The Fundamentals of Musical Composition
This course will teach you to compose music, fill in your theory gaps, and show you a simple but powerful process for composing without having to rely on inspiration.
From Basic Music Theory to Advanced Elements of Composition Not Taught Anywhere Else
• Refresh your music theory and fill in the gaps with all the right information in one spot.
• Learn to write down the music you hear in your head and turn those ideas into finished compositions.
• In-depth video lessons and a start-to-finish workbook to apply what you learn away from the computer.
• Avoid writer’s block by learning how to add your unique creative voice to your music, regardless of your genre or style.
• Once you purchase, you own it for life.
• It's self-paced, and designed for in-depth study.
• New! Weekly zoom meeting office hours to get direct feedback on your progress.
• New! Get the course as a private podcast feed to absorb on the go.
What Makes a Decent Melody?
Help me make a better course by answering a few questions...
Fundamental Concepts
How We Got To Tonality
The Major-Minor System
Composing a Basic Melody
Download the Course Workbook
Worksheets: Simple Chord Tone Melody
Guided Exercise 1-2-1: Simple Chord Tone Melody 1
Guided Exercise 1-2-2: Simple Chord Tone Melody 2
Q&A on Creating Basic Melodies
Limitations and Creativity
Connecting the Chord Tones
Worksheets: Connecting Chord Tones
Exercise 1-3-1: Adding Non-Chord Tones 1
Exercise 1-3-2: Adding Non-Chord Tones 2
Q&A on Connecting the Chord Tones
Intervals
Making Intervals Intuitive
Chromatic Intervals
Exercise 2-2-1: Interval Workout
Triads and Inversions
Making Triads Intuitive
Seventh Chords
Making Seventh Chords Intuitive
Basic Chord Progression No. 1
Q&A on the Essentials of Harmony
Understanding C Major
C Major Worksheet v4
Learning Chord Progressions for Composers
Intro to Harmonic Functions
Tonic Function
Dominant Function
Pre-Dominant Function
Intro to Harmonic Progressions
Prolongation Progressions
Cadential Progressions
Sequential Progressions
Q&A on Functional Harmony
Applying Harmonic Theory to Your Vocabulary
Download: Beginning, Middle, and Ending Progressions Worksheet
Combining Beginnings, Middles, and Endings
Connecting Progressions with Emotions
Improvising with Progressions
Improvising a Beginning Idea
Introduction: An Overview of Classical Form
Discuss Understanding Form
The Sentence and the Basic Idea
Ex. 3-2-1: Composing the Basic Idea
Ex. 3-3-1: Repetition
The Continuation Phrase
AOC Podcast Interview with William Caplin, author of Classical Form
Ex. 3-4-1: The Continuation Phrase
Repetition of the Basic Idea
Q&A on Composing a Sentence
Sketching a Basic Idea, Part 1
Sketching a Basic Idea, Part 2
Generating Basic Ideas (Live Masterclass 2018)
Analyzing and Developing Your Basic Idea (Live Masterclass 2018)
Functional Harmony Continued
Exercise: Creating a Functional Chord Progression
Minor Harmony
Ex. 4-2-1: Minor Functional Harmony
Making Minor Harmony Intuitive (Live Masterclass 2018)
Simple Modulation
Ex. 4-3-1: Simple Modulation
Making Modulations Intuitive (Live Masterclass 2018)
Q&A on Creating Chord Progressions
Introduction to Melodic Techniques
Melodic Traps
The Ingredients of a Melody and Scale Lines
Chord Line Melodies
Rhythm
Q&A on Melodic Composition
Intro to Voice Leading
Range
Doubling
Completeness
Spacing
Melodic Motion
How to Harmonize a Melody
Q&A on Voice Leading
The Period
Q&A on The Period
Intro to Embellishment
Start with a Simple Melody
Identify Your Essential Tones
Add Neighbor Tones
Add Suspensions and Anticipations
Add Turns and Use Rubato
Transpose and Add Appoggiaturas
Q&A on Melodic Embellishment
Intro to Small Ternary Form
Exposition
Contrasting Middle
Recapitulation
Creating Contrast
Compose Your Contrasting Middle and Recapitulation
Q&A on Small Ternary Form
Accompaniment 1: Principles of Clarity
Accompaniment 2: Patterns for Composing
Q&A on Accompaniment
Bagatelle No. 1 - Lesson
Bagatelle No. 1 - PDF
Bagatelle No. 1 - Audio
Bagatelle No. 2 - Lesson
Bagatelle No. 2 - PDF
Bagatelle No. 2 - Audio
Q&A on the Capstone Projects
Thanks for the great course Jon! You clearly put a lot of effort into its design and delivery. I found it dived deep enough into the subject to provide a solid foundation, yet the pace and format kept it interesting and enjoyable. Would be great to see more from you in the future.
Thanks for the great course Jon! You clearly put a lot of effort into its design and delivery. I found it dived deep enough into the subject to provide a solid foundation, yet the pace and format kept it interesting and enjoyable. Would be great to see more from you in the future.
Read LessSo many courses that claim to cover musical composition are really just an introduction to some basic theory, without a thorough explanation to how pieces are constructed as wholes. The AOC course is different - it really covers the way that larger pieces are put together and given coherence, while not neglecting the elements (like melody and harmony) that make those pieces up. Highly recommended!
