Studio
Composition study for Emerging young composers
Private online instruction for high-school and college students who want to develop as composers.
Areas of Study
Composition
Developing and refining musical ideas–where craft meets art and imagination meets discipline. We’ll explore how musical materials can be generated, transformed, developed, and shaped into compelling structures and expressive works.
Counterpoint
Learning how independent musical lines interact. Synthesizes consonance and dissonance, activity and stasis, process and spontaneity. Counterpoint is an arena for developing a sense of balance and interaction between voices, while learning to make the most of limited materials.
Orchestration
Understanding individual instruments—their timbre, capabilities, limitations, and idiomatic possibilities—and learning how to combine them effectively. Orchestration is ultimately about sound: resonance, balance, color, and how individual voices contribute to a larger musical texture.
Harmony & Analysis
Studying both historical tonal repertoire and contemporary works to understand how pieces operate from the inside: how harmony, form, rhythm, texture, and other musical materials interact. Analysis becomes a way of absorbing useful models and approaches into your own compositional practice.
Engraving & Score Preparation
Learning to communicate musical ideas clearly through notation. We’ll consider effective notation, clean and readable presentation, and the practical expectations of professional performers and ensembles when they receive a score and parts.
Portfolio & College Preparation
For students preparing composition portfolios or applications for college and conservatory programs, lessons can also include repertoire selection, portfolio development, and application preparation.
Who I teach
I work with high-school and college students who are serious about developing as composers.
The studio is focused on concert music, with an emphasis on classical and contemporary classical composition.Students do not need to be interested in writing music in one particular style. We will work with historical models, contemporary techniques, and whatever musical materials are most useful to the the development of your voice.Approach
Our work centers on your music and your development as a composer.
Craft is central to this process as a way of understanding musical possibilities. I don't believe in prescribing a single way of writing music. Historical and contemporary techniques, from Renaissance counterpoint to 21st-century approaches to harmony, rhythm, and texture, are tools for expanding your capabilities. Through composition, score study, analysis, and experimentation, we will develop your musical vocabulary, your sensitivity to resonance, and your ability to communicate your ideas clearly to performers and listeners.
My goal is to help you become a more curious, discerning, and perceptive musician—and, ultimately, more yourself: able to recognize what your music is trying to do and find increasingly effective ways to bring those ideas to life.Interested in Studying Together?
Tell me a little about yourself and what you'd like to work on. I'll follow up to discuss whether the studio is a good fit and find a time to meet.A private 60-minute Zoom lesson tailored to your work and goals. Depending on what you're working on, we might develop a composition, study a score, work through counterpoint or harmony, explore orchestration, or refine a score and parts.
Four private 60-minute Zoom lessons designed to give you time to develop ideas and make meaningful progress between sessions. We’ll establish goals for the four-lesson period and shape each session around your current work, questions, and development as a composer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are lessons in person or online?
All lessons are conducted online via Zoom. Online instruction makes it possible to work with students regardless of location while still allowing us to share scores, recordings, notation, and other materials easily during lessons.
Do you teach songwriting or popular music?
No. My studio focuses on contemporary classical composition. If you are interested in vocal music, we can study art song, opera, and other traditions that connect words and music.
Do I need to be an expert in music theory?
No. You do not need an extensive background in theory to study composition with me. A basic ability to read music and a genuine interest in classical and contemporary classical music are a great starting point. We can develop your theoretical knowledge as it becomes useful to your compositional work.
I don't like dissonant or experimental music. Is that all you teach?
Not at all. We can study and write music in a wide range of styles and approaches. At the same time, I believe there is value in exploring music that initially feels unfamiliar, challenging, or even unapproachable. You don't have to love everything you encounter, but approaching unfamiliar repertoire with the assumption that there is something worth learning from it can open up new possibilities in your own work.
Do I need expensive notation software?
No. There are excellent free and inexpensive notation programs available, and you do not need professional software to begin studying composition. If you decide to pursue composition more seriously or professionally, we can discuss which notation software would make the most sense for your needs.
Do I need to play an instrument?
You do not need to be an advanced instrumentalist, but some ability to play an instrument can be very helpful for a composer. We can work with your existing skills and discuss ways to develop your ability to hear, explore, and test musical ideas.
Do I need to have written music before?
No. You should have some musical experience and an interest in composition, but you do not need an extensive portfolio or years of formal composition study. We can begin wherever you are and build from there.
Can you help me prepare a portfolio for college or conservatory?
Yes. Portfolio development and application preparation can be part of our work, particularly for students preparing for undergraduate composition programs. We can discuss repertoire selection, presentation, written materials, and how to make your portfolio represent you as a composer.