Music Composition I for Teens: Melody & Song Writing Techniques for Beginners
Do you have a musically-inclined teen who wants to take their skill set to the next level? My music composition classes for teens offer a fun way to expand any music student’s skill set through composition.
This self-paced, hands-on class lays the foundation for music composition and song writing: the melody. We will begin by exploring the smallest unit of melody – the motive. We’ll learn how to write them and various ways to manipulate them to create a melody. As we build our melodies, we’ll explore the idea of tonality and how that affects how cohesive our melodic lines sound. We will also spend time doing some musical analysis to understand why we like the songs that we do – and discover how our different tastes in music affect how we approach compositions. This class will conclude with a mini project that will allow students to showcase what they learned.
This class assumes basic music theory knowledge and will cover any concepts beyond what’s listed in the prerequisites. I also offer Private Music Composition Lessons. Music Composition II picks up where this class ends and covers basic harmony.
Noteflight
Students will be writing music almost immediately. As part of the course, they will work in Noteflight, a web-based music composition app. My studio maintains a license for Noteflight Learn in order to provide a private, safe space for students to learn and create their music. This class is not limited by instruments or genres – the concepts covered work for everything. Because of Noteflight, students do not even need to own an instrument. The first week of class will include tutorials on how to use Noteflight.
Outschool Self-Paced Classes
Videos and hands-on activities make up each lesson in this class. Since the class is self-paced, students can work on the material as their schedules allow. Upon completion of assignments, I assess the work and provide feedback. Students are welcome to contact me at any time with questions or for further assistance/information
Prerequisites for the Music Composition I Class
This class is geared towards beginner and intermediate composition students with a solid footing in music theory. In order to fully participate in this class, students should:
- Understand and read basic rhythm (whole notes/rests, half notes/rests, quarter notes/rests, eighth notes/rests, dotted rhythms)
- Able to read Treble and Bass clef including 2 ledger lines above and below
- Able to read sharps and flats
Upcoming Classes & Registration
You can select the start day when you register. This class is always available.
About Outschool
The Outschool platform started as a small learning site geared towards homeschoolers. The pandemic saw an influx of students from traditional schooling backgrounds and Outschool responded. Now, it’s a popular platform that serves students world-wise with thousands of teachers and topics. Outschool provides a safe, inclusive space for all learners and has been a part of our family’s homeschool journey since 2017. I became a teacher there in 2020 when the pandemic forced me to close my in-person studio.
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