Composition School. Online Music Writing Lessons

COMPOSITION SCHOOL

Create your own music

We are a collective of professional composers, arrangers, producers, performers and music educators. We have come together to provide this online platform to help you create your own original music. Working through online Skype & Zoom lessons, we will help you in all aspects of your music making.

We will help you with anything from melody creation & harmonisation, to arranging & MIDI composition, to keyboard skills & notation software.

Between our teachers we have over one hundred years of music education experience, teaching all ages, from children to adults. We teach all genres: classical, jazz, folk, pop, electronic, film… music works thew same way whatever shelf it is on.

MIDI Composition
Rhythmic Studies
Melody Creation
Building A Home Workstation
Composing For Visual Media
Improvisation
Orchestration
Arranging
Songwriting
Harmonisation

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Formed in 2008, Composition School has over 10 years of experience helping all levels of music-creators bring their individual original music out into the world. From total beginner to advanced composer, we have helped many music-writers learn more about a specific area such as reharmonisation & modulation or how to use Sibelius music notation software. Other music-writers who work at the piano have benefitted from our keyboard skills lessons. Whatever it is you need to develop in your music, we are here to help you and we will offer you exactly the right teacher.

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All styles of composition are covered, from commercial to art house, film music to song-writing. Whether you are writing piano and violin sonatas, orchestral film music, songs or electronic music, we have exactly the right teacher for you: a teacher who will help you develop your strengths and tackle your weaknesses. Our lessons are delivered via Skype & Zoom. All we ask is that you email your teacher your fresh work ahead of each lesson.

CORE CONTENT

MELODY CREATION

The Development of Tonality
The Major-Minor System
Features of a Good Melody
Creating a Melodic Contour
The Use of Rests
Connecting the Chord Tones
Melodic Embellishment

HARMONISATION

Intervals
Triads and Inversions
Seventh Chords
Extended Chords
The Cycle Of Fifths
Altered Chords
Borrowed Chords
Chord Substitution
Enriched Harmonies
Polytonality
Added Dissonance

RHYTHM & STRUCTURE

Existing Rhythmic Tropes
Dance Rhythms
Syncopation
Poly-Rhythms
The Use of Rests
Strophic Form
Binary Form
Ternary Form
Blues Form
Contemporary Structures

SUPPORTING CONTENT

MIDI COMPOSITION

Parameters of MIDI
MIDI editing tools
Interfaces and Pathways
External Controllers
Applications of MIDI
Automation
Sample Libraries
Session Organisation
Creative MIDI Approaches

SIBELIUS NOTATION

Note Input Methods
Creating Scores & Parts
Lyric Input Methods
Transposing
Arranging
Creating Worksheets
Scorch and online sharing
Rewiring with other software
Professional Publication

ORCHESTRATION

Instrumental Practicalities
Instrument Ranges
Successful Combining
String Writing
Brass Writing
Woodwind Writing
Percussion Writing
4 Part Writing
Doubling & Tripling
The Use Of Space

SPECIALISED MODULES

GENERAL MODULES

FAQ

Do I need to be an accomplished performer?

No. Many fine composers are not performers. Some Keyboard Skills would be helpful, but are not essential. Knowing your way around a computer is more essential.

Do I need to be a 'classical' composer?

No. The principles of composition are applicable to all music genres, from Electronic to Folk, Jazz to Country, Orchestral to Pop.

Do I need to be able to read music?

Believe it or not, no. You can begin composing with us using MIDI. However, as you develop, then yes you will need to develop your music theory.

Are these courses suitable for beginners?

Yes, these courses are suitable for everyone, from the total beginner to the professional.

Are these classes one-to-one or in groups?

Most of the composition classes are one-to-one, however, some of the general classes may be in online groups eg. Keyboard Skills & Improvisation.

Can the lessons be taken online via Zoom or Skype?

Yes, almost all of the classes are be delivered via Zoom & Skype. An online lesson is usually preceded by the learner sending the teacher mp3s or a score of any fresh work.

Is there certification at the end?

Currently we are working with Griffith College Dublin to create Grades 1 to 8 for Composition, however, these grades will be entirely optional.

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The teachers at Composition School were so encouraging from the start. They helped me work on my music and record an album which I'm very proud of, 'Amergin Fire'

Ciara McElholm

Rory is an excellent teacher. I have learnt a great deal from him in a short period of time. My only wish is I had started earlier! He is an excellent communicator, and his deep knowledge, experience and love for music make the lessons both interesting and very useful. I have learnt more from him in a matter of months than years of other methods.

Daragh Thomas

I always knew I had music inside of me, and you taught me the skills I needed to turn my melodies into full pieces of music. I loved learning about it all. Thank you Composition School!

Tatiana Kriwaczek

Rory is a great teacher who opened my eyes to many avenues of music I didn't know existed.

Ian Cullen

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Camden Recording Studios & Musical Hub
Pleasants Place
DUBLIN 8

www.camdenrecordingstudios.com