A woman plays piano, hypothetically working out major and minor modal scales.

Music Modes: Major and Minor Modal Scales in Music Theory

As we remember Paul Schmeling, the author of the first Berklee Online course, we share this insightful lesson on mastering the major and minor music modes with this excerpt from his course, Music Theory 301: Advanced Melody, Harmony, Rhythm.

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A woman sings into the microphone.

10 Berklee Online Courses to Get Back to Basics

As a musician, learning is a lifelong journey, and if you are looking to acquire new musical skills, there is no better place to start than with these 10 Berklee Online intro courses.

A voice leading paradigm showcases how musical notes switch on a musical staff.

Voice Leading Paradigms for Harmony in Music Composition

These voice leading examples provide guidelines to help you learn how to compose so each voice moves smoothly from note to note, while you create rich harmonic changes.

Circle of Fifths

Circle of Fifths: The Key to Unlocking Harmonic Understanding

The circle of fifths is arguably the most helpful way of visually organizing Western music theory’s 12 chromatic pitches for learning. This primer, featuring excerpts from Music Application and Theory and Music Foundations will give you several new tools to commit this concept to memory.

Person practicing orchestration by writing on sheet music with piano in the background

Orchestration: How to Write for an Orchestra

“It is assumed that, if you can write for orchestra, you can write for anything.” An agent once told me that, and I took it to heart so much that I wrote two courses to help you get where you need to be with orchestration. Here is an excerpt.

Laptop screen that reads "Four New Courses"

Four New Berklee Online Courses Enrolling for September 2022

Just in time for the new semester—starting September 26—Berklee Online is offering four brand new courses that will appeal to singers and pianists alike.

musician working at their computer and keyboard on a music composition

Music Composition Techniques and Resources

Learn various music composition techniques and resources that will help you get started as you write your own piece of music.

5 Skills You Need to Become a Music Arranger

Berklee Online music arrangement course instructor and author Jerry Gates shares five tips to help you become a music arranger.

Student Spotlight: Bonny Baez

In the past two years, Bonny Baez has transitioned from his full-time career as an animator, and now splits his time between freelance animation work and a focus on music.

A musician using guitar chord inversions

Guitar Chords 101: Triad Inversions Up the Fretboard

Chord inversions help to smooth out motion from chord to chord, harmonize melodies, and allow smooth bass motion. On the guitar, use of inversions allows the player to be able to play some form of a given chord virtually anywhere on the neck. Inversions are your friend!