Where do I start?

I've had this idea of composing music all my life, but I really haven't thought of it in terms of just jumping into it, but instead thought you just go to music academy to learn those things. I'm currently studying for a math degree and don't think I'll have time to learn music the usual way, so I thought about learning. Maybe from courses on the internet? Or is there a site that teaches all these things.

My focus is just composing classical music, focusing on piano. Any recommendations on where to start?

23 hours ago, Spirit said:

My focus is just composing classical music, focusing on piano. Any recommendations on where to start?

Do you play an instrument?

On 12/10/2025 at 8:47 AM, Spirit said:

Any recommendations on where to start?

Yeah also from what I heard from you in discord, learning how to read and write on five staff would be necessary for you to compose later on. Basic music theory, for example from this book will help:

Elements of Music (3rd Edition): Joseph N. Straus: 9780205007097: Amazon.com: Books

Henry

I have book recommendations: 

1.  You'll need solid ground in counterpoint: 

Getting Started with Species Counterpoint: Williams, Victoria: 9798296673176: Amazon.com: Books

Convertible Counterpoint in the Strict Style (Classic Reprint): Serge Ivanovitch Taneiev: 9780332047874: Amazon.com: Books

Counterpoint by Walter Piston (1947) Hardcover: unknown author: Amazon.com: Books

Knowing counterpoint, will be your first stop. 🙂 

After that, you can move on to harmony, form, and orchestration.

50 minutes ago, Kvothe said:

Knowing counterpoint, will be your first stop. 🙂 

After that, you can move on to harmony, form, and orchestration.

It will be way too early to learn counterpoint if you cannot read score and know the basics of music theory first!

It's impossible to say where to start without knowing where you presently are.

19 hours ago, Henry Ng Tsz Kiu said:

It will be way too early to learn counterpoint if you cannot read score and know the basics of music theory first!

 

Valid point. 

I thought, maybe, starting at species counterpoint might be easier. 😉