So many courses that claim to cover musical composition are really just an introduction to some basic theory, without a thorough explanation to how pieces are constructed as wholes. The AOC course is different - it really covers the way that larger pieces are put together and given coherence, while not neglecting the elements (like melody and harmony) that make those pieces up. Highly recommended!
Read LessI very much enjoyed this course, and I will definitely be taking more of Jon's composing courses in the future. He explains difficult concepts well and makes them easier to understand. I especially liked the applied examples from Beethoven, Mozart, and Mahler. Also, the workbook exercises help solidify the concepts without becoming tedious or boring. Overall, it was a fantastic course, and I learned a great deal about melody, harmony, and form.
I very much enjoyed this course, and I will definitely be taking more of Jon's composing courses in the future. He explains difficult concepts well and makes them easier to understand. I especially liked the applied examples from Beethoven, Mozart, and Mahler. Also, the workbook exercises help solidify the concepts without becoming tedious or boring. Overall, it was a fantastic course, and I learned a great deal about melody, harmony, and form.
Read LessNo. You must be able to read music notation in treble and bass clef. Everything else is explained in the course.
Yes. When you learn the technique, we focus on classical style, but almost every concept taught in the course can be, with a little imagination, used in just about any genre.
Yes. At least it should be... if something isn't working let me know.
Yes. The certification is hosted through Accredible and can be shared.
PayPal, and Stripe. I accept all major credit and debit cards.
Precise exposition of 'musical expectations' and how to apply them. The Fundamentals of Musical Composition has opened a world of understanding and possibility for me. Thank you Jon.
Precise exposition of 'musical expectations' and how to apply them. The Fundamentals of Musical Composition has opened a world of understanding and possibility for me. Thank you Jon.
Read LessThe whole course is very informative. I personally enjoyed it and learned something new.
The whole course is very informative. I personally enjoyed it and learned something new.
Read LessThere are very few people that present theory in this way online. Most people probably think theory is just knowing scales and circle of fifths and a lot of places online present it like that. This course presents the theory of what the musical system is and how to use it and the functions it has. People disregard theory because they think it is a bunch of rules and it will limit their creativity while this couldn't be further from the truth. The musical system which we use was designed and created by people and is a system with some technicalities and must be properly understood.
There are very few people that present theory in this way online. Most people probably think theory is just knowing scales and circle of fifths and a lot of places online present it like that. This course presents the theory of what the musical system is and how to use it and the functions it has. People disregard theory because they think it is a bunch of rules and it will limit their creativity while this couldn't be further from the truth. The musical system which we use was designed and created by people and is a system with some technicalities and must be properly understood.
Read LessI'm really enjoying the Art Of Composing online courses! My composing is has improved so much since I started a month ago. All the lessons are presented clearly with nice musical examples! I can't wait to dive into another lesson today! Thanks Jon!
I'm really enjoying the Art Of Composing online courses! My composing is has improved so much since I started a month ago. All the lessons are presented clearly with nice musical examples! I can't wait to dive into another lesson today! Thanks Jon!
Read LessEvery music student should have a course like this.
Every music student should have a course like this.
Read LessI finally found what I have been looking for. This course is for all who want to compose, but never thought they could! Without going into confusing subjects, it teaches all the fundamentals of composing. I can't wait to finish and start composing full pieces.
I finally found what I have been looking for. This course is for all who want to compose, but never thought they could! Without going into confusing subjects, it teaches all the fundamentals of composing. I can't wait to finish and start composing full pieces.
Read LessI particularly like the stress upon the importance of self-imposed limitations; and I suspect that the same principle holds true in all forms of creative work including poetry, prose writing etc and even (e.g.) painting (as in, for instance, limiting onself to a particular, restricted palette of colours).
I particularly like the stress upon the importance of self-imposed limitations; and I suspect that the same principle holds true in all forms of creative work including poetry, prose writing etc and even (e.g.) painting (as in, for instance, limiting onself to a particular, restricted palette of colours).
Read LessHey Jon, I am really loving the fun way you have gone about constructing a course that is based on some fundamental building blocks, and incorporates useful limitations that enable anyone to start composing.
Hey Jon, I am really loving the fun way you have gone about constructing a course that is based on some fundamental building blocks, and incorporates useful limitations that enable anyone to start composing.
Read LessThe course is very logical and well thought out. It begins at the beginning, so to speak, and is thorough and comprehensive. Most excellent for learning to compose in the classical style, which would be a good beginning point for any composing style. The course is a very useful learning tool.
The course is very logical and well thought out. It begins at the beginning, so to speak, and is thorough and comprehensive. Most excellent for learning to compose in the classical style, which would be a good beginning point for any composing style. The course is a very useful learning tool.
Read LessPrecise exposition of 'musical expectations' and how to apply them. The Fundamentals of Musical Composition has opened a world of understanding and possibility for me. Thank you Jon.
Precise exposition of 'musical expectations' and how to apply them. The Fundamentals of Musical Composition has opened a world of understanding and possibility for me. Thank you Jon.
Read LessJon Brantingham