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Music Composition 101: Fundamentals, Principles, and Myths (Udemy.com)

Demystifying music composition, film scoring, music production, and more

Created by: J. Anthony Allen

Last updated November 2025

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What you will learn

  • Write and Compose music using proven techniques and tips
  • Create their own music using software, or good old pencil and paper.
  • Generate musical ideas through creativity exercises
  • Tools of the trade: Software
  • Tools of the trade: Pencils and fine paper
  • How do you start?
  • The process
  • Program music and metaphors
  • Character sketches
  • Writing through canon
  • Form
  • Binary, Ternary, and Rondo forms
  • Starting with a plan
  • Graphic form representations
  • Triads, and basic rules of harmony
  • Chord progressions
  • Film Music and Tension Cues
  • Composing for Films
  • And much more!

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Course Description

** UDEMY BEST SELLING INSTRUCTOR**

Welcome to Music Composition 101: Fundamentals, Principals, and Myths. The complete guide to getting started in music composition.

This is a class designed for the average person who is ready to take their music career (or music interest) and develop it into something more. Whether you are an active musician or an aspiring musician, this class is perfect for you.

When most people think of a composer, they imagine someone sitting in a dusty attic with a grand piano, a big white wig, and the year is 1800. That might have been accurate back then, but the modern composer is just like you and me. In fact, I am one. 

In this course, I'll show you the techniques I use for writing music in a variety of styles and situations. I've worked with major American orchestras, film studios, and video game designers, so I've got more than a little experience. I'm also a PhD in music composition and a university professor (of music composition). 

Recently I was named as a semi-finalist for the Grammy Foundation's Music Educator of the Year award because of my in-person university classes. Now I'm taking those classes to Udemy in an online format in order to reach more students and give them the joy of Music Theory.

This course starts with common misconceptions about the art of writing music. I'll give you the first one right now: You don't have to be a genius. Music Composition is a skill that can be learned, with practice.

100% Answer Rate! Every single question posted to this class is answered within 24 hours by the instructor.

Some of the topics we will cover in this class are: 

  • My background, and listen to some of my music

  • What you need to know

  • Myths of the composer

  • Tools of the trade: Software

  • Tools of the trade: Pencils and fine paper

  • How do you start?

  • The process

  • Program music and metaphors

  • Character sketches

  • Writing through canon

  • Form

  • Starting with a plan

  • Graphic form representations

  • Film scoring and Tension Cues

  • Composing for Films and Games

  • Principals of orchestration

  • Principals of music theory

  • To use a keyboard or not to use a keyboard?

  • Any much, much, more! 


And of course, once you sign up for this class, all my other classes are yours at steep discounts! Over half off for all future sections!

The course is a roadmap to launching your career as a composer!

All the tools you need to prepare, organize and start your career are included in this course and the entire course is based on real-life experiences - not just academic theory.

Please click the "Take This Course" button so you can launch your music career today.


** I guarantee that this course is the most thorough music business course available ANYWHERE on the market - or your money back (30 day money back guarantee, as per Udemy policy) **

Closed captions have been added to all lessons in this course.

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Praise for Courses by Jason Allen:

⇢  "It seems like every little detail is being covered in an extremely simple fashion. The learning process becomes relaxed and allows complex concepts to get absorbed easily. My only regret is not taking this course earlier." - M. Shah

⇢  "Great for everyone without any knowledge so far. I bought all three parts... It's the best investment in leveling up my skills so far.." - Z. Palce

⇢  "Excellent explanations! No more or less than what is needed." - A. Tóth

⇢  "VERY COOL. I've waited for years to see a good video course, now I don't have to wait anymore. Thank You!" - Jeffrey Koury

⇢  "I am learning LOTS! And I really like having the worksheets!" - A. Deichsel

⇢  "The basics explained very clearly - loads of really useful tips!" - J. Pook

⇢  "Jason is really quick and great with questions, always a great resource for an online class!" M. Smith

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Instructor Details

J. Anthony Allen

Dr. Allen is a 2026 Apple Distinguished Educator.

