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Music Composition Classes NYC

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Explore the art of music composition in the heart of NYC with classes ranging from classical to contemporary, where participants can discover harmonies, melodic structures, and composition techniques for various genres.

Unfortunately, no classes in-person in NYC have spots left, but 2 classes live online are available.

60-min Music Composition Lesson for ages 11+

New York City Piano Academy @ Interactive Live Online

Unleash your musical creativity and develop your unique compositional style with the comprehensive music composition training offered at NYCPA. Explore music theory, analysis, techniques, notation, and historical perspectives, and create original music across different genres. Perfect for aspiring musicians and pianists looking to compose and play their music.

All levels 11 and older

45-min Music Composition Lesson for ages 7-10

New York City Piano Academy @ Interactive Live Online

Unlock your child's creative potential through the art of music composition with NYCPA. Discover the fundamental principles and techniques of composing music while developing their unique compositional style. Perfect for young musicians looking to become more well-rounded or pianists wanting to compose and play their own music.

All levels 7 - 10 years old
17 music composition classes that have ended
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Live Looping for Beginners

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

Discover the multi-faceted layers of sound you can make with a looping machine or app in this fun, exciting and collaborative group class, where you’ll explore different methods of arranging and create your own compositions. No looping experience is necessary, although students should have a solid vocal foundation and some experience with vocal harmonies.

(1062) Beginner 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$295

8 sessions

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Behind the Mix of a Hit Song

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

How does a song like Kesha’s “Woman” become the track, Kesha: “Woman?” What goes into the process of building a fully-produced pop music megahit? How does a sophisticated studio production transfer to live performance, whether in a small club or sold-out arena? Find out from Kesha’s own musical director, David Cook, as he pulls back the curtain on the production process in this all-new class in our all-new tech lab. David will bring...

(1062) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$150

3 sessions

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Melody Writing

Hit Song School @ 146 W 29th St, New York, NY

Students will listen, read text related to, analyze the melodies/melodic structure of, and complete exercises and compose melodies employing melodic techniques found in hit pop songs. Instructor will also provide students with critiques of students’ melodies and melody technique assignments.  Course objective is for student to learn and employ techniques and exercises for generating coherent memorable hit song melodies. 

(5) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Music Theory - Harmonic Concepts

Playcrafting NYC @ 11 Times Square, New York, NY

To become familiar with harmonic concepts which will give students more options for color in their compositions. In this course, we will make use of popular video game music to cover modal interchange (day 1) & reharmonization (day 2), two time-honored methods of adding flavor to a composition. Both courses will involve in-class work (students should bring in pencils & manuscript paper), lecture segments, and class exercises. The classes...

(68) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$40

2 sessions

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New Moon Sitar + Restorative Yoga

Sacred Arts Research Foundation @ 107 Green St, Brooklyn, NY

Celebrate and honor the new moon time with a deep restorative yoga practice accompanied by the healing vibrations of live sitar. A restorative yoga practice during the New Moon and Vata phase of the lunar cycle is best for balancing an overworked mind, hormones, emotions and energy. Once a month surrounding the new moon time at SARF we host a deep restorative practice as part of our Community Yoga series. A restorative practice is truly meant for...

(9) All levels 12 and older
No upcoming schedules

World of Music I: For Movies — Composers & Songwriters

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

Music and movies have been inextricably and often gloriously linked since before the “talking picture” in the later 1920’s. This semester we take a broad-ranging look at some of the greatest music ever written for film, whether in the hands of such exceptional composers as Bernard Hermann, Erich Korngold, Aaron Copland, Ennio Morricone, Leonard Bernstein, Philip Glass, John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith — to name only a few; or songwriters...

(1062) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$575

12 sessions

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Opera History

92nd Street Y

Learn the history of opera with an overview of the major composers, works and artists that have shaped the art form into what it is today. Note:  This program is taking place remotely. Please expect the class link to be emailed to you 24-48 hours before the start date. If we are able to offer an in-person version of this class in the coming months, we will contact you and make both options available to you.

(1062) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

George and Ira: The Last Songs

92nd Street Y @ 1395 Lexington Ave, New York, NY

The last year of George’s life found the Gershwin team in Hollywood. They would write the songs for three films: the Astaire/Rogers Shall We Dance; Damsel in Distress, which teamed Astaire with Joan Bennett; and Goldwyn Follies. These last songs reveal a deeper, more relaxed sophistication, maturity, and brilliance in the writing, and proved to the many doubters of the time that after the “highbrow” Porgy and Bess, they...

