This is a class designed for the average person who is ready to take their music career (or music interest) and develop it into something more. Whether you are an active musician or an aspiring musician, this class is perfect for you.

When most people think of a composer, they imagine someone sitting in a dusty attic with a grand piano, big white wig, and the year is 1800. That might have been accurate back then, but the modern composer is just like you and me. In fact, I am one. 

In this course I'll show you techniques I use for writing music in a variety of styles and situations. I've worked with major American orchestras, film studios, and video game designers, so I've got more than a little experience. I'm also a PhD in music composition and a university professor (of music composition). 

Recently I was named as a semi-finalist for the Grammy Foundation's Music Educator of the Year award because of my in-person university classes. Now I'm taking those classes to Udemy in an online format in order to reach more students, and give them the joy of Music Theory.

I'm planning on making several "sections" of this class, and this is only part 1. As the class grows, we will go deeper and deeper into my techniques. This class is focused on the beginning: Generating ideas and getting started. 

In this class, we will cover: 

• My background, and listen to some of my music

• The different between music theory and music composition (highly opinionated!)

• Tools of the trade: Software

• Tools of the trade: Pencils and fine paper

• How do you start?

• The process

• Program music and metaphors

• Character sketches

• Writing through canon

• Form

• Binary, Ternary, and Rondo forms

• Starting with a plan

• Graphic form representations

• Triads, and basic rules of harmony

• Chord progressions

• Inversions

• Song analysis

• Melody writing

• Any much, much, more! 
  
  

The course is a roadmap to launching your career as a composer!

All the tools you need to successfully learn Music Composition are included in this course and the entire course is based on real-life experiences - not just academic theory.