Exploring Piano Literature: The Piano Sonata Specialization
Provider: University of Michigan
If you’re eager to delve into the world of piano sonatas and learn from a prestigious institution, this specialization is your perfect match.
This series dives deep into the piano sonata’s rich history and its evolution through the ages.
Start with “The Piano Sonata: Origins to Mozart” to uncover the roots of sonata form.
You’ll explore the early masters like Scarlatti and Mozart and understand how their work shapes what we hear today.
This course helps you distinguish between Baroque and Classical styles, linking them to the keyboard instruments of their times.
Move on to “The Piano Sonata: Beethoven and the Romantics” to see how Beethoven elevated the sonata to new heights.
You’ll navigate the aftermath of his influence, known as the “War of the Romantics,” and compare the distinct piano music traditions from Vienna, England, and France.
Then, “The Piano Sonata: Russian and 20th-21st Century Composers” brings you to the modern era, focusing on the sonata’s transformation in the 20th century, especially in Russia.
You’ll engage with the works of composers like Scriabin and Prokofiev, exploring both Neo-Classical and avant-garde styles.
Filmed at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, these courses not only teach you about sonata form, Beethoven, and Russian composers but also immerse you in the historical context of the piano sonata.
You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of this genre’s development and its ongoing relevance.
Developing Your Musicianship Specialization
Provider: Berklee
Tailored for both beginners and seasoned musicians, this series guides you through the essentials of music theory, performance, and composition with clarity and depth.
Starting with “Developing Your Musicianship,” you’ll grasp the fundamentals of contemporary music.
Professor George W. Russell, Jr. introduces you to scales, intervals, and chords, enhancing your understanding through video lectures, student performances, and interviews.
The course culminates in composing and performing a riff blues tune, allowing you to apply what you’ve learned practically.
“Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys” builds on your knowledge, diving into minor tonalities and the major pentatonic scale.
It sharpens your skills in creating melodies and understanding music’s structure, preparing you for an 8-measure composition project.
For a deeper dive, “Musicianship: Tensions, Harmonic Function, and Modal Interchange” elevates your understanding to an intermediate level.
You’ll explore chord tensions, harmonic function, and modal interchange, refining your ability to discern and create complex musical pieces.
The specialization culminates with “Developing Your Musicianship: Final Project,” where you apply everything learned into a 36-measure composition.
This hands-on project, supported by Professor Russell’s guidance and peer feedback, polishes your musicianship, readying you to share your music confidently.
Throughout the specialization, you’ll acquire skills in music theory, composition, and performance.
You’ll learn to read music notation, identify chords and intervals by ear, and create chord charts.
The Business of Music Production Specialization
Provider: Berklee
Starting with “Music Business Foundations,” you’ll dive into the industry’s history and current trends under the guidance of John Kellogg, a well-versed expert.
This course demystifies recording agreements, copyright law, and the roles of key industry figures like agents and managers.
You’ll learn to analyze contracts and understand copyright, setting a solid foundation for navigating the music business.
Moving on to “The Art of Music Production,” this course focuses on creating impactful recordings with any equipment, emphasizing the importance of your ears in the production process.
It encourages developing a unique artistic identity and enhances your production skills, making it ideal if you’re looking to express yourself through music.
For those keen on the legalities, “Copyright Law in the Music Business” offers clarity.
Led by E. Michael Harrington, it breaks down copyright law, explaining artists’ rights, the concept of Fair Use, and how to handle copyright disputes.
This course is crucial for legally safeguarding your music.
Lastly, “Pro Tools Basics” introduces you to Avid Pro Tools, the industry-standard DAW.
It covers everything from navigating the interface to recording and mixing, perfect for beginners or those curious about Pro Tools.
You’ll gain hands-on experience in music production, from adjusting levels to applying effects like EQ and reverb.
Together, these courses form a comprehensive guide to the music industry, covering production, legal aspects, and business insights.
