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1-on-1 Music Theory - Learn How to Compose Your Own Music Step-by-Step

Completed by 1 learner
Ages 11-15
Live 1-on-1 Lessons
One-on-one music theory instruction to develop the understanding needed to write your own music in standard music notation, customized to the learner's personal preferences and goals!
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:
(44 reviews)

Live video meetings
Meets on demand
40 min

What's included

Meets on Demand
schedule meetings as needed
40 mins
per session
Teacher support
Homework
1 hour per week. Homework will be an extension of what we work on in class to give you more practice or a chance to experiment with what you are learning. All homework will either be provided as an editable PDF or can be completed in Noteflight (free online music notation software). The homework assigned is optional and can instead be completed together during a subsequent class session. Homework for each session should take 20-40 minutes, although you may find yourself spending more time if you're really having fun experimenting with writing your music!

Class Experience

Beginner - Intermediate Level
Do you want to learn the basics of writing music, but don't have any musical background and don't know where to start? Or do you have some background in music, but want to start digging into music theory and how music is composed? These one-on-one sessions are designed for learners who want to cover the foundations of music theory and over the course of multiple sessions, understand how to read and write sheet music and develop your own professional-looking short piece of music, complete with a melody and harmony!

To better understand all the foundational music theory concepts we're covering, each class will include instruction and demonstration, plus lots of interaction through discussion and practicing applying the concepts. We will use free online music notation software called Noteflight both during class and for homework. Homework is optional and intended to allow learners to continue to explore what they are learning.

As a one-on-one class, the concepts we cover can be customized for students from a range of musical backgrounds -  from no prior music experience to knowing how to play an instrument at a beginner to intermediate level. If you have more advanced experience with music but haven't learned much music theory yet, this class will also be a good fit for you! 

Below is an overview of basic concepts that we would begin with in this class. Each concept listed below usually takes a full session to cover and explore, so unless you just want to fill in some music theory knowledge gaps for yourself, it is recommended to take multiple sessions of this class. If you are not sure how many sessions you should sign up for, please send me a message describing the learner's music experience and ability to read music notation and their goals, and I will be able to make a recommendation. 

- Learning what qualifies as a "note," identifying note values (rhythms), rests, how time signatures work, and how to write a complete measure rhythmically.

- Learning about the musical alphabet, how to read treble and bass clef, and the basics of using Noteflight.

- Learning the basics of intervals and the pattern of intervals for major scales. 

- Learning how to write a melody in C major in Noteflight and how to make changes to your written melody.

- Learning about sharps, flats, and key signatures.

- Learning about the circle of fifths and the ways we use it when writing music.

- Learning how to form a simple chord called a triad and experimenting with writing chords in Noteflight.

- Learning about basic chord progressions in major keys and experimenting with creating different chord progressions, noting what makes something sound like an "end" and what makes it sound like it needs to "keep going". 

- Learning how to quickly add a melody to any repeating chord progression.

- Learning how to add simple chords to a melody, and experimenting with adding chords to your own melody.

- Learning about minor scales and their three basic forms, and experimenting with writing melodies in minor keys.

- Learning the differences between chord progressions in major keys and basic chord progressions in minor keys.

- Working on a larger project in your key of choice (major or minor), including writing melodies, harmonies, and experimenting with combinations of different timbres of different instruments in Noteflight.

- Learning how to compose a duet for two same instruments or different instruments.

- Learning how to write a four-part harmony (commonly known as a SATB harmony, or soprano-alto-tenor-bass, with 4 different moving lines).


As a violinist for over 30 years and as a music teacher for over 20 years, I know that understanding music theory is a fantastic way to improve musicianship. Because of this, I've always incorporated a little music theory into every violin lesson I teach, from beginning to advanced and elementary through high school level. The music theory classes I took in college were also some of my very favorite classes, so I am really excited to bring this subject to life for your learners, too!

Learning Goals

Students will learn foundational music theory concepts which can include:
- Reading music notation in treble and bass clef
- Understanding time signatures
- Understanding rhythm notation
- Understanding sharps and flats
- Understanding key signatures and scales
- Understanding basic intervals
- Introduction to the circle of fifths
- Able to form triads (simple chords)
- Understanding of main differences between major and minor keys
- Introduction to common chord progressions
- Able to write a melody
- Able to write chords to accompany a melody
- Able to write chord progressions in different keys
- Able to write duets for two different instruments
- Able to write four part harmony

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Students will be assigned their own private account through my Noteflight Learn domain, which is separate from the main consumer accounts on Noteflight for student safety. As the Noteflight team explains on their website: "Noteflight Learn is appropriate for students of all ages, and is compliant with COPPA, FERPA, GDPR and CCPA. Noteflight Learn allows schools and/or districts to create their own private website for their students (e.g. "schoolname.sites.noteflight.com") which serves as a walled garden, completely separate from the consumer accounts on noteflight.com." This means that students do not need to create an account on the main (public) Noteflight page, and will be assigned an account at https://portillomusic.sites.noteflight.com/ shortly before the first class session.
Supply List
Learners will need a free Noteflight account in the instructor's provided Noteflight domain (https://portillomusic.sites.noteflight.com/) and one of the following browsers to use the Noteflight online software: Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or Mobile Safari. The learner's Noteflight username will be provided before the first class meeting. Please note that the instructor specific Noteflight domain will have a separate login than the public Noteflight domain to ensure learner safety, so if you already have a regular Noteflight account you will still be provided with a free account in the instructor's Noteflight domain.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Meet the teacher

Joined September, 2021
5.0
44reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Music from California State University Northridge
I have a BA in Music Education and have been teaching music for well over 20 years now. As part of my bachelor's degree training in music education, I took several courses in music theory plus writing and arranging music for chorus, band, and orchestra for student musicians at the elementary through high school level. After completing my degree, I went on to complete graduate courses to obtain a single-subject K-12 credential in music. Since understanding music theory is an essential part of becoming a better musician, I have always incorporated it into whichever instrument I am teaching at the level of the student, beginner to advanced, and elementary through high school level. 

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