Online Music Composition Course
As a music educator, I strive to help my students develop their own compositional voices. I structure my lessons around their goals while encouraging them to keep open minds (and ears).
Composer and multi-instrumentalist Tom Gurin is an experienced music educator, having taught hundreds of lessons ranging from beginners to the graduate level. A past Fulbright Scholar and alumnus of Yale University, he is a resident-laureate at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris while studying at the Geneva Conservatory. He also holds diplomas from the École Normale de Musique de Paris, the Belgian Royal Carillon School, and the American Conservatory in Fontainebleau. Click here to read more about Tom.
Ready to start composing? Whether you are a beginner or advanced student, click here to contact Tom Gurin now to schedule your first lesson in music composition, risk-free. Lessons are available in English or French.
What is Music Composition?
Music composition is the art of combining notes, chords, or elements of other sounds into a single, original “piece” of music that can be listened to. For many modern composers, this process can include brainstorming, writing musical ideas by hand, working with software, communicating with performers during rehearsals, and/or using structured improvisations.
Why Study Music Composition?
1. Learn how to write music! In this course, you will start writing music right away. You get to decide on the instruments, the length of the piece, and your musical style. Composition is about taking individual sounds and turning them into a real piece of music. We can talk about where to look for inspiration, how to structure your composition, and techniques for writing it all down (by hand or with a computer, such as in Sibelius) so that others can play your music, too. My goal is to help you develop and share your unique musical ideas.
2. Not all music has to be notes on a page. Instead of writing dots on lines, you have the opportunity to create an original digital music composition using software to build sounds from the ground up and/or to transform sounds that you record. I will teach you how the software works and how to use it to compose music.
3. Learn about music theory. Do you wonder how music really works? Or, how a composer from the past decided which notes to write? Do you have a favorite song or piece of music, and want to fully understand what makes it so good? Together, we can analyze songs or pieces using music theory techniques. We will start with lessons on music theory to build an analytical toolset, and then apply those tools to music that you choose. From there, I can help you apply what you learn to develop your own compositional style.
Topics in Music Composition
Each lesson is tailored to meet the goals of the individual student. Here are a few of the topics that we can discuss during lessons:
- How to compose a melody
- How to write harmonies
- How to structure the form of your composition
- Orchestration
- Major and minor key functions
- Chromaticism and modal mixture
- Writing counterpoint in two, three, or four voices in choral (SATB) or keyboard textures
- How to understand figured bass
- How to use Sibelius notation software for music composition
- Digital music composition
- How to use Logic Pro X for music composition
- How to write minimalist music
- How to write spectral music
- How to compose the musical score for a film
- Jazz composition
- Writing pop songs
- Working with performers
- Recording your music
- Where to find inspiration for your music
Who is this Music Composition Course For?
These lessons are for people of all ages and levels who have a strong interest in learning how to write music in any style.
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- Are you passionate about music?
- Do you want to share your original ideas and feelings through music?
- Have you tried learning music composition in the past, but couldn’t get the hang of it?
If so, then this course is for you.
What Sets these Online Music Composition Lessons Apart from Others?
These online composition lessons are a step-up compared to other options.
1. Learn from a professional and experienced composer and music educator
Tom Gurin was educated in music theory and composition at Yale University, the Geneva Conservatory (HEM Genève), the École Normale de Musique de Paris, and the Belgian Royal Carillon School. Through these lessons, you will gain un-paralleled access to the ideas taught at the world’s leading music institutions. Tom has taught hundreds of 1-on-1 lessons and is prepared to get you thinking in music from your very first lesson.
2. Personalized support for your composition goals
This is not a one-size-fits all music course. There are no pre-recorded videos. Every 1-on-1 composition lesson is tailored to meet the goals of the individual student.
3. Open mindset for all styles of music
Learn to write the music that you want to hear. If you aren’t interested in a certain topic, you don’t have to learn about it. In the twenty-first century, there are hundreds of ways to compose music. There is room for everyone.
Sign Up Now!
To start your music composition journey, simply click here to get in touch and schedule your first lesson, risk-free. Or, if you have questions about the content or logistics of the lessons, don’t hesitate to send a message to thomas.gurin@aya.yale.edu to get the information you need.