So I have been wanting to teach composition or theory or some kind of music class for a while. Though I am pretty sure at some point I will teach at the university level (probably even before I have my degree) I also wanted to see if there was a viable market outside of the traditional norms.
After a few years of talking I get the feeling that their might be a need out there for an alternative to taking college music courses. But to make sure there is such a need and how much if any I need to ask a few questions:
(please answer if applies)
If a affordable course or lessons were available would you take advantage of them?
Which would you prefer; Composition Lessons Online, Music Theory Online Course, Music History Online Corse, or a hybrid of some the preceding.
What would be reasonable requirements for the students in your opinion (ex; finale, Sibelius, Skype, etc.)?
What would you hope to gain from such a course or lessons?
How much would you pay for such a course or lessons?
Add anything else you feel is pertinent.
Replies
If a affordable course or lessons were available would you take advantage of them?
Which would you prefer; Composition Lessons Online, Music Theory Online Course, Music History Online Corse, or a hybrid of some the preceding.
What would be reasonable requirements for the students in your opinion (ex; finale, Sibelius, Skype, etc.)?
What would you hope to gain from such a course or lessons?
From group comp lessons, I want "finished" pieces that are playable for the ensemble written for, and an understanding of the instruments of that ensemble, how they work well together, and of the music genre chosen for the project.
How much would you pay for such a course or lessons?
For the applied music theory group class, $40 for the month. For a 10 to 12 week project based group composition class, $99-$150. If there was a promise of having the piece read/performed at the end, and getting a recording of it, double that.
There is a non-profit organization in the city I live that gives composition and music appreciation lessons, centered on Jazz music. They meet in a local jazz club, and have group composition lessons for differing levels and ensembles/jazz genres two to three times a year (for a total of about 9 to 12 classes a year.) The fees include a rehearsal and final concert at the club, open to the public. The cost for tuition is only about $150 per class. 15 to 20 students usually sign up, and that number dwindles down to 10-13. The students usually split the cost of an audio/video specialist to record the event, and get copies. I took a class once, at it was a great experience. I know others who sign up regularly. I would be one of them, if only I loved jazz!
This might be of interest to you; it's non-credit composition lessons offered by a uni professor: http://continuingstudies.wisc.edu/lsa/online/music/composition.htm
Im getting ideas from this, Thanks
Janet Spangenberg said:
What would be reasonable requirements for the students in your opinion (ex; finale, Sibelius, Skype, etc.)?
Well Skype is free, useful and fairly easy to use, so that would be a good one.
For Scoring/Music making, it depends on which course the student is interested in. For regular lessons, if you are happy to read pdfs and/or listen to mp3s then I guess it doesn't matter how they produced them.
What would you hope to gain from such a course or lessons?
The ability to compose better music.
How much would you pay for such a course or lessons?
I would only potentially pay for something where I would get interactive feedback from the teacher, probably per hour or something like that. I can look up facts with Google, and view lots of tutorial videos for free on YouTube, so it is only the expert feedback that is of interest to me. And I can get useful feedback for free here anyway, so it's going to be difficult to extract money from me at all ;)
If you felt like creating online lessons for more advanced composition, music theory, history or whatever, pyramind.com and audiotuts.com already have sites set up for this sort of thing, but with fairly introductory content for those categories. You probably wouldn't get much money from working with them, but there would be much less work in setting up the website, getting the traffic and so on.
Which would you prefer; Composition Lessons Online, Music Theory Online Course, Music History Online Course, or a hybrid of some the preceding.
Personally, I'm interested in them in that order (composition, theory, history). It may be useful to combine them - the history subject would have little interest to me on its own.
Just some quick suggestions, because I like the idea. I agree with what other have said above.
I would do some market research, what do the market offer and can you do better on some or many instances. And can you hold a niche - have an advantage - teaching courses and theory of certain types?
(For you maybe teaching in theory about classical and choir than jazz? (Just assuming you're not into jazz as well)
I like the idea on online courses in general and I've taken such before
Keep us updated :)
I still think one can teach composition, however it wont be in the traditional sense of the word 'teach.' If and when I decide to teach composition, each lesson would be catered to that particulars pupil's level of knowledge. Much like what all my composition professors did for me, I would act more or less as a couch or a guide:
These are the things many college professors of composition do, and this would be something I would offer to those not in higher education or those that want to give composing more or less a test try before investing money into a college eduction into composition. Orchestration would be taught as well, being that it is the more factual part of teaching music, but I feel that a few can benefit from composition coaching/lessons.
Raymond Kemp said:
Those would be good ideas if I had experience in some of those fields. Though I know how to expand a chord language and develop a 'bigger' sound, I wouldnt know how to relate that to someone who is in a rock or folk band or to people who dont read music normally. I grew up from the start in classical music, I would be no help to those in the popular music genres when it comes to most of what they do.
Fredrick zinos said:
I would love to find some market research, hence why Im asking people here. It difficult because this is a niche market. Unlike other forms of musical teaching (piano lessons, guitar lessons, etc) composition lessons dont necessarily have the tangible or audible results as if you taught a child the piano. Even within music schools and colleges, people outside the composition department look at what they do with a bit of confusion. This venture I would like to do is definitely treading into somewhat uncharted waters for sure, so market research will be difficult.
Per-Erik Rosqvist said:
Maybe I misunderstand you completely about whats difficult, but this is how I meant:
http://www.berkleemusic.com/
One of many competitors. Write down their niche(s). Google for more, and write down theirs. And so on...
The teaching company (TTC) is another example:
http://www.thegreatcourses.com/tgc/professors/professor_detail.aspx...
Much on music history and general theory and practise for writing music during different periods.
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