Free Applied Music Courses
Here are 15 online applied music courses offered free by three top universities: the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Open University and Brigham Young University.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
MIT has a huge OpenCourseWare library including classes in applied music. Introduction to Musical Composition focuses on unity and variety to help new composers transfer their ideas into a coherent piece. Pair that with Harmony and Counterpoint I, which examines the harmonics and melodics of Western music.
- Introduction to Musical Composition
- Harmony and Counterpoint I
- Harmony and Counterpoint II
- Composing with Computers
- Fundamentals of Music
- Vocal Repertoire and Performance: Women Composers
- Developing Musical Structures
The Open University
The Open University has a trio of Voice-Leading Analysis courses, which teach students about Schenkerian analysis of harmonic structure. Creating Musical Sounds covers a variety of musical instruments and the sounds they make.
- Voice-Leading Analysis of Music 3: The Background
- Composition and Improvisation in Cross-Cultural Perspective
- Voice-Leading Analysis of Music 2: the Middleground
- Voice-Leading Analysis of Music 1: The Foreground
- Creating Musical Sounds
- Sound for Music Technology: An Introduction
Brigham Young University (BYU)
BYU offers two online instructional courses in Organ Performance, which includes an introduction to music theory and techniques.
Free Online Applied Music Courses at a Glance
| Course & School | Program Level | Format | Assignments | Quizzes & Exams | Downloadable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Musical Composition course from MIT | Undergraduate | External Reading and Audio Resources | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Harmony and Counterpoint I course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks, Audio Files | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Harmony and Counterpoint II course from MIT | Undergraduate | External Reading Resources, Audio Files | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Composing with Computers I course from MIT | Undergraduate | Text Lessons, Audio Files | Yes | No | Yes |
| Fundamentals of Music course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks, External Audio Resources | Yes | No | Yes |
| Vocal Repertoire and Performance: Women Composers course from MIT | Undergraduate/Graduate | External Reading Resources | Yes | No | Yes |
| Developing Musical Structure course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Voice-Leading Analysis of Music 3: The Background course from Open University | Advanced | Text Lessons, Audio Files | Yes | No | Yes |
| Composition and Improvisation in Cross-Cultural Perspective course from Open University | Advanced | Text Lessons, Video Files | Yes | No | Yes |
| Voice-Leading Analysis of Music 2: The Middleground course from Open University | Advanced | Text Lessons, Audio Files, Video Files | Yes | No | Yes |
| Voice-Leading Analysis of Music 1: The Foreground course from Open University | Advanced | Text Lessons, Audio Files, Video Files | Yes | No | Yes |
| Creating Musical Sounds course from Open University | Beginner | Text Lessons, Audio Files, Video Files | Yes | No | Yes |
| Sound For Music Technology: An Introduction course from Open University | Beginner | Text Lessons, Audio Files | Yes | No | Yes |
| Organ Performance 1 from BYU | Beginner | Text Lessons, Media Files | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Organ Performance 2 from BYU | Intermediate | Text Lessons, Media Files | Yes | Yes | Yes |
