In Theory Only was a peer-reviewed

Peer review

Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...

 academic journal

Academic journal

An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...

 specializing in music theory

Music theory

Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...

 and analysis

Musical analysis

Musical analysis is the attempt to answer the question how does this music work?. The method employed to answer this question, and indeed exactly what is meant by the question, differs from analyst to analyst, and according to the purpose of the analysis. According to Ian Bent , analysis is "an...

. It began publication in 1975, under the auspices of graduate students in music theory at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance

University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance

The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance is an undergraduate and graduate institution for the performing arts in the United States. It is part of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. The School of Music, Theatre & Dance was founded in 1880 and is currently headed by...

, making it the first of the graduate-student produced theory journals to debut in the U.S. (followed two years later by Indiana Theory Review

Indiana Theory Review

The Indiana Theory Review is a peer-reviewed academic journal specializing in music theory and analysis. It began publication in 1977, under the auspices of graduate students in music theory at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, making it the second of the graduate-student produced...

). The journal initially employed the subtitle "Newsletter of the Michigan Music Theory Society" (later dropped). The journal is no longer published.