Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Young Composers Music Forum

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Where do I start?

Featured Replies

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?

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.

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. 😉

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.