Developing Your Musicianship from Coursera

Learn the basic concepts and approaches needed to understand, create, and perform contemporary music.

If you have a passion for music and are curious about how it works, or if you are a musician who learned to play by ear without formal study, this course will provide you with an engaging introduction to key concepts and approaches needed to understand, create, and perform contemporary music. Taught by Berklee College of Music professor George W. Russell, Jr., the course includes six lessons that delve into harmony and ear training—two areas of intensive focus for every entering Berklee student.

The course will teach you the major scale and minor pentatonic scale, and how they are constructed. You will learn what intervals are, how to sing them, and how to find them in music. The course explores tonal centers and how to find the key a song is in, in addition to common time signatures such as 4/4 and 3/4. You will learn how to build chords—major and minor triads, and major and dominant seventh chords—and how to build a common chord progression—the I IV V. You will also learn how to recognize the blues and AABA song forms, and write a basic chord sheet to express your song ideas.

In addition to the video lectures, each lesson features Berklee student performances and interviews. The students share their musical journey and offer advice for those wanting to study music. The course culminates with an assignment that asks you to compose and perform a riff blues tune using the minor pentatonic scale. Above all, the course is designed to share the joy of creating music and sharing it with others.

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome to Developing Your Musicianship

Welcome to the course! Here we will cover all the details about the course and what you'll need to know to get the most out of your experience.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Builds a strong basis in contemporary music for novice musicians

Taught by a well-known Berklee College of Music professor

Includes student performances and interviews for added insight

Provides hands-on practice through composition and performance

Emphasizes ear training and harmony, fostering a deep understanding of music theory

May require additional resources and guidance for advanced musicians

Reviews summary

Foundational musicianship for beginners

According to learners, "Developing Your Musicianship" provides a strong and accessible introduction to core music theory and ear training concepts. Students praise the clarity of the instructor's explanations on topics like scales, chords, and harmony. Many found the practical exercises and assignments, including ear training and composing a blues riff, to be highly effective for developing skills and applying knowledge. While the course is seen as an excellent starting point for beginners and those without formal training, some learners with prior musical knowledge felt parts were too basic. Overall, it is considered a valuable and engaging course for understanding the fundamental building blocks of contemporary music.

Ideal starting point for those new to music theory.

"This course is perfect for someone starting with absolutely no music theory background."

"It provided me with the foundational knowledge I was missing from learning by ear."

"It's a great introduction to key concepts for anyone wanting to learn how music works."

"Couldn't ask for a better way to get started with understanding musical structure."

Instructor is knowledgeable, passionate, and engaging.

"George W. Russell, Jr. is a fantastic teacher, his passion for music is infectious and motivating."

"The instructor's energy and clear delivery made learning enjoyable and easy to follow."

"Professor Russell knows his stuff and presents it in an accessible and engaging way."

"His examples and insights added significant value to the lessons."

Assignments are practical and help build skills.

"The ear training exercises were challenging but really improved my ability to recognize intervals."

"Composing the blues riff tune was a great way to apply everything I learned practically."

"I found the assignments practical and helpful for solidifying my understanding of the material."

"Working through the exercises helped reinforce the concepts from the lectures."

Core concepts like harmony, scales, and chords explained well.

"The explanations on scales and triads were incredibly clear and easy to follow."

"Professor Russell breaks down complex harmony topics into understandable parts."

"I finally understand how the major scale and related chords work after this course."

"I found the concepts of tonal centers and intervals were taught in a very clear way."

Provides essential building blocks for musicianship.

"I feel I now have a strong foundation in scales, chords, and understanding keys."

"Covers the essential building blocks of music theory very well and logically."

"Learned key fundamental concepts needed to start analyzing and creating music."

"It gave me the basic structure to build my musical understanding upon."

Content may be too fundamental for experienced musicians.

"As an intermediate player, some of the early material felt a bit slow and repetitive."

"It's a great introduction, but it doesn't go deep enough for more advanced students wanting complex theory."

"I was hoping for a little more advanced concepts, but it stuck to the basics."

"If you already know your scales and basic chords, the first few weeks might feel slow."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Developing Your Musicianship with these activities:

Watch video tutorials on music theory

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Expand your knowledge of music theory by watching video tutorials.

Browse courses on Music Theory

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Find a video tutorial on a music theory topic that you're interested in.
Watch the video tutorial.
Take notes on the important concepts.
Try out the concepts that you've learned in your own music.

Review the major scale and minor pentatonic scale.

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Refresh your knowledge of the major and minor pentatonic scales to strengthen your foundation.

Browse courses on Major Scale

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Play the major scale on your instrument.
Play the minor pentatonic scale on your instrument.
Identify the notes in each scale.
Construct major and minor scales in different keys.

Review 'The Jazz Theory Book'

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Improve your understanding of jazz theory by reading and studying.

View The Jazz Theory Book on Amazon

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Read through a few chapters of the book.
Take notes on the important concepts.
Work through the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Apply what you've learned to your own music.

