Biography of Bruce Benward

Dr. Bruce Benward, an influential pedagogue and eminent scholar, served as professor of music theory for 30 years at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Music. Prior to that, he spent two decades as a professor of music and chair of the music department at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Benward also served as Florida State University’s distinguished visiting professor of music theory in 1992. He earned his master’s degree in music from Indiana University in 1943 and his Ph.D. in music from the Eastman School of Music in 1950.

During his career, Benward has published numerous books on music theory, ear training and sight singing and has presented numerous workshops across the country. Moreover, he is credited for being on the forefront of computer-assisted music instruction, having authored or co-authored several pieces of computer software.

Among his many honors, Benward received in 1985 the Trochos research grant from the IBM corporation for the development of instructional programs for micro-computers. He was awarded the Joe Wyatt Challenge Award in 1991 and was listed among 100 other technological leaders, and he was voted among the Top 100 Educators at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

As an examiner for the National Association of Schools of Music, Benward has visited more than 50 accredited universities in the United States. He served on the editorial boards for Computers in Music Research, College Music Symposium, Journal of Music Theory Pedagogy and Schirmer Books. Benward also served as president of the National Association of Music Schools of State Universities.