Music Theory in 90 Minutes: Practical Skills for Musicians

What you’ll learn

• Apply essential music theory concepts directly to songwriting, enhancing your compositions
• Read basic music notation and analyze popular songs to uncover the theory behind their appeal
• Craft catchy melodies and chord progressions that grab listeners’ attention
• Master the Circle of Fifths to unlock endless songwriting possibilities

Requirements

• A desire to improve your songwriting, an open mind, and a willingness to explore new concepts in a practical, hands-on way.
• Basic familiarity with any instrument is helpful but not required.
• We’ll cover just enough music reading to get you going, no fluency required.

Description

Hey there, I’m J. Anthony Allen. If you’ve been putting off learning music theory because it seems too complicated or time-consuming, this accelerated class is designed specifically for you.

In just 90 minutes, we’ll cut through the noise and focus exclusively on the theory concepts that will immediately improve your music-making. No dusty textbooks. No endless exercises. Just practical knowledge you can apply right away.

What Makes This 90-Minute Approach Different?

• Accelerated Learning: We cover only what’s essential for creating music
• Applied Theory: Practice concepts as we learn them-theory meets application in real-time
• Write a Complete Song: We’ll actually create music together during the class
• Visual Learning: See theory concepts demonstrated on piano, guitar, and in notation
• Downloadable Resources: Take our worksheets with you to reinforce what you’ve learned

What We’ll Cover in Just 90 Minutes:

Essential Building Blocks

• The half-steps and whole steps that form the foundation of all music
• Key signatures demystified in 5 minutes
• The Circle of Fifths explained visually (without the headache)

Harmony Fundamentals

• Chord construction made simple
• The chord progressions behind 90% of hit songs
• How to create emotional impact with basic harmony

Melody & Rhythm

• Crafting melodies that stick with minimal theory
• How rhythm and melody work together
• Using scales effectively without memorizing dozens of patterns

Putting It All Together

• We’ll write a complete song together applying what you’ve learned
• Breaking "rules" creatively once you understand them
• Next steps for continued growth

Who This Class Is Perfect For:

• Songwriters who want to understand why certain things work
• Producers who need a quick theory foundation
• Musicians who learn by doing, not memorizing
• Anyone who’s been intimidated by traditional theory education

By the end of our 90 minutes together, you’ll have the tools to:

• Understand the "why" behind effective chord progressions
• Create melodies that connect with listeners
• Speak the language of music with confidence
• Apply theory concepts immediately in your own music

Ready to transform your understanding of music in just 90 minutes?

Let’s skip the years of formal theory training and focus on what really matters for making music right now.

Who this course is for:

• Songwriters, composers, and music enthusiasts of all levels who want to enhance their craft and deepen their understanding of how music works.
• If you’ve ever wondered "Why does this song sound so good?" – this course is for you!

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