Composer Course

Lesson 1 • Scales, Keys, and Intervals

Introduces major and minor scales, key signatures, and interval measurement. Provides the tonal vocabulary essential for melody and harmony construction.

Lesson 2 • Rhythm and Meter Fundamentals

Examines simple, compound, and asymmetric meters alongside syncopation. Rhythmic fluency underpins every compositional decision made later in the course.

Lesson 3 • Basic Chord Construction

Teaches triads, seventh chords, and inversions built from scale degrees. Chord literacy is the prerequisite for all harmonic writing in subsequent chapters.

Lesson 1 • Phrase Structure and Cadences

Covers antecedent-consequent phrases, period forms, and cadence types. Phrase structure is the grammatical backbone of tonal melody.

Lesson 2 • Motif Creation and Variation

Defines the motif as the smallest compositional unit and demonstrates variation techniques. Connects motivic thinking to large-scale structural coherence.

Lesson 3 • Principles of Melodic Shape

Explores contour, range, and climax placement in melody. Students learn how shape guides listener attention and emotional response.

Lesson 1 • Four-Voice Writing Rules

Establishes spacing, doubling, and voice-crossing guidelines for SATB texture. These rules form the technical foundation of classical harmonic writing.

Lesson 2 • Secondary Dominants and Tonicization

Introduces applied chords that temporarily tonicize non-tonic scale degrees. Tonicization expands harmonic color without leaving the home key.

Lesson 3 • Chromatic Harmony Essentials

Examines borrowed chords, Neapolitan sixth, and augmented sixth chords. Chromatic harmony enriches expressive range beyond diatonic resources.

Lesson 4 • Modulation Techniques

Covers pivot-chord, chromatic, and phrase modulation to related and distant keys. Modulation creates large-scale tonal narrative in extended compositions.

Lesson 1 • Third, Fourth, and Fifth Species

Extends counterpoint to passing tones, suspensions, and florid writing. Each species adds rhythmic and expressive complexity to polyphonic texture.

Lesson 2 • First and Second Species Counterpoint

Introduces note-against-note and two-notes-against-one writing above a cantus firmus. These species establish consonance management and contrary motion habits.

Lesson 3 • Fugue Structure and Writing

Covers exposition, episodes, and stretto in three-voice fugue construction. Fugue writing synthesizes all counterpoint skills into a rigorous formal discipline.

Lesson 1 • Sonata Form Architecture

Breaks down exposition, development, and recapitulation with tonal and thematic functions. Sonata form is the most analytically rich structure in Western tonal music.

Lesson 2 • Rondo and Theme-and-Variations

Examines refrain-episode alternation in rondo and variation techniques applied to a theme. Both forms develop compositional flexibility and inventive thinking.

Lesson 3 • Through-Composed and Sectional Forms

Explores forms without literal repetition and multi-movement planning. Students learn to sustain interest across extended works without relying on recapitulation.

Lesson 1 • Brass Family Writing

Addresses horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba ranges, mutes, and ensemble balance. Brass provide climactic power and harmonic support across dynamic extremes.

Lesson 2 • Score Layout and Orchestral Balance

Teaches standard score order, transposition in full score, and dynamic balancing across sections. Proper score layout is essential for professional communication with performers.

Lesson 3 • String Family Writing

Covers bowing techniques, pizzicato, harmonics, and divisi for the string section. Strings are the orchestral backbone, so idiomatic writing here is foundational.

Lesson 4 • Woodwind Family Writing

Examines transposition, register color, and technical limits of flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon. Woodwind color contrasts and blends with strings to shape orchestral texture.

Lesson 1 • Twelve-Tone and Serial Techniques

Explains tone row construction, matrix building, and row transformations. Serial technique offers a rigorous method for generating pitch, rhythm, and dynamic material.

Lesson 2 • Extended Techniques and Notation

Surveys col legno, multiphonics, prepared piano, and graphic notation. Extended techniques expand timbral vocabulary and require specialized notational solutions.

Lesson 3 • Minimalism and Process Music

Examines phase shifting, additive process, and gradual transformation as compositional strategies. Minimalism challenges conventional notions of development and climax.

Lesson 4 • Modal and Non-Diatonic Scales

Introduces church modes, pentatonic, whole-tone, and octatonic scales as compositional resources. Modal thinking frees melody and harmony from tonal functional expectations.

Lesson 1 • Rehearsal, Performance, and Feedback

Prepares students to lead rehearsals, communicate with performers, and evaluate live results. The rehearsal process is where compositional decisions are tested and refined.

Lesson 2 • Project Planning and Concept Development

Guides students through instrumentation choice, formal planning, and expressive intent. A clear concept document prevents structural drift during the composition process.

Lesson 3 • Program Notes and Composer Statements

Develops skills in writing program notes, composer bios, and grant proposal narratives. Written communication is inseparable from a composer's professional identity.

Lesson 4 • Score Preparation and Engraving

Teaches professional score formatting, part extraction, and engraving standards. A clean, readable score is the composer's primary professional deliverable.