Music Business Specialization
Provider: Berklee
This series of courses guides you through the complexities of today’s music scene, whether you’re aiming to make your mark as an artist or understand the business behind the music.
“Music Business Foundations,” led by John Kellogg, lays the groundwork, exploring the music industry’s evolution, recording agreements, and copyright law.
It’s an essential starting point if you’re keen to grasp the core aspects of the music business, including contracts and the roles of key industry figures like agents and managers.
For aspiring artists, “Building Your Career in Music: Developing A Brand and Funding Your Music” by Leah Waldo (Elisa Smith) is invaluable.
It covers everything from crafting your artist identity to crowdfunding your first independent record.
This course is your roadmap to launching your music career, with practical advice on branding, networking, and marketing.
If copyright law puzzles you, “Copyright Law in the Music Business” by E. Michael Harrington offers clarity.
You’ll learn what copyright protects, how to deal with infringement, and the impact of technology on copyright.
This course is crucial for creating music within legal boundaries.
Lastly, “Creativity And Entrepreneurship” by Panos Panay inspires you to harness your creativity for career or business innovation.
It teaches thinking like a startup, applying the creative process to problem-solving and collaboration.
This course is perfect for those looking to approach their music career with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Each course is enriched with insights from industry professionals, ensuring you gain practical skills like crowdfunding, reading legal documents, and rapid prototyping.
Music Education for Teachers Specialization
Provider: Berklee
This collection of courses enhances your musical skills and teaching methods, making it ideal for educators and musicians alike.
Let’s explore what each course offers and how it can benefit you.
“Teaching Popular Music in the Classroom” is your gateway to integrating popular music into your lessons.
It focuses on teaching methods that resonate with students, including improvisation, technology, and songwriting, rooted in culturally rich communities across the United States.
This course is versatile, suitable for secondary and elementary educators, and aims to make your music lessons more culturally relevant and engaging.
For those intrigued by the spontaneity of music, “Jazz Improvisation” offers a deep dive into the art of improvisation, guided by jazz legend Gary Burton.
This course demystifies the improvisational process, teaching you to use storytelling, scales, and harmonic motion to enhance your improvisational prowess.
It’s designed to help you communicate your musical ideas more effectively.
“Arranging for Songwriters” is perfect if you’re ready to elevate your song from a basic melody to a studio-ready arrangement.
Taught by Berklee professors Bonnie Hayes and Sarah Brindell, this course leverages digital audio workstations to enrich your songs, focusing on emotional depth and clarity without overshadowing the vocals.
It’s a must for aspiring songwriters eager to deepen their arranging skills.
Lastly, “The Art of Music Production” teaches you to create emotionally compelling recordings, regardless of your equipment.
This course emphasizes the importance of listening and artistic vision in the production process.
You’ll learn to critique your work and others’, developing a unique sonic signature.
It’s ideal for those looking to understand what makes a recording stand out, even without playing an instrument.
Berklee’s Music Education for Teachers Specialization is comprehensive, covering teaching popular music, jazz improvisation, song arranging, and music production.
Whether you’re an educator aiming to inspire or a musician refining your craft, these courses offer valuable insights and skills.
Music Production Specialization
Provider: Berklee
This series guides you from a basic understanding to mastering music production, regardless of your starting equipment.
Let’s explore how each course can elevate your music production journey.
“The Art of Music Production” focuses on the essence of creating impactful recordings.
It teaches you to critically listen and enhance your productions, both technically and musically.
You’ll learn to identify what makes a recording stand out and begin carving your unique identity as an artist and producer.
The course is hands-on, with assignments that include sharing your recordings for peer feedback, fostering a practical learning environment.
In “The Technology of Music Production,” you’ll dive deep into the music production process, covering recording, editing, and mixing.
This course demystifies the complex tools and software available, making high-quality music production accessible.
You’ll gain a solid understanding of sound properties, set up your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), and master essential editing techniques.
It’s a comprehensive guide to the technical aspects of music production, ensuring you’re well-equipped to bring your ideas to life.
