About

“In three semesters of college level music theory at LSU I did not come across a single concept that we had not covered with Dr. Robin. While some students studied intensely and struggled just to pass theory one, I was able to coast through all three classes with A’s thanks to the preparation I was given in high school. Aural skills and piano technique (1-4) have to be taken the first 3-4 semesters as well. These were also a breeze thanks to high school theory. Aural skills especially was frustrating for almost every other student, but it was exactly what I did in Dr. Robin’s class. This eliminated a ton of stress for me that my peers still had to deal with.

In all, theory, piano, and aural skills make up for 23-26 hours of coursework at LSU. Instead of having to study hard for each of these, they were more like “freebies.” Even students from other schools who had some sort of theory training before college didn’t seem to understand quite a few concepts. Theory with Dr. Robin in high school truly will present anyone with an opportunity to be miles and miles ahead of their peers when they enter music school as a student and as a musician."

I was extremely fortunate to have studied Music Theory in high school at the A.P. level. With the help of my instructors, I built a strong foundation in Music Theory before I’d even registered for college courses. While many of my peers entered college somewhat insecure in basic music theory, even the spelling of major and minor scales, I had already done many analyses and had been exposed to material presented at the end of college level Music Theory IV. I earned the reputation of being a theory wiz with minimal effort, as I already knew the material. At the time I entered the Performing Arts Academy at my high school, music theory did not come naturally to me. Luckily, I struggled through concepts in music theory during high school in a setting where I received individualized instruction, which allowed me to firmly grasp the concepts needed to excel in my undergraduate degree and become a resource for my peers. Perhaps the most valuable gift Music Theory A.P. has given me is the confidence to go on to pursue a career in music with the knowledge and skills for success.