Composing For Games, with Dan Hulsman (VGM Academy)
Dan Hulsman, founder of the Video Game Music Academy, discusses what goes in to composing and producing both modern and vintage VGM soundtracks.
Melodies
A series of notes one after the other creates a melody. Melodies are what we think of as the “tune” but the same skills also apply to basslines, solos and accompaniment parts.
Free articles about Melodies
About Why the Pentatonic Scale is So Great
Learn about the power of the pentatonic scale, why it makes for such beautiful melodies, and how to use it as an improvisational framework.
The Creepy Minor Key
What better time than Halloween to explore music’s darker side? Dive into the world of minor and learn how to create your own creepy tune.
6 Ways to Create A Musical Environment for Children
Learn six easy ways to foster a musical environment for your children and grow their appreciation for music outside a formal setting.
The Many Moods of Musical Modes
Enter the exciting, nuanced world of the seven musical modes with our guide to understanding, building, and using these expressive scales.
Exploring Common Chord Progressions
Explore common chord progressions, what makes them so powerful, and how they’re used in popular music to make a song stick.
Listen First, with Donna Schwartz
Musical U interviews saxophonist and music educator Donna Schwartz on the unique philosophy she brings to her teaching style.
About Improvising with Structure and Phrasing
Learn how to structure your music, engage audiences, and bring out your musicality by using phrasing in your improvisation.
First Steps to Improvisation
Dive right into improvisation with the major scale, and learn how to create memorable musical statements with just seven notes.
About Improvising with Scales and Chords
Break free of scale-based improvisation with our harmony and chord tone-based approach to creating unforgettable licks on the fly!
5 Ways to Start Classical Improvisation Today
Are you a classically-trained musician looking to improvise? Learn how to inject spontaneity into your music with melody, harmony, rhythm, and more.
How to Use Rests Creatively When Improvising
The notes you don’t play are just as important as the ones you do! Learn how to use silence in your improvisation to add interest to your solos.
