bachelor in Arts
ACT Scores
I am finishing up my first year at Princeton University, still undecided but leaning towards studying Sociology. I have experience working with pre-K students through adults in a variety of topics ran...
Education & Certificates
Princeton University
Bachelor in Arts, Sociology
ACT Scores
I am a senior in the honors college at the University of Georgia, where I have a full tuition Zell Miller Scholarship, as well as a National Merit Scholarship and a Woodruff Scholarship. I am majoring...
Education & Certificates
University of Georgia
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
SAT Scores
I am a PhD student at the University of Michigan, studying social psychology. Before this, I was at Duke University completing a BS in psychology as well as a MS in global health. My research combines...
Education & Certificates
Duke University
Bachelors, Psychology
Duke University
Current Grad Student, Global Health
SAT Scores
I'm a senior at Yale College where I study Economics. I'm originally from Millburn, NJ.
Education & Certificates
Yale University
Current Undergrad, Economics
SAT Scores
I am passionate about learning and spreading that love of learning to others. Whether it be music, math, history, literature, or science, I have embraced education whole-heartedly my entire life and h...
Education & Certificates
Yale University
Bachelor in Arts, Music Theory and Composition
ACT Scores
Top 20 Music Subjects
Meet Our Expert Tutors
Connect with highly-rated educators ready to help you succeed.
Sarah
Calculus Tutor • +64 Subjects
I am a graduate of Oberlin College and Wesleyan University and I am currently a PhD student at Harvard University. I received my BA in English, my BM in Jazz Studies, and my MA in Ethnomusicology. My PhD research is in West African music. I have many years of experience as a tutor, beginning as a writing tutor for a college writing center, then giving private music lessons, and working as a teaching assistant for undergraduate students in music and African studies courses. I tutor in many different areas, but my passion is in working with students in writing, literature, critical reading, music, and French. In working to prepare students for standardized tests, I can offer a wide variety of strategies for vocabulary, writing, and time management. As an educator, I am particularly interested in the transitions from high school to college, and from college into the professional world. Outside of teaching, I enjoy playing and listening to music, hiking, playing soccer, and spending time outdoors.
Molly
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +36 Subjects
I am currently a graduate student at the Juilliard School in New York where I am pursuing a Masters in orchestral conducting. This degree program has provided me with people skills, working in teams, teaching experience, and great study habits for intense environments. I think this experience, although not related to the standard academic subjects, will carry with me in my tutoring for Varsity Tutors! I continue a personal hobby of studying math.
Thomas
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +96 Subjects
I am also working towards a career in molecular biology, I use math and science every day, and I can explain real-world applications and uses for these subjects that may not seem obvious. By demonstrating the use of math and science in everyday life, I am able to help interact with the student and increase their interest in a subject in which they may experience difficulty. I also believe that as a tutor, it is my responsibility to engage with the student to help them achieve and even surpass their goals. In my spare time, I am heavily involved with music in New York City, being part of multiple choirs and continuing to play piano. I also enjoy exercising and exploring the city whenever I have the chance.
Joseph
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +44 Subjects
I am currently a first-year Master's student at the Yale School of Public Health. I received my Bachelor's in biology at UCLA. As a Californian, I enjoy sunny weather and eating avocados.
Sydney
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +43 Subjects
I am a 2019 graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, where I received a dual degree BFA in Vocal Performance and BA in Creative Writing. I also achieved a GPA of 3.92, 3 semesters on the Dean's List, induction into Phi Beta Kappa as well as Sigma Tau Delta (the English honors society) and Pi Kappa Lambda (the Music honors society), Carnegie Mellon University Honors, and Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences Honors. I graduated Bloomfield Hills High School with a 3.96 GPA in 2015, and was a National Merit Finalist as well as a Presidential Scholarship candidate, thanks to my top test scores.
Sofia
Calculus Tutor • +20 Subjects
I am a rising senior at Yale University, where I am pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music. I work with students on their essays as a writing partner at the Yale College Writing Center. As a songwriter, I am passionate about word choice, structure, and specificity. I bring the joy I find in language to helping students work on their writing and prepare for standardized tests. Outside of class, I enjoy singing, arranging, and teaching a cappella music, in both rehearsal and workshop settings, working with students from elementary school to college-age. It is important to me to create enjoyable and non-judgmental learning environments. I strive to offer a collaborative learning experience, where students can feel heard and maintain agency over their learning process.
Elana
Geometry Tutor • +37 Subjects
I am pursuing a Bachelor of Music in opera performance and a Bachelor of Arts in art history. I've been tutoring music theory and ear training at school for two years, and have taught private voice lessons for a year. I also have experience tutoring writing, French, and Italian.
Lucy
Calculus Tutor • +42 Subjects
I'm a freelance writer, recent Yale grad, former concert pianist and word lover. For the past three years I've worked as a writing specialist at the Yale College Writing Center, where I edited papers on topics from Turkish prison reform to Faulkner to hemoglobin studies. This past summer, I traveled to 14 countries as part of the singing group Whim 'n Rhythm. On that trip, I taught a cappella, singing and choral workshops with students of all ages. It was incredible and hugely affirming -- music is truly a global language!
