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The first semester starts 20th October 2020, we accept only 12 students per semester 5 / 12 Enrolled

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Reviews

5 star rating

Top Quality Composition Classes !

Vanessa Menezes Bernardes

I haven’t started the course yet but from I saw and after having had 20min vidéo meeting with Mahmmoud I know that I am in good hands. I am really looking forward to starting the lessons and learning all that will allow me to feel fulfilled as a c...

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I haven’t started the course yet but from I saw and after having had 20min vidéo meeting with Mahmmoud I know that I am in good hands. I am really looking forward to starting the lessons and learning all that will allow me to feel fulfilled as a composer.

Read Less

Course description

In this music composition course, you will gain a solid understanding of music fundamentals while building your own musical language. You will receive a detailed look at the major and minor keys, as well as tools to help you comprehend scales and chords so that you can use them in your own music. An understanding of basic music theory will support you in all of your musical endeavors, eventually making the application of advanced topics much easier.

This course will take you from rhythm and phrasing, through to scales and tonality, and then conclude with intervals and chord building. This course will also examine notational systems and the specifics of notating music, teaching you to put your own music into a form that will be transferable to others in the field. Advanced topics in this music composition course include modes, chord scales and tensions, as well as modal interchange and melodic and compositional techniques. In addition, there will be a focus on writing for the rhythm section.

One unique feature of the curriculum is its blend of both traditional and contemporary harmony, allowing you to receive a historical understanding of current topics—as well as an increased mastery of these topics.

On a weekly basis, you will be asked to engage with your classmates and instructor as you work your way through each lesson. 
There will also be weekly compositional assignments, giving you the opportunity to practice writing, with approximately half of these assignments scored to a visual media clip.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify and apply the melodic elements of motif, melodic phrasing, repetition, diatonic sequence, melodic cadence, antecedent/consequent, scale-tone tendencies, and open and closed phrasing
  • Identify and construct major, harmonic minor scales, and use chord scales
  • Build and recognize triads, power chords, 7th, and other four-note chords
  • Use harmonic function and voice leading and apply them to your writing with concepts of triadic, 7th chord, inversion, and tension substitution voice leading in contemporary and classical styles
  • Create, identify and label major and minor key harmonic phrases based on harmonic function and hierarchy of pitch
  • Write for drums and bass by being able to identify, notate and construct the components of a basic drum set groove and construct a variety of bass and drum groove styles
  • Apply theoretical analysis to contemporary music and traditional classical music using Baroque period figured bass

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Melody and Tonality

  • 2

    Chords Building Upon Intervals

    • Lesson Materials

    • Quiz 2.10

    • Assignment 2.10
  • 3

    Chords in Motion

  • 4

    Theme Writing

    • Lesson Materials

    • Quiz 4.10

    • Assignment 4.10
  • 5

    Forms

    • Lesson Materials

    • Quiz 5.10

    • Assignment 5.10

  • 6

    Harmonization

    • Lesson Materials

    • Quiz 6.10

    • Assignment 6.10
  • 7

    Chord scale Theory

    • Lesson Materials

    • Quiz 7.10

    • Assignment 7.10
  • 8

    Writing for Drums and Bass

    • Lesson Materials

    • Quiz 8.10

    • Assignment 8.10
  • 9

    Modal Interchange and Hybrid Chords

    • Lesson Materials

    • Quiz 9.10

    • Assignment 9.10
  • 10

    Musical Composition Applied

    • Lesson Materials

    • Quiz 10.10

    • Assignment 10.10 ( Final Project )

Bonus Material

  • Bonus material

    You will get the course materials, books, and music composition examples lesson by lesson

  • Extra Time

    You will have 1 hour and a half weekly live lesson

  • Support

    Your instructor will be with you throughout the week to support and help you write the music

Requirements


  • Ability to read notated music 
  • Ability to record MIDI in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW)
  • Ability to sync your compositions with various short video clips and export as MP4 file

Required Textbook(s)

  • None required

Software Requirements

  • DAW software 


Instructor

Mahmoud Abuwarda

Instructor & Author

Mahmoud Abuwarda is a professional master composer and orchestrator whose work has been performed worldwide. He is a professor of composition, music theory, and head of the guitar department at ESNCM - Birzeit University, where he teaches music composition, theory, and guitar performance. Mahmoud Abuwarda studied music theory and composition at Berklee College of music, and he also studied music composition with a lot of big composers around the world.