“Pro Tools Basics” offers an introduction to Avid Pro Tools, a leading software in music production.
This course is ideal if you’re looking to get familiar with professional production tools.
You’ll navigate the Pro Tools interface, learn to record live performances, and apply effects to balance your mix.
It’s tailored for those eager to work within a professional-grade DAW, enhancing your production skills with industry-standard software.
The “Music Production Capstone” is where you apply everything you’ve learned.
This final project challenges you to produce a fully realized song, from planning and recording to editing and mixing.
It’s a chance to showcase your skills and creativity, with peer feedback to refine your work.
This capstone experience solidifies your learning, leaving you with a polished piece of music that highlights your journey through the specialization.
Electronic Music Production Specialization
Provider: Berklee
This series equips you with the essential skills for music creation, focusing on practical, computer-based production techniques.
Starting with “The Technology of Music Production,” you’ll get a comprehensive look into the recording, editing, and mixing processes.
This course covers everything from the basics of sound, setting up your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), to using effects in your projects.
It’s ideal if you want a thorough understanding of the music production landscape.
For those new to DAWs or switching to Ableton Live, “Introduction to Ableton Live” offers a deep dive into one of the industry’s leading software.
You’ll learn to navigate Ableton Live, program MIDI, and work with audio—skills you can practice using the free trial version of Ableton Live.
“Creating Sounds for Electronic Music” takes you into the world of sound design.
In this project-based course, you’ll craft your own synthesizer patches with FXpansion Strobe 2, learning to shape your electronic compositions uniquely.
It’s a perfect course if you’re keen on adding a personal signature to your music through custom sounds.
Lastly, “Electronic Music Performance Techniques” prepares you for the stage, teaching you how to use Electronic Digital Instruments (EDIs) for live performances.
From constructing drum beats to mastering live looping, this course is your guide to captivating live audiences with your arrangements.
Each course in this specialization is designed to build your proficiency in key areas like audio editing, sound design, MIDI programming, and more.
By the end, not only will you have a solid grasp of electronic music production, but you’ll also possess a portfolio of work to showcase your skills.
Songwriting: Writing, Arranging, and Producing Music Specialization
Provider: Berklee
This series of courses caters to both budding and seasoned songwriters, offering a blend of technical skill development and creative exploration.
Starting with “Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics,” you’ll dive into the craft of lyric writing.
This course demystifies the process, focusing on prosody to ensure your lyrics and music complement each other perfectly.
You’ll learn to articulate your song’s perspective, employ rhyming techniques for emotional impact, and refine your ideas through phrasing.
Importantly, musical expertise isn’t a prerequisite; the course provides musical loops for those who don’t play an instrument, making it accessible to all.
Moving on to “Songwriting: Writing the Music,” you’ll find a treasure trove of inspiration for setting your lyrics to music.
Under the guidance of Scarlet Keys, you’ll craft memorable melodies and explore new chords to convey desired emotions effectively.
The course emphasizes making intentional choices in harmony and melody, teaching you to associate specific emotions with chords and to create catchy melodic hooks.
In “Arranging for Songwriters,” the focus shifts to transforming your song into a fully arranged piece ready for recording.
Instructors Bonnie Hayes and Sarah Brindell introduce you to arranging in a digital audio workstation (DAW), enhancing your song’s emotional appeal without overshadowing the vocals.
This course bridges the gap between a simple demo and a studio-quality track.
Lastly, “Introduction to Ableton Live” opens the door to music production with one of the most widely used DAWs.
This course covers the essentials of MIDI programming, audio recording, and editing in Ableton Live, empowering you to bring your musical ideas to life.
It’s designed for beginners, breaking down barriers to music technology and encouraging creative expression.
The Singer Songwriter Specialization
Provider: Berklee
Tailored for beginners and aspiring musicians, this specialization covers guitar playing, singing, songwriting, and music production, equipping you with the skills to excel in the music world.
Starting with “Guitar for Beginners,” you’ll dive into the essentials of both acoustic and electric guitar.
