Studying Music
The Elements of a Successful Music Program
These are if you're going it alone or with a qualified teacher.
19 July 2026
This Week's Featured UkuleleLESSONS : Navigating the C Major Scale
You’re born with a spark... to search for the truth, for the best you can be. Practice. Discipline. Preparation. Try and try again. Then one day you’re on top and they say you're an overnight success, a “natural.” You smile, you know.
— Anonymous
Here Are A Few Of The Elements That Would Be Typically Covered In A Well Rounded Musical Education
These are if you're going it alone or with a qualified teacher.
Technique
Technique is the physical control and coordination needed to play an instrument or sing. It involves position, efficiency of motion and effort, as well as exercises to develop specific physical skills.
MORE INFO: Technique Lessons
I'm a firm believer that your never going to do anything musically that your fingers haven't done before. They can be trained to a very high level to do what they have been trained to do and hopefully at the right time. — Curt Sheller
— Curt Sheller
Theory
Theory is the established body of principles behind music. It includes scales and chord building, intervals, progressions, resolution, harmony, motion, power, color, chord substitution, keys and time signatures, rhythm, melody, etc.
From a core foundation of the principles of music you can build and derive additional information from that same foundation.
Basically, just understanding how it all works.
MORE INFO: Theory Lessons
Ear Training
Ear Training is the development of the active and passive capacity to relate to music aurally. It includes the ability to recognize and reproduce melodic and harmonic intervals, chords, chord progressions, rhythm, melody and harmony.
MORE INFO: Ear Training
Repertoire
Repertoire includes the songs within a musician's performance ability. These songs may be memorized or read. They may be literal reproductions or creative interpretations.
MORE INFO: Repertoire Lessons
Improvisation
Improvisation is the ability to spontaneously create melody over a predetermined chord progression. It involves scales, alternate fingerings, arpeggios, intervalic development, sequences, embellishments, superimposition, rhythm, motifs, development techniques and idiomatic considerations.
MORE INFO: Improvisation Lessons
Songwriting
Songwriting is the creation of original music based on a single melodic line with a chord progression. Lyrics may or may not be included.
MORE INFO: Songwriting Lessons
Reading
Reading is the ability to reproduce music from written notation. It includes five phases: note recognition / alternate note locations, rhythm recognition, fingering considerations, communication terminology and interpretation.
Reading can be at a casual pace to learn a musical passage or at a pro level having never seen the music before.
MORE INFO: Reading Music Lessons
Musical Idioms
Musical Idioms is the study of music and the musical styles it involves, well developed categories such as: Rock, Blues, Country, Jazz, Bluegrass, Classical, Folk, Urban and Fusion. It also includes subdivisions and specializations.
MORE INFO: Music Idioms / Styles Lessons
Arranging
Arranging involves the choice of instruments, tempo, rhythmic feel, form, intros, endings, interludes, solos, harmonies, and instrumental accompaniment of a song.
MORE INFO: Arranging Lessons
Composition
Composition is the creation of original music based on multiple simultaneous and compatible melodies. It historically involves the classical forms but frequently includes more sophisticated levels of contemporary music.
Orchestration
Orchestration involves the choice of instruments for a composition. This choice is based on the ranges and colors of the instruments which best represent the mood and creative intent of the composer.
Interpretation
Interpretation involves the ability to perform a song or composition in a unique and personal way. These skills involve an interrelated set of disciplines which include theory, ear training, technique, dynamics, embellishments, phrasing, and rhythmic flexibility.
All this leads to the development and nurturing of the artist within us all.