Music composition is the art of writing and notating music for classical instruments, such as piano, violin, clarinet, or trumpet.
While most people think of Mozart and Beethoven when they hear the term "composer," there are many living composers who write music for orchestras, operas, ensembles, movie scores, and more.
Composers write for many different groupings of instruments but some of the most common are: solo piano, voice and piano, string quartet, wind ensemble, band, and full orchestra.
Though many composers enjoy writing by hand while they are in the early stages of a composition, most use music notation software such as Finale or Sibelius to produce their final composition. There are many user-friendly music notation softwares that are great for beginners to learn on!
MEET THE TEACHERS
MEET THE TEACHERS
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
MELODY & HARMONY
Understanding how to write a melody is an essential part of music composition. Not only will you learn the basics of melody writing and phrasing, but you'll also learn about writing harmony and chord progressions.
RHYTHM
Rhythm is another important aspect of music competition. You'll learn how to use tempo and time signatures to set the tone of your piece and how to write and notate rhythms.
FORM & STRUCTURE
All composition have a form, or a basic structure. Many musical compositions are broken up into different sections which help balance old & new material to keep the listener interested.
INSTRUMENTATION
Writing for different instruments (especially when you've never played them!) can be difficult. Composers need to learn how to write for different instruments while keeping in mind the range and unique limitations of each instrument.
MUSIC NOTATION
Music notation is the practice of writing notes on a music staff. Composers need to know how to translate the melodies they are writing in their head or on their instrument into written music on the page.
SOFTWARE
Most modern composers use notation software to produce clean and professional looking pieces. Your composition teacher will help you find the best software for your goals (and your price range) and help you learn how to use the software.
F.A.Q.
about music composition lessons at NOLA School of Music
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
about music composition lessons at NOLA School of Music
DO I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
In order to compose music, you will need to have some basic experience on any instrument (or singing with sheet music).
If you have never read music on a staff before, you will find music composition difficult, since a huge part of composing is learning how to notate your music for others to read.
If you don't currently play an instrument, we recommend starting out with 6-12 month of music lessons on an instrument. You also may want to look into songwriting lessons, which are more beginner-friendly.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPOSITION AND SONGWRITING?
Composition and songwriting are similar, and though the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there is a difference between the two.
Composition refers to writing "classical" music, sometimes called modern, contemporary, or academic music. This music is notated on sheet music so it can be performed by other musicians. Composers typically write for instruments that are found in an orchestra: violin, cello, clarinet, oboe, trumpet, tuba, timpani, etc. Composer can write vocal music, however it is typically performed by classical or opera vocalists and is notated (along with the accompaniment) on sheet music.
Songwriting refers to writing "popular" music, which includes pop, rock, jazz, indie, folk, country, bluegrass, metal, blues, and any other popular genres. Songwriters typically write the vocal melody, the lyrics, and the chord progression. They notate their work with recordings, lyric sheets, and chord sheets. No knowledge of music notation is required to be a songwriter.
WILL I BE ABLE TO HAVE MY WORK PERFORMED?
Absolutely! Music composition students will have the opportunity to have a solo or duo piece performed in our student concert by one of our teachers. Our teachers are all professional musicians with extensive performance experience in the New Orleans area.
This experience of having your music performed by professionals is invaluable for a composer and we're happy to provide that opportunity!
Unfortunately we can't provide performances of large ensemble, choral, or orchestral pieces, but we encourage our students to look for opportunities to submit their pieces for performance opportunities in festivals, recitals, and compositions.
LESSON OPTIONS
LESSON OPTIONS
30-MINUTE LESSONS
30-minute lessons are our most popular option at NOLA School of Music. They are ideal for beginners and children who don't have enough material (or the attention span) for a longer lesson.
60-MINUTE LESSONS
60-minute weekly lessons are great for adults or intermediate/advanced students. An hour lesson gives your teacher plenty of time to focus on technique, sight-reading, improvisation, and other aspects of music without being rushed.
45-MINUTE LESSONS
For many students, 45-minute weekly lessons are the perfect sweet spot. Since 45-minute lessons are difficult to schedule, they may only be available during early afternoon hours or late evening.
PRICING OPTIONS
PRICING OPTIONS
PRICING OPTIONS
Sign up for weekly lessons (with unlimited makeup lessons) at a discounted rate.
OUR MOST POPULAR OPTION
We've found that students who commit to a weekly time have the most success at learning an instrument.
RESERVED WEEKLY TIME SLOT
You'll have a regular reserved time slot with the same teacher each week.
UNLIMITED MAKEUP LESSONS
Schedule a free makeup (through our easy-to-use online portal) for any lesson cancelled by 7 PM the night before.
VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON
Choose between virtual lessons (over Zoom) or in-person lessons at our Mid-City, New Orleans location.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Perform solo, with your teacher, or with a full band in our bi-annual student concerts.
NO LONG-TERM CONTRACT
Simply let us know before your first lesson of the month if you would like to discontinue lessons.
FLAT-RATE MONTHLY PRICE
Save an average of 32% compared to our A La Carte lessons!
Please note: different months may contain 3, 4, or 5 lessons depending on our schedule, but all monthly students are guaranteed a minimum of 48 lessons per year.
Book individual lessons with no weekly commitment.
Sign up for weekly lessons (with unlimited makeup lessons) at a discounted rate.
OUR MOST POPULAR OPTION
We've found that students who commit to a weekly time have the most success at learning an instrument.
RESERVED WEEKLY TIME SLOT
You'll have a regular reserved time slot with the same teacher each week.
UNLIMITED MAKEUP LESSONS
Schedule a free makeup (through our easy-to-use online portal) for any lesson cancelled by 7 PM the night before.
VIRTUAL OR IN-PERSON
Choose between virtual lessons (over Zoom) or in-person lessons at our Mid-City, New Orleans location.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Perform solo, with your teacher, or with a full band in our bi-annual student concerts.
NO LONG-TERM CONTRACT
Simply let us know before your first lesson of the month if you would like to discontinue lessons.
FLAT-RATE MONTHLY PRICE
Save an average of 32% compared to our A La Carte lessons!
Please note: different months may contain 3, 4, or 5 lessons depending on our schedule, but all monthly students are guaranteed a minimum of 48 lessons per year.
