My work in music theory and curriculum design stems from an interest in how musical understanding develops through performance, listening, and analysis.
This perspective informs both my academic research in rhythm, meter, and musical meaning, and my work at Oclef designing curriculum, assessment systems, and software for music education.
Academic Research:
My research focuses on rhythm, meter, and musical meaning, with particular attention to nineteenth-century repertoire and the relationship between dance and music.
Selected Papers and Publications:
Danses Fantastiques:
Metrical Dissonance in the Ballet Music of P. I. Tchaikovsky
Journal of Music Theory 65:1 (2021)
“‘Voluptuously Graceful’ or ‘Fatally Deranged’?:
The Tarantella as 19th-century Topic”
Music Theory Southeast, Elon, NC (2019)
“In the French Style:
Metric Type and Embodied Meaning in Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty”
Society for Music Theory, Annual Meeting, St. Louis, MO (2015)
Research Areas:
- Rhythm and meter
- Musical meaning and expressive structure
- Dance and embodiment in nineteenth-century music
- Musical form, narrative, and interpretation
Curriculum & Educational Design:
My work at Oclef involves the design of curriculum, assessments, and software for music education. These systems are used in structured learning environments for developing musicians.
Orpheus.org (2026–)
ASSESSMENT SYSTEM
A comparative rating system for piano skills that evaluates learning efficiency, theory and analysis, technical fluency, and sight-reading ability.
Assessment is based not only on difficulty of repertoire, but on how effectively a pianist learns musical material.
Foundations (2024–25)
CURRICULUM & SOFTWARE
A series of automatically-graded exercises introducing fundamental piano skills, including note reading, hand position, basic theory, and ear training.
Designed as a structured supplement for teachers working with beginning students.
Oclef Theory (2021–23)
CURRICULUM & SOFTWARE
Structured assessment system for theory fundamentals and examination preparation.
Musicality (2020–22)
HYBRID CURRICULUM
Online curriculum focusing on basic melody/bass schemas, along with expressive elements such as dynamics, articulation, tempo, and phrasing.
Material was delivered through guided instruction and applied repertoire.
Matthew Bell 