Dr. J. Anthony Allen is a distinguished composer, producer, educator, and innovator whose multifaceted career spans various musical disciplines. Born in Michigan and based in Minneapolis, Dr. Allen has composed orchestral works, produced acclaimed dance music, and, through his entrepreneurship projects, he has educated over a million students worldwide in music theory and electronic music production.


Dr. Allen's musical influence is global, with compositions performed across Europe, North America, and Asia. His versatility is evident in works ranging from Minnesota Orchestra performances to Netflix soundtracks. Beyond creation, Dr. Allen is committed to revolutionizing music education for the 21st century. In 2011, he founded Slam Academy, an electronic music school aimed at increasing accessibility to music production education. His innovative approach to academia was highlighted in 2024 when he received tenure and resigned from his university position on the same day.


As a composer, Dr. Allen is known for his unique synthesis of diverse musical influences, often blending acoustic music with electronic dance music elements. With a Ph.D. in Music Composition, multiple master's degrees, and numerous awards, Dr. Allen's academic and professional achievements are substantial.

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Reviews

3.9

518 ratings on Udemy

Select a bar to show only those reviews.Select the bar again to show every rating.

By Jos on 4/30/2024

This is not an introductory course as I expected. It's a course to motivate people who are already known with the content of the composition work. So not my course. If I'm not aware of the content of composition, I can't be motivated in this way. As others also said, it's more about the author than about the subject.

By Matthew Hatchen on 2/3/2022

As stated, it was an introduction to music composition. It gets your feet a little wet in the business, some tips and tricks on how to get started, but leaves wide open the door to actually doing this well (and more specifically, where to go to do it). I have been taking many courses through this instructor, and like always, he has quality instruction that is easy to understand and engaging.

By Bill Mclendon on 8/28/2021

As a beginning composer, I found this information valuable, particularly the discussions on form and getting started in the marketplace. This is not the first one of Jason's classes I have taken, and it certainly won't be the last. In fact, my Udemy wishlist is crammed with his material!

By Luis Bustamante on 1/23/2021

I'm an electronic music producer and i think this is a great course to get a technical perspective on how to approach composing and create your own cheatsheet of the multiple techniques taught in this course, however i'd have liked if we could have more musical references and song analysis to reinforce this concepts.

By Scott Barb on 9/2/2020

Straight and to the point. This is meant to be an overview, not a comprehensive. That being said, the course gives some actionable steps for composing and getting your music out there. This is a great starting point, and will help you understand what you need to do next.

By Danila Leda Spadaro on 2/8/2020

Corso ben fatto ed insegnante davvero molto chiaro nel suo modo di esporre i concetti. Tuttavia, mi sarei aspettata qualche lezione più ricca di esempi e di "trucchetti" compositivi, per chi ha già abbastanza nozioni generali sull'argomento. Potrei decidere comunque di seguire ulteriori corsi tenuti da Jason Allen, in cui magari vengono approfonditi i vari argomenti con più attenzione.

By Debbie Sanders on 9/23/2019

I continue to learn a lot from listening to the course content Music Composition 101: Fundamentals, Principles, and Myths. I don't plan on write music as a business, but for my own personal use.

By Chris Kujawa on 7/25/2019

Loving the ideas that J. gives for writing! I far too often jump straight to FL Studio or Ableton and end up sitting there tweaking things for hours without ever writing a note. Going to start writing FIRST (with pen and paper) then heading to my DAW after working through this--seems like it will be far more productive.

By Marcos Martinez on 1/29/2019

So far, I’m really enjoying the motivational, supportive, and overall encouraging talks. Music composition has always been a really scary aspect of my life and Jay is helping me demystify the process. Only reason I left 4.5 stars was because of the poor mixing between dialogue and musical examples, otherwise it would be a firewall 5!

By Vladimir Klimenchenko on 1/16/2019

I am halfway through the course and so far all I am getting is plugs for the author's other courses. No useful info so far. I understand it's a freebee, but even so, there is no way I would be signing up for his other courses based on what I see in this one. Not impressed.

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Overall Score : 78 / 100