Music Theory Basics 3

Delve into the more advanced concepts of harmony, including extended tertian chords (e.g., 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and 13ths) and learn the fundamental principles of musical form and motivic development.

The course begins with a brief review of music notation fundamentals, including key signatures, modes, meters, and time signatures. You’ll soon explore 7th chords and begin to train your ear to the subtleties of chord inversions. Building off these concepts, you’ll dive into chord extensions and lead sheet notation, so that you are able to identify and notate traditional and nontraditional chords in songs using lead sheet symbols—a strong skill to have when working with other musicians.

You'll then apply these concepts and explore melody and growth in compositions, with a focus on motivic development and manipulation. By the end of this course, you'll be well-prepared to appreciate, analyze, and create your own expressive compositions.

What you will learn:

✔ Create a short melodic example in a complex meter
✔ Identify various seventh chords and their inversions in popular musical excerpts
✔ Notate harmonic progressions using lead sheet symbols
✔ Identify and construct 9th, 11th, and 13th chords, in addition to non-tertian chords, such as added tone chords and suspended chords
✔ Create your own musical compositions

Join us and learn music theory online!

Prerequisite skills:

Completion of Music Theory Basics 1 and Music Theory Basics 2, or equivalent knowledge and/or experience

Next Session

October 26-November 22, 2026

Teen and adult sections

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Tuition

$399

Save $100:
Lock in current rates before tuition increases on Oct. 26.

Ages

Teens: Grades 6-12

Adult Learners: 18+

Expert guidance
Receive direct, personalized feedback from a professional artist.

Learn on your own schedule
Explore meaningful instruction in about five hours a week, over four weeks.

Collaborate
Work with your instructor and peers through messaging or optional real-time weekly classes.

Real growth
Develop artistic skills and projects that are important to you in 30 days.

MuseScore (free music notation software) or another music notation software that you are comfortable using and that allows you to export music as PDF (notation) and MP3 (audio) files
Computer or mobile device with Internet and camera. Internet speed must be at least 1.5Mbps download and 800Kbps upload. For students using a mobile device, download the Canvas mobile app and select “Interlochen Online” as your school. (Note: Make sure your computer is compatible with MuseScore.)

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.

Interlochen Online certificate This is one of three courses needed to complete the Music Theory Fundamentals certificate program.

After successfully completing all three courses in a certificate program, you will receive a physical certificate and a shareable digital certificate.

Eligible students may also earn academic credit:

✔ Middle and high school students receive an official Interlochen transcript awarding 0.5 high school credit.

✔ Adults and high school students may request an official college transcript awarding 3 college credits.

High school credit is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), while college credit is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Credit may transfer to thousands of institutions nationwide.