Carl E. Schachter (born June 1, 1932[1]) is an American music theorist noted for his expertise in Schenkerian analysis.
He studied piano with Sara Levee, Isabelle Vengerova and Israel Citkowitz, and conducting with Carl Bamberger [de].
Most significantly he studied with Felix Salzer, who was later co-author with Schachter of the influential text Counterpoint in Composition.
Among Schachter's noted students are Murray Perahia, Richard Goode, Frederica von Stade, Rami Bar-Niv, Myung-whun Chung, and Edward Aldwell (who was co-author with Schachter of another influential text, Harmony and Voice Leading).
[3] Schachter has held visiting professorships at Hunter College, Binghamton University, Harvard University, Mannes College of Music and École Normale Superieure de Jeunes Filles (Paris).