Counterpoint 1
What you'll learn
- You will learn the method of species counterpoint studied and taught by the great composers
- You will learn how to write simultaneously occuring melodies.
- You will learn the principles of voice leading.
- You will learn how to write for two and three parts.
Requirements
- The ability to read musical notes.
- A basic understanding of music theory.
- Music notation software (free options available).
- Counterpoint analyzing software (free options available).
Description
Counterpoint is the art of combining two or more independent melodies. In this course, by award-winning composer Jonathan Peters, you will learn how to write counterpoint using a method called "species counterpoint". Many of the great composers of the past learned counterpoint through this method and also taught this method to their students.
This course covers all five species of counterpoint, each species following a certain set of rules that guide the learner through various aspects of the art. In the first half of the course, you will study two voice counterpoint (two simultaneously occurring melodic lines). In the second half of the course, you will study three voice counterpoint (three simultaneously occurring melodic lines).
There are hundreds of diagrams and audio examples, as well as quizzes and writing exercises for you to download and complete.
At the time of this writing, there is also an option to have your exercises automatically checked with counterpoint analyzing software. This is a free tool and a video tutorial is included on how to use this software.
Learning counterpoint can be a daunting undertaking. This course aims to make a somewhat difficult subject matter as straightforward and as easy to understand as possible.
Who this course is for:
- those who want to learn counterpoint through the method studied and taught by the great composers
- those who want to learn how to write simultaneously occuring melodies
- those who want to learn the principles of voice leading
Instructor
- 4.7 Instructor Rating
- 5,775 Reviews
- 30,425 Students
- 10 Courses
Jonathan Peters is an award-winning composer currently residing in the beautiful state of Colorado. Since 1990 he has worked as a composer, conductor, arranger, recording artist, educator, and author.
Peters’ music has been featured multiple times on NPR’s Peabody award-winning show Performance Today. His works have been performed by orchestras throughout the United States, and have also been performed internationally. He has won multiple awards and recognitions, such as 1st place in the 1996 Composers Today Contest. His 50 plus works include 2 full length operas, a symphony, orchestral works, chamber music, choral pieces, and works for solo piano.
Mr. Peters is the author of the Scholastic Music Series, a collection of educational CDs that use music as a tool to teach various academic subjects. His CD, The Constellations - A Guide to the Orchestra, received the highest starred review from School Library Journal and is carried in libraries throughout the country.
He is also the author of nine books, including six academic books on music and three children’s books with downloadable music. Besides teaching piano privately, he also gives on-line instruction in music theory, music composition, four-part writing, counterpoint, and orchestration. His on-line courses have been taken by tens of thousands of students from over a hundred countries.
Mr. Peters holds a B.A. in liberal arts from Thomas Aquinas College and continued his graduate work towards a M.M. in music composition at California State University Northridge, which included areas of study in advanced composition, theory, orchestration, and film scoring.