Composing Music for instruments and/or voices(any genre)

From 66.16 C$ /h

Composing your own music has always been a very rewarding task. This has never been so true as the present day when you can hear what you compose instantly if you use computers to generate and play back your own music. However, to ensure that your music sounds really great (whether using computers, manuscript or actual instruments) there are many principles to be considered.

I have had a great interest in composing for over 45 years. I have composed for various combinations of instruments and voices in a wide variety of styles. Having been a music teacher in a comprehensive school for over 30 years, I have had a lot of very relevant experience in teaching composition to a wide range of different ages and abilities. These opportunities have enabled me to tutor students in a diverse variety of genres.

The class will be personalized to your particular standard and chosen style of composition. We would focus on generic building blocks such as structure and instrumentation as well as looking at how to develop ideas. Using a range of compositional devices will also be key to enhancing your compositions. I will tailor-make the class to suit you.

Extra information

It will greatly help the process if you are able to share any music that you have composed (whether it be a recording or the written music).

Location

Online from United Kingdom

About Me

Music has always been my passion. Ever since I was 13 I wanted to become a Music teacher to inspire others to enjoy creating Music. I qualified as a specialist Music teacher in 1984 and taught in a comprehensive school in England for over 34 years before taking early retirement. However, I still had a great desire to teach students from home which I continue to do via the internet.

I have played piano and violin to a high standard for many years. Whilst still a student myself I had plenty of opportunities to play in orchestras and chamber ensembles on a regular basis. Additionally I went on to conduct orchestras, bands and choirs. I have given many pupils the chance to be involved in making music in various different groups, thus enhancing their social experience of combining and co-operating with others.

My great interest in compositing music has been enhanced by having the opportunity to learn the basics of trumpet, guitar, drum kit and ukulele. I have composed in a variety of different genres including instrumental, choral/vocal, incidental music and avant garde. I have composed conventionally (using manuscript paper), using studio techniques and computers.

I have always enjoyed working with a wide range of different musical styles, catering for the interests of my students. This enables me to offer bespoke lessons to my students, demonstrating a great insight into the individuality of each person that I teach.

Education

CNAA certificate for specialist Music Teachers
B Mus (2i) Birmingham University
S level Music - 2
A level Music - A
O level Music - A
Grade 8 violin
Grade 8 piano

Experience / Qualifications

Software programs used :-
Logic Pro
Garageband
Sibelius
Personal Composer

Instruments played :-
Piano/keyboard/organ
Violin/viola
Drums
Bass guitar

Age

Children (7-12 years old)

Teenagers (13-17 years old)

Adults (18-64 years old)

Seniors (65+ years old)

Student level

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Duration

30 minutes

The class is taught in

English

Skills

Music composition

Reviews

Availability of a typical week

(GMT -04:00)

New York

Online via webcam

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

00-04

04-08

08-12

12-16

16-20

20-24

Getting to Grips with Music Theory is simpler than you think!

66.16 C$ /h

The theory of everything tends to be really scary and music theory can be too. I am very keen to make music theory easy for everyone. For some people there is only one way to tackle the unmentionable but I believe there are many different approaches and one of them will click with you. It is simply finding out what is best for each person. Once we find the key we can unlock the problems that have puzzled you for ages.

Music theory needs to be more than a requirement, it needs to be the way to really appreciate the music you are playing. Certain aspects can also lead to additional practical skills such as improvisation which can be very useful as well as very enjoyable.

Whether you want to understand a particular aspect of music theory or If you struggle with music theory in general, then this is the class for you - why not give it a try?

Improvisation for beginners and intermediates (any instrument)

66.16 C$ /h

Would you classify improvisation as composition or performance? Well actually it is both! When you improvise you are composing music on the spot, performing what you have made up at the same time as you have composed it.

For many people improvisation is a scary word and having to improvise in a group or band is an alarming prospect. However, this really does not need to be the case. As long as you have a basic knowledge of how to play your instrument you will be able to improvise. Once you know the principle of how chords are formed you will soon be improvising with ease.

The key to success is understanding chords. Once you know how chords are formed and know what notes make up a few chords you will be well on your way towards being able to improvise. We will, therefore, start by ensuring a firm knowledge of certain chords. After this we will progress to improvising a simple melody over the top of these chords. The next stage is to start using notes that are not in the chord. The process is then open ended with emphasis on developing the melody.

If you play a keyboard instrument you will be able to improvise your own pieces and be able to entertain your friends at a moments notice. On the other hand if you play in a band or a group you will be well equipped to do a real 'jam' session.

Whether you play a single line instrument (flute, saxophone, trumpet, violin etc.) or keyboard instruments, this class is for you.

Lou-Indigo

4.87

(84)

The course that I propose is BILINGUAL FRENCH / ENGLISH, as well as 2 BOOKS.

