Program Overview

Music Composition (Online)

Program Overview

Our online Music Composition course is a convenient, practical, hands-on way to learn the modern art of music composition. We'll give you the vital skills required to create unique, cutting edge tracks. You’ll learn how to add hooks, riffs, chords, basslines, melodies and develop your arrangements to create crisp, perfected tracks. Your expert instructors will help you learn these skills as well as deconstruct and analyze massive tracks from the likes of Avicii, Skrillex, Deadmau5 and more.

Key Info

• Duration: 1 Term
• Start Dates: July 2025, October 2025, January 2026, April 2026, July 2026, October 2026, January 2027, October 2027
• Timetable: 1 class per week
• Catalog: Download catalog

Expert Instructors

• Matteo Pino: Music Composition
  • NY-based musician-producer & Berklee grad Matteo Pino has led indie duo "Soy Christmas" for 10+ years. He also releases solo electronic originals, remixes, & bootlegs as "J. Louix." His singles, EPs & LPs have garnered millions of streams.
• Daniel Brummel: Music Composition
  • Multi-instrumental producer, recorded and toured with Weezer, Nada Surf, Spain, Ozma, Sangolorians, and more. Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from UCLA and Cal State LA. Composer for Lifetime TV show American Princess.

Courses

• Music Composition
  • Compositional proficiency is a core skill for contemporary producers and artists, equipping them with the ability to realize their creative ambitions and make more informed production decisions, whilst helping them become professionally competitive. This course will explore the core elements of musical composition: rhythm, harmony, melody, structure, and arrangement. You will develop compositional techniques through practical application of music theory using music software. This course focuses explicitly on commercial western popular musical styles, genres and their aesthetics. You will have the opportunity to investigate technical and stylistic aspects of these styles and genres, developing their confidence and abilities in composition. You will gain experience in composing original musical elements and arranging these elements into a full composition.
  • Topics:
    • Music & Time
    • Beats & Drum Programming
    • Diatonic Harmony
    • Melodies & Riffs
    • Bass
    • Extended Harmony
    • Structure & Arrangement
    • Hooks
    • Writing for Vocals & Finishing a Composition

Career Opportunities

• Composer
• Vocalist
• Songwriter
• Vocal Producer
• Lyricist
• Artist/Performer
• Musical Director
• Vocal Arranger
• Vocal Coach

Included with Program

• 50% off Ableton Live Suite
• 50% off MSRP on NI Komplete 14 or Komplete 14 Ultimate
• Discount on Pioneer DJ equipment
• 70% off Eventide Plugins
• 40% off Serato DJ
• 35% off selected Waves bundles
• 55% off Roland Cloud Ultimate

FAQ

• How do the online courses work?
  • Studying online with pointblank is a completely unique experience unlike any other online program. You will be personally guided by expert industry professional instructors in each course and provided with regular opportunities to discuss and submit your work to get valuable feedback and analysis on your music.
• Can I sample a course for free before enrolling?
  • Yes! If you would like to get a closer look what it's like to study online at pointblank, please try out a free sample course here.
• What materials do I get with this course?
  • Over 10 hours of high-quality videos
  • 10 Live Group Class Sessions
  • 2 DVRs (Direct Video Responses)
  • Comprehensive, well-written course notes
  • 24/7 access to our Forum
  • Exclusive audio resources: downloadable projects, channel strips, custom plug-ins, samples, acapellas, and more
  • 2 years of access to our Virtual Learning Environment
  • The opportunity to submit your tracks to our record label, pointblank Recordings, distributed by Beatport, iTunes, Juno Download, and Amazon
• Is this program suitable for beginners?
  • Yes. This program assumes no previous experience. Your first course will ensure that you have a sound grasp on all of the most fundamental skills for music production. You will then progress into increasingly more advanced coursework which will further develop and expand upon these production skills.
• What are the admission requirements?
  • Admission into any college-level program at pointblank requires that the prospective student:
    • Be 18 years of age or older (under age 18 may be accepted only with signed parental consent)
    • Possess a High School Diploma or the Equivalent (or pass an approved Ability-to-Benefit Test)
    • Be provided a current pointblank Music School Catalog
    • Sign a School Performance Fact Sheet and an Enrollment Agreement for their program
• What equipment do I need to take this course?
  • Either Ableton Live Suite or Logic Pro (please contact us for more details)
  • Computer which meets the minimum requirements for your chosen DAW
  • MIDI keyboard (recommended for most short courses; required for Diploma students)
  • Native Instruments Reaktor + Blocks (required only for the Advanced Sound Design course)
  • Native Instruments Komplete (recommended)
• What support do I get during this program?
  • Throughout your program, you will be taught and supported by our expert team of professional music instructors. You will be able to contact them via the student forum, raise any issues you may encounter in your courses, and receive a timely response. All of our instructors are highly experienced in making music, have in-depth knowledge of the music business, and will be able to offer valuable advice and guidance. In each course, you will also participate in a live two-hour online Group Class Session each week for 10 weeks, where you can raise your specific questions and have them answered by an expert.