Details

The path toward better musicianship is unending. When you are lost, music theory is a guide. When you are thirsty, music theory is a wellspring of creative ideas. When you are inspired, music theory can help give form to your passion. In this class, we’ll learn how to use music theory to create powerful songs, arrangements, and chord progressions. We’ll explore how theory guides you toward musical and rhythmic creativity, helps you gain mastery over your instrument by understanding its inner logic, and allows you to communicate your ideas precisely in a musicians' language. Songwriters in this class will improve their abilities to create moving musical journeys. Arrangers will deepen their insight into chord function, and equip themselves to craft nuanced, effective arrangements. Instrumentalists will discover the patterns and connections in music, and so become more versatile, flexible, creative, and disciplined players.
Topics include chord naming and analysis, functional harmony, the harmonic narrative arc, rhythm, cadences, chord substitutions, secondary dominants, and borrowing chords from the parallel major or minor key. Online activities include rhythm training exercises, analyzing popular songs, finding musical examples of topics under consideration, and navigating scores. Kay will present slides with clear, systematic explanations and leave lots of room for question and answer.
Please bring a pencil and an instrument, if you have one, to every class. A class materials fee of $15 will be collected electronically by instructor before the first meeting. Course materials will be emailed to students as PDFs.
Kay Eskenazi creates an inclusive and supportive learning environment, observes students closely, and responds to students' individual challenges. She teaches music theory and many styles of guitar including fingerstyle, Pop, Folk, Classic Rock, Jazz, Brazilian, and Classical. Kay helps students develop excellent techniques and musicianship skills. She teaches at studios, camps, and colleges throughout the Bay Area.
Item details
Date
March 5, 2025 5:30PM
Name
Music Theory for Songwriters ONLINE with Kay Eskenazi
Description
This class meets ONLINE for six 75-minute sessions from March 5th through April 9th.
Donor discount applied at checkout. Interested in donating? Click here.
Donor Early Bird Registration: $152.00; Donor Regular Registration: $162.50 (Including Fees)
Early Bird Registration: $170.00; Regular Registration: $180.00 (Including Fees)
Early Bird Registration ends on February 17th at 11:59 PM.