Rishi
AP Calculus BC Tutor • +22 Subjects
I am also studying music at Yale, where I have taken rigorous courses in music theory, musicianship, and piano performance. I would be able to tutor in those subjects as well. I currently have a 4.0 GPA at Yale. Hobbies: art, movies, books, running, reading, music, writing
Moriah
Pre-Algebra Tutor • +51 Subjects
I am a graduate of Cornell University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Currently, I am working as an Assistant Director at a preparatory school managing and teaching students simultaneously. In the recent years at the school, I have been focusing more on the Reading portions of standardized tests but have at times assisted students in the math and science portions as well usually one-on-one. I strongly believe that every students has their own style of learning and must learn at their own pace. Although, sometimes giving them too much leeway may not always be the best solution, I am there to also provide encouragement and challenge to make the learning process enjoyable and beneficial. Apart from work, I do enjoy reading, jogging, exploring New York City, and playing the violin during my spare time.
Top 20 Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Students typically find voice leading and four-part chorale writing most challenging, as these require simultaneous understanding of harmonic function, counterpoint rules, and practical voice ranges. Harmonic analysis—particularly identifying pivot chords, secondary dominants, and modulation techniques—also trips up many students because it demands both theoretical knowledge and ear training. The listening/aural skills section presents another major hurdle, as students must quickly identify intervals, chord qualities, cadences, and melodic dictation under timed conditions without visual reference.
Ear training accounts for a significant portion of the AP exam (roughly 40% of your score), making it as critical as written theory. A tutor can develop a systematic listening practice routine tailored to your weaknesses—whether that's distinguishing chord inversions, identifying modulations by ear, or transcribing melodic lines accurately. Regular, focused ear training with immediate feedback helps rewire your listening skills much faster than solo practice, and tutors can explain the acoustic and harmonic reasons *why* certain intervals or chords sound the way they do.
Voice leading demands balancing multiple competing rules—avoiding parallel fifths and octaves, maintaining smooth voice movement, respecting range limits, and achieving harmonic clarity—all while keeping the progression musically coherent. Many students memorize the rules but struggle to apply them creatively. Expert tutors teach voice leading by analyzing real musical examples (Bach chorales, classical compositions), showing how composers bend or break rules intentionally, and having you write progressively complex progressions with detailed feedback on each voice's independence and smoothness.
Take full-length practice tests under timed conditions to build pacing skills, then review every single answer—correct and incorrect—to understand *why* each response works. Focus heavily on the listening section first, since ear training improves gradually and requires consistent exposure; written theory skills can develop faster with targeted practice. A tutor can help you analyze patterns in your mistakes (e.g., consistently misidentifying secondary dominants, or rushing through voice-leading questions) and design a study schedule that addresses weak areas before test day rather than spreading effort equally across all topics.
Improvement depends heavily on your starting point and consistency. Students who begin with weak fundamentals (struggling with basic intervals, chord construction, or ear training) often see 2–4 point gains (on the 1–5 scale) over 3–4 months of regular tutoring and practice. Those already scoring 3–4 may gain 1–2 points by refining advanced skills like complex harmonic analysis and improving aural precision under pressure. The key is consistent weekly tutoring combined with daily ear training practice and regular full-length practice tests—tutors can guide this process, but the work between sessions is what drives real improvement.
Look for tutors with strong music theory credentials (formal training, performance background, or music education experience) who can explain concepts clearly at multiple levels—from foundational interval recognition to advanced harmonic analysis. They should have hands-on experience with AP exam format and scoring, access to authentic released exams and sample responses, and the ability to teach both written theory and ear training effectively. Ideally, they'll use music notation software, provide recorded examples for ear training, and give detailed written feedback on your compositions and analyses rather than just marking answers right or wrong.
Start by taking a diagnostic practice test and analyzing results by category: harmonic analysis, voice leading, ear training (intervals, chords, dictation), and melodic writing. A tutor can help you pinpoint whether your struggles are conceptual (not understanding secondary dominants) or execution-based (understanding the concept but making careless errors under time pressure). Once weak areas are identified, create a targeted study plan: spend 2–3 weeks drilling that specific skill with progressively harder examples, take mini-quizzes to track improvement, and then retest on full practice exams to confirm growth before moving to the next challenge.
The exam has three sections: listening (about 40 minutes for 4 parts), harmonic analysis (about 40 minutes), and free-response composition/analysis (about 40 minutes). Most students should spend the first 5–10 minutes on listening carefully, as you hear each excerpt only twice and can't go back. For harmonic analysis, allocate roughly 8–10 minutes per passage depending on complexity, leaving time to review. Free-response requires planning: spend 2–3 minutes outlining your voice-leading or composition strategy before writing, then 25–30 minutes executing. A tutor can help you practice this pacing with timed sections and full exams, identifying where you typically lose time and building speed without sacrificing accuracy.
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