Learn the Techniques of the Greatest Composers

We'll look at real music, and see how it works.

  • Learn Practical and analytical tools to get you started composing quickly.
  • We start with an overview of the fundamental concepts of composing, and how to create a simple melody using basic chords from a given chord progression.
  • From there, we’ll begin to connect how scales and chords become melody and harmony.
  • You'll have a solid foundation to begin learning the craft of composition.
Start learning how to compose

What Students Are Saying

5 star rating

I am so glad I found this course.

Benjamin Warner

Jon is a great teacher. This is a great method that gets to the actual writing very quickly. I like the limitations concept, and I think he uses the right balance of options and limits.

Jon is a great teacher. This is a great method that gets to the actual writing very quickly. I like the limitations concept, and I think he uses the right balance of options and limits.

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5 star rating

Mind blown.

John Murphy

Amazed at how a simple chord progression can be made into a lovely piano piece.

Amazed at how a simple chord progression can be made into a lovely piano piece.

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5 star rating

Why I would rate this course a 6/5 if I could.

Landis Bauer

The course is logically ordered and requires no prior knowledge of music composition. The intent of the lessons are always made clear and the exercises are just challenging enough for a beginning composer to keep them interested but not overwhelmed.

The course is logically ordered and requires no prior knowledge of music composition. The intent of the lessons are always made clear and the exercises are just challenging enough for a beginning composer to keep them interested but not overwhelmed.

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5 star rating

Enlightening Course

Stephen Camara

This course helped get me out of a "rut" I had unwittingly formed around the piano, which consisted of "listen, read, memorize, move on". I have played with the idea of improv, but it rarely moved beyond finding obvious chord progressions to popular melodies. The principles of this course, consistently practiced, will revolutionize my fundamental attitude toward the piano and composing. I can only imagine what the full course is like... and I will certainly recommend this website to anyone I know who wants to learn to compose!

This course helped get me out of a "rut" I had unwittingly formed around the piano, which consisted of "listen, read, memorize, move on". I have played with the idea of improv, but it rarely moved beyond finding obvious chord progressions to popular melodies. The principles of this course, consistently practiced, will revolutionize my fundamental attitude toward the piano and composing. I can only imagine what the full course is like... and I will certainly recommend this website to anyone I know who wants to learn to compose!

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5 star rating

I strongly recommend this course to everyone!!!

Kathryn Lang

I loved this course!!! The lessons were very informative and easy-to-understand. The Vocabulary of Composition helped me realize how much I enjoy composing, and taught me how to do it well and effectively. Thank you so much for creating this course and making it free so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy it!

I loved this course!!! The lessons were very informative and easy-to-understand. The Vocabulary of Composition helped me realize how much I enjoy composing, and taught me how to do it well and effectively. Thank you so much for creating this course and making it free so that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy it!

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5 star rating

Fantastic

Melody Woodham

I've been composing for many years but this course took me back to basics and served as a reminder of the fundamental building blocks in composition. I feel like it has refocused my approach to composing. Jon explains everything very clearly and I'm sure I will revisit this course again in future.

I've been composing for many years but this course took me back to basics and served as a reminder of the fundamental building blocks in composition. I feel like it has refocused my approach to composing. Jon explains everything very clearly and I'm sure I will revisit this course again in future.

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Course curriculum

  1. 1

    • Fundamental Concepts of Composition

    • History: How We Got To Tonality

    • Theory: The Major-Minor System

    • What Makes a Decent Melody

    • Practical: Composing a Basic Melody

    • Download: Basic Melody Worksheet

    • Guided Exercise #1: Compose a Melody

    • Guided Exercise #2: Compose Another Melody

    • Set some goals, and help me craft a better course
  2. 2

    • You Thought You Knew C Major

    • C Major Worksheet v4

    • Learning Chord Progressions for Composers
  3. 3

    • Download: Connecting the Chord Tones Worksheet

    • Connecting the Chord Tones

    • Limitations and Creativity

    • Guided Exercises #3: Connecting the Chord Tones

    • Guided Exercise #4: Connecting the Chord Tones
  4. 4

    • Intervals

    • Download: Worksheets for Understanding the Essentials of Harmony

    • Making Intervals Intuitive

    • Making Chromatic Intervals Intuitive

    • Interval Workout

    • Triads and Inversions

    • Making Triads Intuitive

    • Seventh Chords

    • Making Dominant 7th Chords Intuitive

    • Basic Chord Progression No. 1

    • You're ready for the next step!
  5. 5

    • Live Composing Session: How it All Comes Together

    • Complete Course Workbook: Fundamentals of Musical Composition

  • Practical

    Learn a simple but reliable process of composition.

  • No Composition Experience Needed

    The course starts from the ground up.

  • Techniques for Any Style of Music

    For any composer, whether you compose film scores, write songs, or just want to compose simple piano pieces.

FAQ

  • Do I need to be able to read music?

    Yes, but you do not have to be great at reading music. You should be able to understand treble and bass clef.

  • Will it apply to my style of music?

    Yes.
    The principles are what matter. The style is not as important.
    We learn using a classical style because its clear to explain the principles.
    You can then apply it to your style of music.

Don't wait any longer

Now's the time to begin your composing journey.

Get started now

More Student Reviews

5 star rating

Very helpful!

Mary Cail

Thanks for doing this course!

Thanks for doing this course!

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3 star rating

Great way to start composing

Shannon Duncan

I thoroughly enjoyed the exercises and found the concept of introducing limitations very helpful. I was disappointed, though, by the large amount of basic music theory that was included.

I thoroughly enjoyed the exercises and found the concept of introducing limitations very helpful. I was disappointed, though, by the large amount of basic music theory that was included.

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4 star rating

very good

Omar Jimenez

very good

very good

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5 star rating

Helpful piano refresher

Frank Humphries

Good presentation of essential piano to get you going.

Good presentation of essential piano to get you going.

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5 star rating

Learned Lots

Eduardo Eduardo

This course was pretty interesting. I learned lots of technical music stuff and am very excited to learn more! Building Your Composition Vocabulary will be very helpful in the future.

This course was pretty interesting. I learned lots of technical music stuff and am very excited to learn more! Building Your Composition Vocabulary will be very helpful in the future.

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5 star rating

Very professionally done I dont recall receiving this in depth information from previous courses

Mike Kremper

Excellant

Excellant

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5 star rating

Really amazing

Siamak ROSHANI

It is amazing to see how he simplifies things.

It is amazing to see how he simplifies things.

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