Music Composition Lessons on DVD?

Originally Posted by P.J. Meiser

Not to be pedantic, but a DVD doesn't seem like a very intuitive way to learn theory and composition. Those books you've ordered seem like a good start though. I wouldn't discount the "complete idiot's guide" book; I've found them to actually be pretty helpful, especially for a beginner like yourself.

I like video courses. They're easy to watch over and over again and each time I usually get something new.

I have have this Music Fundamentals Course from the Teaching Company.

Understanding the Fundamentals of Music

There are 16 lectures on 4 DVDs.

It was a good course, the only problem is that it was pretty introductory and didn't even get into music notation at all. Certainly not into music composition. He did touch on modulation techniques at the end. And he also gave examples of Wagner's Tristan in that course. He had lots of examples of how different things were done.

I think what I'd like to see is some examples of how to write a symphony from scratch. Kind of like one of those painting programs where the artist shows how to paint the background and then build things on top of that.

If fact, according to the reveiws I've read that one book I ordered "Composing Music: A New Approach" sounds like it precisely that kind of thing. It supposedly teaches to build a background and then "hang" melodies to decorate it. (ha ha)

Hey, I'm game for anything that works.

I just prefer to watch a video than read a book. I'm lazy.

There's no reason people can't make these books into video lessons.

By the way!!!

If anyone is interested in that Teaching Company Course don't pay $254 for it!

All their courses go on SALE at least once a year. I think this course is like $69 when it's on sale. That's what I paid for it I think. So if you're interested in that course send them an email and ask them when it goes on sale next. It is pretty basic though. It's a nice course for a raw beginning to music theory, but it's probably too simplistic for most people on this forum.

It's certainly not going to teach anyone how to compose. It's really like a basic intro to the rudiments of music theory. I watch sometimes just because it's interesting to watch. (ha ha)

He's a good lecturer I think.

Fundamentally, music composition comes down to three methods that you can use interchangeably.

Method #1: Compose linearly based on what you hear, then fill in the harmonic gaps with what sounds like it works.

Method #2: Compose a harmonic progression of sorts and compose any melodic content from that

Method #3: Write a bunch of matrices, sets, and motifs you are fond of, bunch them together as you would hear them, then call it art.

Anyone? Anyone else have a thought for the guy? People, stop dodging the question and give him some ideas. I mean, c'mon!

-AA