Practical Counterpoint

Why study counterpoint?

Counterpoint is the foundation that allows musicians to play or sing together and weave their independent parts together to form harmony. Each part works on its own, but the whole is more than the sum of its parts. If you've ever taken a melody and struggled to arrange it in a satisfying way for multiple musicians, the study of counterpoint holds the key.

Why study online with me?

Studying online has become so commonplace - especially over the past couple of years - that it's easy to forget it wasn't always this way. But after all, who was teaching online back in the 1990's? Me, that's who!

There is literally no one else who has been teaching music online longer than I. And I have learned a thing or two myself along the way about how to reach students from around the world and help make them better musicians.

Over the years, I have taught jazz improvisation, basic music theory, harmony - and of course, MuseScore - to untold thousands of musicians.

But of course, there are many others who teach those topics. Counterpoint is more of a specialized skill, taught by a relatively small set of specialists. And few of the people who teach it have the same breadth of musical experience as I do.

I know how how to reach musicians from a wide variety of different backgrounds, because that is exactly what I have been doing for over a quarter century. Scroll down to see the fantastic reviews my courses have received. My students love my approach to teaching and the value I provide.

If you are interested in learning counterpoint, I am confident that this course will work for you, too. Check out the curriculum below and some of the preview lessons to see for yourself!

About this course

This course covers the major concepts of counterpoint as they have been employed throughout musical history. The most important concepts were developed during the Renaissance and Baroque, so we will study the music of those eras extensively, but I also focus on how to apply these techniques in your own music, whether that be classical, jazz, rock, or anything else!

I have a master's degree in composition and have taught this subject at the university level for years, but this course is different. It is every bit as comprehensive as what you would learn in a university - and really, it's two semesters in one, covering both Renaissance and Baroque styles. But I also bring to the table my experience as a working jazz musician and an educator who is used to working with students who are not necessarily composition majors at a university. My focus is on helping everyday musicians like you learn these concepts in ways you can actually use!

My courses use video as well as a full set of innovative interactive handouts that allow you to both read and listen to the musical examples. There is a mix of lectures, analyses, demonstrations, and exercises for you to complete, covering an incredible amount of material. And everything is designed to be accessible to blind and visually impaired musicians - some of the only such courses of their kind!