Four other activities

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Ear training exercises

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Improve your ear training skills by practicing regularly.

Browse courses on Ear Training

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Listen to a short musical excerpt.
Identify the notes that you hear.
Write down the notes on a piece of paper.
Check your answer against the correct answer.

Join a study group with other students in the course

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Collaborate with other students to enhance your learning experience.

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Find a group of students who are interested in studying together.
Meet up with your group on a regular basis.
Discuss the course material.
Work on assignments together.

Record yourself playing a song using the techniques you've learned.

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Improve your playing skills by recording yourself and listening back to your performance. Identify areas for improvement and focus on those in your practice.

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Choose a song to play.
Set up your recording equipment.
Record yourself playing the song.
Listen back to your recording and identify areas for improvement.
Practice and focus on improving those areas.

Compose a song using the techniques that you've learned.

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Demonstrate your understanding and creativity by writing your own song.

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Choose a topic for your song.
Write the lyrics.
Compose the melody.
Record your song.

Career center

Learners who complete Developing Your Musicianship will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Arranger

Arrangers adapt existing music for different instruments or ensembles. They may also create new arrangements of traditional or popular music. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter arranging as it can provide you with a solid foundation in music theory, ear training, and arranging techniques, which are essential for creating effective and engaging arrangements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Arranger

Musician

Musicians perform music on a variety of instruments. They may work independently or as part of a group. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter into performance as it can provide you with a solid foundation in music theory, ear training, and performance techniques, which are essential for performing music effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Musician

Orchestrator

Orchestrators create orchestral arrangements of music. They may work independently or collaborate with composers and conductors. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter orchestration as it can provide you with a solid foundation in music theory, ear training, and orchestration techniques, which are essential for creating effective and engaging orchestral arrangements.

See salaries and explore the career path for Orchestrator

Composer

Composers create original music. They may work independently or collaborate with other musicians, lyricists, and producers. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter composition as it can provide you with a solid foundation in music theory, ear training, and composition techniques, which are essential for writing compelling and memorable music.

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Music Director

Music Directors oversee the musical aspects of live performances, recordings, and other musical productions. They work with musicians, conductors, and other creatives to ensure that the music is performed at the highest level. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to become Music Directors as it can provide them with a comprehensive foundation in music theory, performance, and ear training, which are essential for effectively leading musical ensembles.

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Music Critic

Music Critics write reviews and articles about music for newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications. They may also appear on radio and television to discuss music. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter music criticism as it can provide them with a strong foundation in music theory and ear training, helping them to understand and analyze music effectively.

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Music Librarian

Music Librarians are responsible for organizing, cataloging, and preserving musical materials in libraries and other institutions. They may also provide reference and research assistance to patrons. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter music librarianship as it can provide them with a strong foundation in music theory and ear training, which will help them to understand and classify musical materials effectively.

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Music Teacher

Music Teachers teach music theory, performance, and history to students of all ages. They may work in schools, music studios, or private settings. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter teaching as it can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of music that would help you to effectively share your knowledge with students.

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Music Journalist

Music Journalists write articles, reviews, and other content about music for newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter music journalism as it can provide them with a strong foundation in music theory and ear training, helping them to understand and analyze music effectively.

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Music Archivist

Music Archivists are responsible for preserving and managing historical musical materials, such as recordings, manuscripts, and instruments. They may work in museums, libraries, or other institutions. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter music archiving as it can provide them with a strong foundation in music theory and ear training, which will help them to understand and preserve musical materials effectively.

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Music Ethnomusicologist

Music Ethnomusicologists study the music of different cultures around the world. They may conduct fieldwork, collect recordings, and write articles and books about their research. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful for those looking to enter music ethnomusicology as it can provide them with a strong foundation in music theory and ear training, which will help them to understand and analyze music from different cultures.

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Songwriter

Songwriters create and write lyrics and melodies for songs. They may work independently or collaborate with other musicians, lyricists, and producers. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful as it can help you strengthen your understanding of music theory and structure, which are important for writing compelling and memorable songs.

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Music Producer

Music Producers are responsible for overseeing and guiding the entire music production process. This includes working with artists, engineers, and other creatives to bring a musical vision to life. Developing Your Musicianship can be useful as it can help you understand the technical aspects of music production and develop your ear training skills, which are essential for working with musicians and ensuring that recordings sound as intended.

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Music Therapist

Music Therapists use music to help people improve their physical, emotional, and cognitive health. They work with a variety of clients, including those with disabilities, illnesses, or injuries. Developing Your Musicianship could be helpful for those looking to work in music therapy, as it provides a foundation in music theory and ear training, helping you to engage clients in musical activities.

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Audio Engineer

Audio Engineers are responsible for recording, mixing, and mastering audio. They work in a variety of settings, including recording studios, live venues, and broadcast facilities. Developing Your Musicianship may be useful as it can provide you with a strong foundation in music theory and ear training, which are essential for understanding the technical aspects of audio engineering.

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