Music Composition Certificate Program

Develop a portfolio of works demonstrating your abilities in melody writing, contour, range, rhythm, counterpoint, and musical form. Across three courses, you'll learn how to effectively use instrumentation, orchestration, and transitions to create distinct sound worlds and convey specific emotional states in your compositions.

interlochen online music composition certificate

Taught by a world-class musician, composer, and educator, the Music Composition certificate program consists of three four-week courses designed for adults and teens. The program can be completed at a pace that works for you and offers a unique opportunity to delve deeper into your craft while showcasing your achievements with a credential from Interlochen—an impressive addition to your résumé, college application, or LinkedIn profile.

For students under 18, the Music Composition certificate program is also an engaging way to earn high school credit. It’s ideal for students looking to challenge themselves beyond their school curriculum or to supplement their homeschool studies.

The following music composition courses make up the certificate program, and must be taken in sequential order:

Music Composition 3

✔ Analyze how composers use timbre, instrumentation, and orchestration to create distinct sound worlds in various musical contexts
✔ Write mood-based musical passages, selecting appropriate instruments, ranges, character indications, and dynamics to effectively convey specific emotional states or atmospheres
✔ Craft different types of musical transitions and apply them to connect contrasting sections within a composition
✔ Compose a complete musical work of approximately 60 measures

Learn and save: Students who enroll in the certificate program will receive a discounted rate by registering for all three online music composition classes as a package.

learn icon Certificate programs comprise three four-week courses, providing deeper training in an artistic discipline or area of study. Students who enroll in a certificate program will receive a discounted rate by registering for all three courses as a package.

Each Interlochen Online course is designed to be inspiring and flexible with weekly learning units that combine video segments and guided instruction that you can complete on your own schedule. Combined with that learning is an optional weekly hour-long video class meeting, where you can learn from you instructor and interact with fellow students in real-time. You will also interact regularly with your instructor and peers through messaging inside the learning environment, including receiving personalized feedback on your work from your instructor.

Upon completion of the program, you will receive a physical certificate and a shareable digital certificate. Certificates for students under 18 are accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS); high school-age students will also receive an official transcript to share with their current school for consideration for high school credit.