Age and musical taste are not restrictive when in the program, you can with qualitative daily work (not quantitative) quickly observe your progress.

Here the pleasure of playing music is put forward.

The kind of music you love most will be the focus of the course, their codes and secrets will be the focus of our study, that's what I want to share with you.

We can do technical lessons and simply learn together how to play one or more songs of your choice or mine, enrich your game with this approach and your repertoire!

(For example, We can re-arrange the pieces and make them more original by approaching the system (CAGED), and enriching their chords, resulting in new positions, new techniques and new sounds, using arpeggio techniques rather than strumming for 4-chord pieces, voicing and fingerstyle techniques, in short, expanding the instrument's playing fields and playing skills to keep progressing in your game and improve your rehearsals ...)

If you make a request, this program is obviously accompanied by the pleasure of learning more in theory and being able to directly apply new knowledge on its instrument and identify its common or rare use in the pieces discussed in class.

In this case, the theory is translated to be accessible to anyone, both for those who are connoisseurs and for those who discover everything from absolute zero.
The exercises, songs, and theoretical explanations offered throughout the program are organized in an order of progressive difficulty.

I wrote and produced 2 books of my method to learn the guitar and the music, that I sell to accompany my course and your apprenticeship in the best conditions and so that you can continue the course even at home and to review etc ... .
There is ONE BOOK OF COURSES containing all the theoretical and practical program of the year, as well as a BOOK OF EXERCISE on the ranges and the modes that you can obtain directly.

You can find here an indicative list of objectives that I propose in my theoretical program, which can of course adapt to your request.

The general theoretical objectives of the course:

--- Tuning / tuning and knowing his guitar:
* Standard Tuning
* Drop Tuning
* Open Tuning
* Adjust the optimal tension of the strings
* Adjust the shaft axis
* Adjust the action of the strings
* Choose the strings adapted to the style of play / tuning
* Change his strings

-Know his chords:
* Triads: Fundamental State & Inversions
* Tetrads: Fundamental State & Inversions
* The chord progressions of the Range
* Arpeggio techniques (tapping, sweep, 1/2/4 fing.shape, etc ...)

--- Know his scales and his modes

* The Mode of the Major scale
* 3 Modes of the Minor scale: Natural / Melodic / Harmonic
* Modes of the Pentatonic range: 5 positions
* Modes of the Blues range: 5 positions
Etc ...

--- Technique to the Pick / Plectrum / Tab / Pick (Electric Guitar):
* Alternate Picking
* Fast Picking / Tremolo Picking
* Hybrid Picking
* Palm Mute
* Natural Harmonics
* Pinch Harmonics
* Artificial Harmonics
* Shredding
* Tapping
* Sweep Picking
* Legato Picking

--- Strumming / Hand Picking (Acoustic Guitar)
* "SnareDrum" percussion on the guitar
* Arpeggios pinched with 4 fingers + thumb
* Rasgueado (Flamenco Technique)
* Generic Strumming
* Fingerstyle Picking
* Two-finger picking + Legato for fast melodies (eg a solo)

-Play the metronome
* exercises on click
* practice on song riffs

-Learn his favorite songs
* without thinking about the difficulty, nothing is impossible with the right methodology

-Improvise
* choose ranges and positions
* to place oneself rhythmically, to finish on the judicious notes

-Theory of Harmony
* Understand harmonization and its practice

-Theory on the Melody

-Theory of Rhythm

Ryo

4.87

(84)

Hello,

Electric & Acoustic Guitar tuition from complete beginners to advanced.
(Also Ukulele lessons would be available if fancy)

If anyone considers taking up the guitar exams and becoming a qualified guitarist, I can back you up.

Any styles,
pop/rock/blues/jazz/funk/classical guitar, etc.
Whatever songs/riffs/comps/(16th note) strumming patterns (lead guitar/rhythm guitar) harmony and music theory, solfeggio(aural), and so on.

Lessons will be tailored to you.
it's not brain surgery. it's going to be a lot of fun!

I can travel to your house or you come to my place.
Also, Skype lessons would be available.

Lessons are always for students.
So enjoy playing the guitar and lessons to move up to the next level.

Any further questions, please feel free to ask.
Thanks for reading and look forward to working with you.
You can't afford to miss it!!

Cheers,
Ryo

Daniel

4.87

(84)

I am a multi-instrumentalist (saxophone, transverse flute, keyboard), composer and arranger (SACEM member since 2012), excellent improviser. This course will allow you quickly, whatever your instrument and your technical level, to understand and master the chord sequences and the articulation of musical language according to these sequences. In addition, you will learn the most frequent or rare harmonic structures used by composers. And, theory notwithstanding, you will learn to develop your ear to identify harmonic structures. This course also includes an introduction to the history of jazz.

