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Private Composition Lessons

Interested in studying composition or one of its related disciplines? Please fill out the form below so I can learn more about your background, interests, and goals—I’ll follow up with next steps.

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About My Services

I provide private instruction in music composition and related topics:

  • Harmony
  • Music theory
  • Instrumentation
  • Orchestration
  • Electronic music production
  • Writing music for media
  • Songwriting
  • Analysis and criticism
  • Music history
  • Engraving and notation

My Philosophy and Approach

I do not teach an aesthetic or prescribe what “good music” is. My goal is to help you create the music you want to hear. I work with students to clarify their musical voice, strengthen their technical toolkit, and pursue their own creative goals.

What a Lesson Typically Looks Like

  • You’ll begin by sharing a small portfolio of works you’ve created, including your current project(s).
  • In our early lessons, I’ll assess your music theory background and aural skills.
  • If fundamentals are lacking, I’ll guide you through music theory, critical listening, and ear training exercises.
  • If you’re already advanced, we’ll identify your goals and design our time accordingly.

Common Goals We Can Focus On

  • Writing for a specific instrument
  • Preparing professional-looking scores and parts
  • Composing for youth groups or educational ensembles
  • Preparing a portfolio for college, grad school, or summer programs
  • Overcoming writer’s block or burnout
  • Writing music for video games, dance, or film

Why Technique Comes First

Craft matters. A strong technical foundation helps you:

  • Express sonic ideas with clarity
  • Communicate effectively with performers
  • Write readable, expressive scores
  • Convey meaning to audiences

Technique includes not just harmony, melody, and form, but also tempo, dynamics, articulation, and clear instructions to performers. Good technique ensures your music is performable, interpretable, and expressive.

I also believe that musical meaning is never “abstract” — sound always carries associations. As composers, we are combining a collage of sounds and their cultural and emotional contexts. Clear technique helps you wield those associations intentionally.

Aesthetic Considerations

My own work draws from:

  • 20th century classical music
  • American jazz
  • Cuban and Latin popular music
  • Western art music traditions (especially Medieval and Baroque)

However, I welcome students from all musical backgrounds and interests. I will never force my tastes on you. Teaching should serve your creative path — not enforce someone else’s.

Technical Considerations

Can you write a good tune? Can your parts be sight-read with ease? Can a rehearsal run smoothly without your presence? These are practical and important questions. We’ll focus on:

  • Developing clear musical ideas
  • Writing idiomatically for instruments
  • Editing your scores and parts to industry standard
  • Learning tools for digital engraving and mockups
  • Preparing materials for performers, publishers, and festivals

Long-Term Vision

My long-term goal is to mentor independent artists. I want my students to:

  • Develop self-critical tools
  • Cultivate their own voice
  • Think practically and aesthetically
  • Feel empowered to keep in touch about new work, goals, or feedback

What I Need Before Our First Lesson

Checklist

  • A portfolio of 2–3 works (any length, any instrumentation)
  • Include scores, recordings, or video performances if possible
  • These help me assess your current skills and interests
  • A recording of you performing, even if brief
  • This can be voice, piano, your main instrument, or something experimental
  • Great performers make better composers. Don’t neglect that side of yourself!
  • Your short- and long-term goals
  • Short-term: Prepare an application portfolio, finish a piece for a reading, etc.
  • Long-term: Build a catalog of works, get published, write an opera

Be specific. The more specific your goals, the easier they are to achieve.

If I believe we’re a good fit, I’ll invite you to schedule a lesson. If not, I’ll offer recommendations or refer you to someone who better suits your needs.

Assignments

In addition to your personal work, I will assign structured exercises based on your needs. These may include:

  • Transcriptions
  • Arrangements
  • Analysis of relevant works
  • Music theory or harmony worksheets

All assignments are personalized, with a clear structure for skill development.