(1062) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Bob Dylan: Oh, Mercy

92nd Street Y

This program is taking place remotely. If you have signed up, you will receive an email with details of how to access the program. ______________ This 1989 album is one of Dylan’s greatest albums (one of my absolute favorite albums) and among his least appreciated. These were songs born of personal crisis, not the least of which was Dylan’s own feeling that he was written out. The story of the writing of these songs and the making of this album...

(1062) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Conversations with Orchestra Principals

92nd Street Y

Tales from the Front Stand: Conversations with Orchestra Principals Landing a job in an American symphony orchestra is hard, and it’s even harder to become a principal—the section leader in an orchestra. The next 92Y School of Music conversation with Naomi Lewin features four principal musicians from across the country: David Bilger, Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Pedro Díaz, English horn of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra;...

(1062) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

The Songs of Bob Dylan

The Jalopy Theatre and School of Music @ 227 W 29 St, New York, NY

An 8-week class covering the songs of Bob Dylan. Learn to sing and play a bunch of his best songs and greatest hits. Open to anybody who knows the basic chords on their instrument (If you know most of the following chords, you'll be fine: G, C, D, A, E, F, Em, Am, Dm, E7, A7, D7, B7. We'll encounter some other chords along the way, but those are enough to start with). Though primarily a guitar class, people are welcome to join with mandolins,...

(41) All levels 15 and older
No upcoming schedules
$675

11 sessions

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Jazz Composition Intensive for Beginners – Summer

New York Jazz Workshop

Learn to write and arrange your own music! In this exciting 2-day intensive, students will learn about the process of creating original jazz compositions. By analyzing works from the jazz repertoire, participants will gain new incites into the roles of melody, harmony, improvisation, and form within a variety of compositions. Students will walk away inspired and encouraged to apply these techniques to their own compositions. Emphasis will be placed...

(18) Beginner 17 and older
No upcoming schedules

Songwriting Workshop: Bits and Pieces

The Jalopy Theatre and School of Music

How many wonderful song ideas do you have that have not gone anywhere? Or first verses that just will not write themselves into a whole song? This writing workshop will look at various brainstorming techniques to help you finish those great ideas. Bring in your best bits and pieces, and we will find ways to make them work.

(41) All levels 15 and older
No upcoming schedules

Songwriting Workshop: The Devil's in the Details

The Jalopy Theatre and School of Music

How do you make your lyrics stand out in the crowd? This writing workshop explores how sense-bound details can set your songs apart from all the rest. We will work in-depth on object writing and other forms of creative expression including metaphor and simile.

(41) All levels 15 and older
No upcoming schedules

Making the Most of Your Music (on an Indie Budget)

Playcrafting NYC

Learn how to level up your game audio with real-world strategies for finding and working with audio designers, even on a tight budget.  Join composer/sound designer Alyssa Menes (Pixel Prison Blues, Defragmented, Labyrinths of Astoria) as she teaches you how to achieve the best music possible on an indie budget. Students will learn how to craft their compositions to work with their budget, how to create great sounding tracks with just one or...

(68) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules

Timothy Hampton: Deconstructing Bob Dylan

92nd Street Y @ Online Classroom, New York, NY

In 2016 Bob Dylan became the first songwriter to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, placing him in the company of writers including John Steinbeck, Pablo Neruda and Toni Morrison. Timothy Hampton, professor of literature at UC Berkeley and author of the new book Bob Dylan: How the Songs Work, joins us for a class exploring the poetry, politics, and musical fabric of Dylan’s songs. From the landmark protest songs of the 1960s (“Blowin’...

(1062) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$132

4 sessions

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Opera History II

92nd Street Y @ Online Classroom, New York, NY

Taking a deep-dive into the operatic canon, students will explore the vast and rich history of this enduring art form. Focusing on major composers and works such as Bizet (Carmen), Beethoven (Fidelio), Massenet (Manon), Offenbach (Les Contes d'Hoffmann), and Stravinsky (The Rake's Progress), students will come away with a new appreciation for opera. No previous experience required. This class is an extension of Opera History I, however is open to...

(1062) All levels 18 and older
No upcoming schedules
$140

4 sessions

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Reviews for Music Composition Classes in NYC

Music Composition Classes in NYC are rated 4.5 stars based on 1,203 verified reviews from actual CourseHorse.com purchasers.

  • Timothy Hampton: Deconstructing Bob Dylan

    Reviewed by Mark H. on 2/16/2021
    Fabulous and interesting course. Timothy was very knowledgeable and engaging. Wish this could have been a longer course...so much Dylan material to cover.

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