Introduction to Classical Harmony and Counterpoint

Have you ever wondered why classical music sounds so balanced, expressive, and timeless? Understanding the core principles of harmony and counterpoint is the key to unlocking the secrets of western music composition and applying them to your own creative work. This comprehensive text-based course guides you through the foundational music theory of the classical era, showing you how to construct elegant melodies and rich chord progressions. By reading through clear explanations and studying written musical examples, you will learn to analyze classical scores, apply voice-leading rules, and write your own musical passages. You will also discover how these traditional techniques form the backbone of modern songwriting, film scoring, and digital music production. What you'll learn: - Understand the core principles of diatonic harmony, intervals, and major/minor scale structures - Write balanced two-part counterpoint using traditional voice-leading techniques - Identify and apply non-chord tones, including passing tones, neighbor tones, and suspensions - Analyze classical musical scores to uncover their harmonic and formal structures - Apply classical voice-leading rules to modern songwriting, arranging, and digital MIDI sequencing - Practice composing simple four-part chorale-style progressions using written exercises The course begins with key terminology, basic interval concepts, and foundational definitions of triads before progressing to voice-leading rules, two-part counterpoint, and formal analysis. This logical progression ensures you build a solid, structured foundation in classical music theory. This course is designed for beginner musicians, aspiring composers, songwriters, and music enthusiasts who want to master the rules of classical harmony. No prior advanced music theory knowledge is required. Start your journey into the heart of music theory and elevate your composing skills today.