About this course
Music Composition 2 is the second course in a series of two courses that teaches how music is put together and how to write your own music. The course is divided into two parts. Part one covers the study of harmonic composition. Part two covers the study of compositional form. (Rhythmic and melodic composition were studied in Music Composition 1. It is highly recommended that you take Music Composition 1 before taking this course.)
Course lectures consist of both video and text. (If you would like to read rather than watch videos, each lecture can also be found in .pdf format under the downloadable materials tab) Each section of the course covers a particular concept (or related concepts). Concepts and compositional techniques are demonstrated throughout the course with real musical examples (pictures and audio samples).
Besides lectures, each section of the course also contains memory questions, section quiz, listening assignments, and composition assignments. Memory questions serve to summarize and reinforce key concepts learned, while the quizzes tests the students' knowledge and understanding of the material from each section. Students who take this course will get practice notating music with music notation software. In the composition assignments students will get real life practice using the information and techniques learned in each section to write and develop their own harmonic progressions. By the end of the course students (who have taken both Music Composition 1 and Music Composition 2) will have composed a number of entire pieces in various compositional forms.
The length of time needed to complete the course depends on how much time is spent each day/week on the material. To complete all the assignments in each section, a suggested pace might be 1-2 weeks per section. (There are 14 sections.)
Who should take this course? Every student of music should know how to compose! It is a sad but true fact that most modern music teachers and music courses do not include music composition as part of the students' musical education. In the past it was typical for students of music to be able to compose music. The complete musician can play an instrument, has knowledge of music theory AND can also compose! If you want to deepen your understanding of music, learn to write it!
What are the requirements?
- A computer with internet connection, screen, and speakers.
- It is highly recommended that you take "Music Composition 1" (by the same author) before taking this course.
- A basic knowledge of music theory (especially Roman numeral names of chords from the scale). If you do not already have a rudimentary understanding of music theory, it is recommended that you take a music theory course before this course. (See course "Music Theory" by the same author)
- Some type of music notation software. The notation software demonstrated in this course is the Finale NotePad software. NotePad is a very basic music notation program and has all the necessary functions for a beginning composition student. An important part of music composition is getting your music to paper, and so this course will also develop the students' ability to properly notate their music. This software not only prints professional looking sheet music, it also allows the student to hear their compositions as they are writing them. You can read more about NotePad and download it for FREE at: www.finalemusic.com/NotePad
- Although not a necessity, it is very beneficial that the student have some ability to play the piano (or other instrument)
What am I going to get from this course?
- Over 48 lectures and 2 hours of content!
- 172 Diagrams and Audio Samples (to illustrate concepts taught)
- 123 Memory Questions (to reinforce concepts taught)
- 49 Composition Assignments (to practice the concepts taught)
- 38 Listening Assignments
- 14 Quizzes
- By the end of the course you will understand and be able to compose chord progressions.
- You will learn how to develop your harmonic material through a variety of compositional techniques.
- You will learn about musical texture and how rhythm, melody, and harmony are combined.
- By the end of this course you will also have composed a number of entire pieces in various compositional forms.
- You will get practice notating music using basic music notation software.
What is the target audience?
- Anyone who has always wanted to learn how to write music!
- Every student of music!
- Beginning Composers/Songwriters
- Composers/Songwriters with previous knowledge or experience who want to brush up and hone their skills (and maybe learn some new techniques!)
- Although this course uses many examples from classical music, most of the information and compositional techniques learned in this course can be used by musicians of other genres.
- If you want to deepen your understanding of music, learn to write it!
