The online platform for music theory, rhythm, ear training
Boost your students’ learning with engaging video lessons, individualized practice, and immediate feedback.
uTheory is trusted by
Oberlin College & Conservatory
Miami Dade Public Schools
Baylor University
Columbia University
Why uTheory?
- Empower your students to become independent musicians who read fluently
- Gain rehearsal time without sacrificing theory instruction
- Teach theory more efficiently with self-directed learning and individualized practice
- Set students up for success in advanced music studies
Student Experience
uTheory is the most engaging way for students to learn music theory.
Teacher Experience
Create and configure classes
Invite students to join your classes, and set preferences from solfege settings to individual accommodations.
Assign lessons and practice
Keep students on track with lesson due dates, assign specific lessons and exercises to practice, and hide future content from the student view.
Track student progress
View an entire class's progress at a glance, or drill down to detailed assessment data for individual students.
Build custom tests and quizzes
Choose the topics and types of questions, set your test parameters. uTheory will do the hard work of writing and grading the test.
Testing & Assessment
Design custom tests that fit your teaching needs.
- Automatic question generation and grading
- Topics aligned to your curriculum
- Online placement tests
- Configurable content, passing requirements and more
uTheory tests teach, too.
- Detailed feedback following each test
- Direct access to relevant practice
- Worry-free retakes
Advanced question generation features provide a new test each time a student takes it, with minimal internal repetition. There are literally millions of permutations possible, so you can allow retakes without the risk of students memorizing the exam.
Philosophy
Sound Pedagogy
Lessons in uTheory are based on decades of experience teaching as well as up-to-date knowledge of music theory pedagogy. uTheory’s authors teach at the Oberlin Conservatory, James Madison University, and Interlochen Arts Camp. Their work has been published in the Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy.
Active Learning
Students learn best when they're engaged, and uTheory provides hundreds of interactive exercises to give them that experience.
Aural Connection
Students hear music for every question they answer, helping them quickly connect theoretical concepts to sound.
Mastery Learning
Students learn at different paces, and uTheory adapts to that. uTheory tracks progress towards mastery of skills, not just whether the questions on a predetermined assignment were right or wrong, and uses this to determine whether more practice is needed, and what that practice should be.
Our Team
Gregory Ristow
Founder and lead developer, Greg brings twenty years' experience teaching music theory and ear training. He teaches at Oberlin and Interlochen.
David Newman
Author and developer, David's pedagogical videos have millions of views on YouTube. He teaches at James Madison University.
Leah Sheldon
As Head of Teacher Engagement, Leah brings her experience teaching music in public schools to help teachers use uTheory.
What do my students need to use uTheory?
- Computer
- Chromebook
- Phone or Tablet
uTheory runs in a web browser. No software or app installation required.
Pricing
| Group License | Individual Subscriptions | Testing-Only License | Free |
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| All of uTheory at no cost to students | All of uTheory at no cost to schools | Ideal for placement testing | Limited features for occasional use |
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*Currently limited to 10 pages of a lesson or practice exercise
**Discounted access packs for sale at bookstores are available upon request
Check out these frequently asked questions or download our license purchasing guide to learn more.
uTheory is free for teachers.
A group license for education gives students in your classes unlimited access to uTheory. The costs for an institution start at 75% off the individual subscription rate. Group licenses include custom testing features.
Licenses last one year, and can begin on any day of your choosing.
To learn more about using group licenses, check out these frequently asked questions or download our license purchasing guide.
| Ends: | 4/8/25 |
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Questions about using uTheory? We're here to help.
Contact us by email at hello@utheory.com or by phone (866) 838 0556.
uTheory does it all: planning, teaching, assessing and grading so your students can learn, practice and master music theory
uTheory is a registered trademark of uTheory, LLP