Music Composition 1

The greatest composers of music history all started somewhere. Learn to write memorable melodies and driving harmony that work well independently, but even better together.

In this four-week course, you’ll explore the smallest building blocks of music and how they grow into the masterpieces we love. You’ll analyze the styles of many composers and how to use essential elements and musical devices to build your own compositions.

The course begins by exploring the essence of melody, dissecting its components and teaching you to craft your own unique melodies from scratch. It then delves into the realm of harmony, unraveling its purpose in music and exploring its dynamic interplay with melody. Through hands-on activities and guided instruction, you'll learn techniques to enhance your musical creations.

By the end of the course, you'll have completed a composition of your own and emerge with a newfound confidence in your ability to craft melodies and harmonies that resonate with depth and emotion.

What you will learn:

✔Analyze musical examples, identifying the four essential elements of contour, range, length, and arrival points
✔ Incorporate motives/cells, riffs, and other melodic devices in your compositions
✔ Write a melody using a defined contour, scale, arrival point, and time signature
✔ Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your melodies and identify improvements to enhance their musical expression and coherence

Prerequisite skills:

• Completion of Music Theory Basics 1, or equivalent knowledge and/or experience