Journey into contemporary music theory with an exploration of post-tonal techniques and modern compositional methods. Starting with set theory and pitch class analysis, you'll discover how modern composers organize and manipulate musical material in innovative ways. The course covers serial techniques including twelve-tone rows and total serialism, before examining influential 20th and 21st century movements like minimalism, chance music, and third stream. Whether you're interested in analyzing avant-garde works or incorporating modern techniques into your own compositions, this course provides the theoretical framework for understanding and creating contemporary music.