When most people think of a composer, they imagine someone sitting in a dusty attic with a grand piano, big white wig, and the year is 1800. That might have been accurate back then, but the modern composer is just like you and me. In fact, I am one.

In this course I'll show you techniques I use for writing music in a variety of styles and situations. I've worked with major American orchestras, film studios, and video game designers, so I've got more than a little experience. I'm also a PhD in music composition and a university professor (of music composition).

Recently I was named as a semi-finalist for the Grammy Foundation's Music Educator of the Year award because of my in-person university classes. Now I'm taking those classes to Udemy in an online format in order to reach more students, and give them the joy of Music Theory.

I'm planning on making several "sections" of this class, and this is only part 1. As the class grows, we will go deeper and deeper into my techniques. This class is focused on the beginning: Generating ideas and getting started.

In this class, we will cover:

• My background, and listen to some of my music
• Why Tension and Release?
• Tools of the trade: Software
• Tools of the trade: Pencils and fine paper
• Long Term and Short Term Tensions
• Using Form for Tension and Release
• Forms that Create Drama
• Sonata Form
• The 4 Elements of Form
• Example: Mozart, Moonlight Sonata
• Composing with Sonata Form
• Modern Uses of Sonata Form
• Example: Muse, Butterflies and Hurricanes
• Tension and Release with Meter
• Compound Meters
• Meter Signatures
• Alternating Compound and Duple Meters
• Using Rhythm for Altering Expectations
• Rhythmic Patterns
• Pattern Obfuscation
• Example: Philip Glass, Truman Show Soundtrack
• Example: Allen, Aporia
• Using Harmony for Tension and Release
• Consonance and Dissonance
• Prolonging Dominant
• Emphasized Resolution
• Pedal Tones
• Moving "Pedal Tones"
• Example: Aphex Twin, Ventolin
• Combining Multiple Techniques
• Example: Mozart, Sonata in C
• Example: Allen, Angel of Repose
• Film Music and Tension Cues
• Composing for Films
• Any much, much, more!

And of course, once you sign up for this course you automatically get huge discounts to all the upcoming parts of this class.

The course is a roadmap to launching your career as a composer!

All the tools you need to successfully learn Music Composition are included in this course and the entire course is based on real-life experiences - not just academic theory.