Gema

4.87

(84)

The most important matter that I could write here about is my passion to teach. I've been teaching already for more than 10 years, from kids to adults. I'm a classical pianist, but I am opened to other musical styles. What I want you to get from your lessons with me, is not only a huge knowledge of theorical stuff or a great technique, I would like to show you my musical world, the imagination and inner exploration that is required to understand and to love music in a whole new level. Once you have found them, it will be very hard to quit playing!

The class duration: You can choose!
20 minutes (Great for the youngest : 3 years old)
30 minutes (Ideal for young beginners from 4 years old)
45 minutes (Intermediate+ adult beginners)
1 hour (Intermediate and combined with some Music Theory)

I use different methods depending on:
1) The goals of my student
2) The language that we will use on class
3) Age and musical preferences: I start to teach children from 3 years old, we make games and they learn to play through musical stories that I have created throughout my pedagogical career.

Alfred

4.87

(84)

Do you want to start playing bass, or are you already an experienced musician looking to deepen your connection with the instrument?

It doesn't matter if your goal is to develop new skills or enhance the ones you already have. These lessons will be tailored to both your level and personal musical taste.

My goal is to make you a better bass player, and to achieve that, we can cover a variety of topics depending on your needs, such as:

Stylistic variety: Jazz, Funk, Soul, Hip-Hop, Pop, Rock, Latin...
Technical skills
Audio production
Rhythm perception, polyrhythms, odd meters...
Music theory: Jazz harmony, sight-reading...
Ear training

Jeremy

4.87

(84)

Hi, my name is Jeremy and I've played music for 19 years, having performed over 200 concerts and composed with a wide variety of groups and ensembles across England and Belgium in many genres (Funk, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Rock, Alternative, Punk and more). I have completed 3 years of intensive bass study at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and am currently playing bass plus backing-vocals and song arrangement for Kids of the Elephant and Arrubio.

In these lessons, I will help you reach your goals while having fun in the process, keeping the lessons structured and tailored to your personal needs. I have 5 years of experience helping students improve as well as specialist knowledge in a multitude of styles. Some examples of what you might learn include:

- Correct hand positioning & posture for best performance and faster learning.
- Learning your favorite songs quickly and easily.
- Breaking down rhythms & dynamics
- Understanding the role of bass playing in a band.
- Understanding what makes a good bassline and composing your own.
- Essential music theory for bass & more advanced techniques (eg: melodic techniques, rhythmic, slap bass, etc)
- How to improvise, jam and play with other musicians.

Appropriate homework/exercises and recordings are provided during lessons. I also like to give advice and direction for people with musical aspirations. I'm also an empathetic person that loves teaching, so don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.

Jan

4.87

(84)

Do you want to learn how to write music but don't know where to start? Do you want to take your composing and songwriting skills to higher level? Do you want to feel free when improvising? Do you want to know what is the theoretical background behind the music you love so much? I can help you with all of that.

I offer theoretical and practical lessons about composition, producing and music theory in any genre. Do you wish to understand the music you love and get a new appreciation for it? I can help you with better understanding of it. I will do my best to find out what is the best and the most fun process for you to learn and start developing your own musical ideas.

Haotian

4.87

(84)

Internationally active composer and music theorist (M.Mus) currently accepting students for the following subjects (online sessions):
-Music theory (basic to college level), including harmony, counterpoint, analysis
-Western music history (medieval to contemporary), music appreciation
-Composition, music notation (software + score preparation), electronic music, university application portfolio feedback and general application advising
-English (for academic writing)

Javier

4.87

(84)

Let me teach you to write your own songs, learn any song by ear, create your own style or begin your journey into the world of music and playing the piano. My method is based on learning music from listening, perception and creativity. My classes are extremely practical and adaptable to the needs and interests of the student, from piano applied to songwriting or the understanding of musical language and harmony, to the preparation of different repertoires and the writing of your own songs.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Brent

4.87

(84)

Do you have trouble reading music? Do you love listening to music, but don't understand time signatures, keys or chords? Music theory often sounds abstract, but with the right explanation and concrete examples it suddenly becomes a lot more logical, and even fun :)

For whom?
- Beginner or advanced musicians who want to better understand what they are doing.
- Students preparing for music theory exams (e.g. music school, entrance exams).
- Independent artists/producers who want to deepen their musical knowledge.
- Anyone who is curious about the language behind music.

What can you expect?
- Clear explanation, at your own pace.
- Theory made immediately applicable with examples on the piano.
- Extra attention to insight instead of learning dry rules by heart.
- Tutoring fully tailored to your level and goal (classical, pop, songwriting, production, ...).

