Practical Tools in Music Theory is intended for any student, from any background, who wants to enhance how they hear music. We will focus on developing a core set of tools for hearing musical organization in popular music and art music styles, as guided by foundational principles in music perception and cognition. We will apply these skills in various practical hands-on settings to deepen our understanding of music’s patterning in various cultural contexts. By the end of the course, students will emerge with a shared foundation of knowledge for use in everyday musical situations — to facilitate conversations, spark collaborations, and enhance performances with music majors and non-music majors alike.