Composition (Music)
Learn to compose in your own way, at your own pace, from a classically trained composer.
I graduated in May 2010 from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, as a bachelor of music in composition. Throughout my time as a musician, I've been tutoring and helping friends and classmates.
My composition students would learn all of the theory and history from me that is relevant to their work. I have extensive knowledge in these subjects as well as in composition. This is the technical part of the lesson, but the other part--the conceptual part--is how students learn to follow their own creative instincts.
My goal as a conceptual teacher is not to tell the student what to write, but to identify the student's ambition in each particular work, and to help him/her realize his/her own intentions.
The balance of technical teaching and conceptual guidance will depend on the student's age, prior knowledge, and goals.
Music History
Learn about music history from a classically trained composer.
I graduated in May 2010 from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, as a bachelor of music in composition. I also completed the courses necessary for a minor in music history. Throughout my time as a musician, I've been tutoring and helping friends and classmates.
I always say that the courses I took in music history were really what sparked my creativity as a composer. The more history you know, the more styles you are familiar with, and the more techniques you have at your disposal. This is not just true for composers. Understanding history is a necessary part of being a musician.
Most of my training is in classical music history. Music history is an area where it is best to use a textbook. I use Music in Western Civilization by Craig Wright and Brian Simms. This would of course be supplemented by knowledge I've acquired from other sources, and musical examples that I would recommend.
Music Theory
Learn Music Theory from a classically trained composer.
I graduated in May 2010 from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, as a bachelor of music in composition. Throughout my time as a musician, I've been tutoring and helping friends and classmates.
I started gaining proficiency in music theory in 10th grade when I started taking Music Theory I. When I went to West Chester University in 2005, I tested out of 3 of 4 semesters of both Music Theory and Aural Activities (includes ear training and sight singing). However, I was only allowed to skip the first semester, on the basis that the "credit by exam" was designed for transfer students.
I intend to teach my students in the same way I learned. We would begin with simple intervals, first perfect intervals, then major and minor, and then move on to combining intervals into melodies. We would then move on to identifying chords. First the primary triads- I, IV, and V. Then adding secondary triads- II, VI, III, and VII. We would then add chords with secondary functions, such as V/V, and eventually move on to key changes, and even atonality. Initially, all exercises will be done through 4 part vocal writing.
It's worth pointing out that music theory is closely connected to both ear training and sight singing. A student who wants to learn music theory will inevitably learn a lot of ear training and sight singing skills. The emphasis for a theory student, though, would be on writing and analysis.