Music Composition Certificate Program

interlochen online music composition certificate

Next session begins Jan. 12

Tuition Rate: $799

Rates increase Jan. 1

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FAQs

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.

Taught by a world-class musician, composer, and educator, the Music Composition certificate program offers a unique opportunity to deepen your craft, earn a valuable credential, and receive credit from Interlochen. This program is designed for both adults and teens and consists of three four-week courses that must be taken in sequential order.

Music Composition 1

✔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

Music Composition 2

✔Apply advanced motivic development techniques to create varied and engaging melodic material
✔Write effective counterpoint, balancing consonance and dissonance across multiple voices
✔Construct and analyze energy maps for compositions, managing overall structure and flow
✔Utilize complex rhythmic devices to support and enhance compositional goals

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
Courses

Tuition

$ 897   $799

Ages

Teens: Grades 6-12

Adult Learners: Ages 18+

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Expert guidance
Receive direct, personalized feedback from a professional artist.
Collaborate
Work with your instructor and peers through messaging or optional real-time weekly classes.
Learn on your own schedule
Explore meaningful instruction in about five hours a week per course.
Real growth
Develop skills and projects that are important to your artistic and professional growth.
For all students:

✔ A respected credential from Interlochen Online
✔ Physical and shareable digital certificate upon completion
✔ A portfolio of completed, polished projects
✔ A strengthened résumé, college application, or LinkedIn profile

For middle school and high school students:

✔ An official transcript awarding high school credit
✔ Accreditation by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)

No, course sections are designed for their respective age groups, either for adults (students 18 and older) or young people (students under 18).

Yes, there are eight sessions of courses per year. View the academic calendar for more session dates.

Meet the Faculty

Jamie Leigh Sampson

Instructor of Music

Questions? Speak with an Advisor.

Email: online@interlochen.org 

Phone: 231.276.5990 

You can also schedule an appointment.

Start Learning Music Theory

Get access to Understanding Intervals in Music Theory, an exclusive guide developed by Interlochen Online faculty.

Music theory student