This course simplifies learning by breaking down guitar parts, music theory, and playing techniques.
You’ll master reading music notation, playing chords, and understanding guitar maintenance, setting a solid foundation for further exploration.
“Singing Popular Music” shifts the focus to your vocal development.
It teaches vital techniques for healthy singing, including breath control and using different vocal registers.
You’ll also learn to personalize songs with improvisation, preparing you to stand out as a vocalist with your unique style.
For those eager to express themselves through lyrics, “Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics” offers a welcoming space to unleash your creativity.
It guides you through crafting meaningful lyrics with tools like prosody and rhyming techniques.
The course encourages a hands-on approach, allowing you to experiment with melodies and lyrics, fostering your growth as a songwriter.
“Introduction to Ableton Live” introduces you to the world of music production.
Even if you’re new to Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), this course makes Ableton Live accessible, teaching you to program MIDI, record audio, and create music within the platform.
It’s designed to demystify music technology, encouraging fearless creation.
How to Play Guitar Specialization
Provider: Berklee
The journey begins with “Guitar for Beginners,” where you’ll dive into the essentials of playing both acoustic and electric guitars.
This course demystifies the initial learning process, covering everything from the parts of the guitar and tuning to basic playing techniques and music theory.
You’ll learn to identify string names, read music notation and tablature, and play a variety of chords.
By the course’s end, you’ll have a solid foundation, ready to tackle more complex guitar challenges.
Moving on, “Guitar Scales and Chord Progressions” is designed to deepen your understanding of guitar music.
This course is perfect if you’re comfortable with basic chords and eager to explore scales, chord fingerings, and chord progressions.
It’s also a great refresher if you’ve taken a break from playing.
You’ll master scales in open positions, play major and minor arpeggios, and enhance your playing with rhythmic timing.
This course aims to boost your creativity, whether you’re accompanying a singer, playing in a band, or writing your own music.
For those interested in expanding their chord knowledge, “Guitar Chord Voicings: Playing Up The Neck” offers valuable insights into constructing and playing triads and basic 7th chords.
You’ll explore major and minor triad inversions, power chords, and drop-2 voicings, learning to play across the entire fretboard.
This course emphasizes the notes within chords, enabling you to create rich harmonic experiences and unlock new playing styles.
Finally, “Guitar Performance Techniques” focuses on ensemble playing.
You’ll acquire essential skills for playing well with others, from warm-up techniques to chords, time accuracy, tone production, and ear training.
This course prepares you to confidently join any jam session or performance, ensuring you contribute effectively to group music-making.
The DIY Musician Specialization
Provider: Berklee
This series of courses caters to various aspects of music creation and production, tailored to both beginners and seasoned musicians.
“Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics” is your gateway to unleashing the songwriter within.
It demystifies the songwriting process, focusing on prosody—the art of matching lyrics with music.
You’ll learn to articulate your ideas and emotions effectively, regardless of your ability to play an instrument.
With practical assignments and the option to work with musical loops, this course emphasizes creativity and expression in songwriting.
“The Art of Music Production” shifts the focus to recording, teaching you how to produce emotionally resonant recordings with any equipment, including simple setups like your phone or laptop.
It hones your listening skills, enabling you to enhance your productions both sonically and musically.
This course is perfect if you aim to understand what makes a recording stand out and how to define your artistic and producer identity.
For those intrigued by the technical side, “Pro Tools Basics” offers a comprehensive introduction to Avid Pro Tools.
It covers everything from navigating the interface to recording live performances, focusing on essential production tools like synthesizers and samplers.
This course is crucial for anyone eager to translate musical ideas into digital creations effectively.
“Building Your Career in Music: Developing A Brand and Funding Your Music” provides strategic insights into launching your music career.
It covers developing your artist identity, building a professional network, and successfully crowdfunding your projects.
With advice from industry professionals, including Leah Waldo (Elisa Smith), this course equips you with the tools to navigate the music industry confidently.