About me
I obtained a Grade 8 diploma in Music Theory and also a Grade 8 Piano from the Royal Schools of Music. In addition, I hold a diploma in Audio Engineering from Hofa College. I am active as a music artist and producer myself. Thanks to this combination of classical training and practical experience, I know how important it is to make theory understandable, concrete, and musical. I use my own piano during lessons to clarify everything visually and audibly.

Possible topics:
- Learn to read music.
- Scales, chords & harmony.
- Form theory and analysis (classical or pop).
- Rhythm, time signatures & tempo.
- Music theory for producers/songwriters.
- Songwriting.
- Preparation for exams or entrance tests.

Practical
- 1-on-1 lessons, online or live (if you don't live too far away).
- I provide materials, or we work with what you need.
- No prior knowledge required. Lessons adapted to your level.

🎶 Feel free to send me a message with your questions or goals. We'll see how I can best help you.

Michael

4.87

(84)

Hi! I'm Michelangelo, a professional musician with over 10 years of experience in the field. I trained at the Lizard and have worked in various live settings, including cruise ships, performing in a wide range of musical genres.

My lessons are designed for students of all levels and are customized to their individual goals and needs. We'll work on technique, applied theory, rhythm, ear development, and repertoire, with a practical and engaging approach. My goal is to help you improve effectively, building confidence and enjoying your instrument.

Elseba

4.87

(84)

Have you always wanted to sing with more confidence? Are you preparing for an audition, performance, or simply looking to improve your vocal skills? Whatever your goal, I’m here to help you develop your voice in a supportive, encouraging, and enjoyable learning environment.

My lessons are tailored to each student’s individual needs, experience level, and musical interests. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an intermediate singer looking to refine your technique, we’ll work together to build a healthy, expressive, and confident voice.

In our lessons, we’ll focus on:

* Healthy vocal technique
* Breath support and breath control
* Pitch accuracy and ear training
* Expanding your vocal range
* Resonance, tone, and vocal freedom
* Vocal warm-ups and exercises
* Musical interpretation and expression
* Performance confidence and stage presence
* Musical theatre and contemporary singing
* Audition and performance preparation

I believe that every voice is unique and deserves individual attention. My teaching approach combines solid vocal technique with practical application, helping you understand how your voice works while building the confidence to perform with ease and authenticity.

Lessons are interactive, encouraging, and designed to help you progress at your own pace. You’ll receive personalized feedback, practical exercises, and guidance that you can continue practicing between lessons to accelerate your improvement.

Whether your dream is to perform on stage, prepare for an audition, improve your singing for personal enjoyment, or simply become a more confident vocalist, I’d be delighted to support you on your musical journey.

I look forward to meeting you and helping you discover the full potential of your voice. Book your first lesson, and let’s start singing together!

Roger

4.87

(84)

I'm Roger from Colombia. I have a master's and bachelor's degree in music. In piano and keyboard lessons, we'll cover everything from sheet music to Latin rhythms (salsa, merengue, cumbia) in a practical and engaging way. Academic training is important, but so is hands-on experience, for complete mastery of your technique. I have over 14 years of teaching experience, 4 of which have been dedicated to online education, using highly visual digital tools for enhanced learning. I am currently a research professor at UNAD University.

Martin

4.87

(84)

I can teach piano, composition, and music theory at the highest level. I can also teach beginners so they develop a solid foundation. I can successfully guide anyone through university entrance exams!

My focus is on classical music.

I teach primarily heuristically, through questions and tasks.

Andrea

4.87

(84)

Do you need help preparing for the entrance exams for Intermediate or Advanced Level Jazz courses? Or are you looking for extra support in your modern music studies?
I'm Andrea, a specialized teacher with over 10 years of teaching experience. I offer:
– Intensive preparation for the theoretical part of entrance exams for intermediate and advanced levels of jazz and modern music
– Reinforcement in subjects such as musical language, modern harmony, arranging and composition
– Practical classes from day one, tailored to your needs
– Teaching materials and personalized follow-up with a teaching platform
My approach combines academic rigor with a relaxed atmosphere. I firmly believe that you can learn seriously without losing your passion for music. We will work on:
– The repertoire you need to master for your exams
– Harmonic and melodic analysis of standards, modern songs, large ensembles, etc. Or any style you need, 100% adaptability :)
– Development of musical ear
– Composition and arrangement techniques
– All from a practical and applied perspective.
If you're looking for a teacher who combines experience, professionalism, and a personal touch, I'd be delighted to help you on your musical journey. Don't hesitate to contact me for more information or to schedule your first lesson.
Availability for face-to-face classes in Barcelona and online.

If you like this approach, write to me! Learning music is an exciting journey, and I'd love to be your guide :)

Important! I combine classes with concerts and various musical projects. I appreciate occasional flexibility to reschedule (only when strictly necessary).

The schedule is for summer; it changes during the school year.