Virtual Composition Lessons for Students & Professionals
Get personalized guidance from an award-winning composer and write music you can confidently submit, perform, or publish.
Writing music is like building a piece of handmade wooden furniture—it involves craftsmanship.
I love guiding composers through the writing process. Whether you're fine-tuning a piece or starting from scratch, my goal is to help you write music you’re proud to share with the world.
My Teaching Approach
01 Lesson Prep
I’ll spend dedicated time before our lesson studying your score, making notes, and pulling together tools, resources, and musical examples to ensure that our lesson time is focused and productive.
02 Individualized Experience
You’re the composer here. I’ll ask questions and listen closely to what you want to achieve—both in your writing and in your music career—and offer suggestions and guidance based on that.
03 Creative Liberty
You keep full creative ownership of your work. I’ll offer a variety of options, ideas, and insights, which you are free to use and incorporate however you choose.
What to Expect From Our Lessons
From scheduling to score prep, here’s how it works:
01
Sign Up for a Consult
We’ll meet for 30 minutes on Zoom to get to know each other, talk about your goals, and answer questions—no pressure to commit.
02
Schedule Your First Lesson
Set a schedule that works for you: biweekly, monthly, or quarterly. I recommend scheduling at least three lessons for the best experience.
03
Prepare Your Work
Now it’s time to get to work writing or editing your piece. Depending on what you’re working on, we may have time to go over more than one piece.
04
Send Your Score
Email your score (PDF or XML) at least 24 hours before your lesson. I’ll review it and prepare specific feedback so we can make the most of our time.
05
Get Actionable Feedback
In your lesson, we’ll discuss orchestration, pacing, form, harmony, and more. I may also suggest music for you to listen to and study.
06
Make Revisions
After the lesson, you’ll have time to implement the ideas and strategies we talked through and make revisions to your piece before our next lesson.
What’s Included
In composition lessons, I can help you:
Refine your compositions with specific feedback
Generate new musical ideas and develop material
Develop your orchestration knowledge and techniques
Learn how to use Dorico (what I use) for professional-level engraving
Prepare for competitions, portfolio submissions, or grad school
Navigate music career choices with professional insight
Lesson rates start at $95 for 60 minutes
(including pre-lesson score review)
About Me
I’m a composer and educator with 15+ years of teaching experience. My compositions have been performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Sydney Opera House, and have won national and international honors.
Teaching is a core element of my work: coaching ensembles, leading residencies throughout the U.S., giving pre-concert talks, and teaching classes at the Eastman School of Music’s Institute for Music Leadership.
Critics have called my music “attractive, unabashedly tonal and…startlingly beautiful” (Miami Herald) and praised its “…sensitivity, skill and tremendous sophistication.” (Kansas City Independent)
Several of my pieces are published by major music publishers, and I self-publish the majority of my catalog.
I hold a B.M. in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Miami and a M.M. in Composition from the Eastman School of Music.
Virtual lessons are a good fit for you if you’re:
Seeking ongoing composition guidance with a flexible, self-paced schedule
Preparing a college or grad school composition portfolio
Looking to write more and develop your skills during summer or winter breaks
Need help navigating the next steps in your music career?
If you’re looking for advice specifically on career strategies, I offer career coaching through Musician & Co.
I’ve advised numerous young musicians on career topics in my own practice and through courses at the Eastman School of Music.
If you need someone (or some resources) to help you strategize next steps in your music career or business, check out all that Musician & Co. has to offer. We’d be delighted to help you!
In case you’re wondering…
Here are questions other musicians have asked:
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I work with a wide range of students—from high school and college students interested in learning about composition to grad students refining their portfolios to music professionals looking to improve their craft. Every lesson is tailored to your goals and level.
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Not at all. Whether you're writing your first piece or you have a portfolio of works and have studied composition formally, I’ll meet you where you are and help you grow from there.
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That’s totally fine! Many students come to lessons with sketches, fragments, or just an idea. We can work through early stages of a composition together and discuss ways to develop your material into a complete piece.
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Yes—absolutely. I’ve helped many students shape and refine their application portfolios. We can also talk through your list of schools and make sure your scores and recordings are polished and professional.
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You’ll need access to music notation software (Dorico, Sibelius, or MuseScore) and a way to export your score as a PDF or MusicXML file. I use Dorico, but we can work from any format. A stable internet connection and Zoom are the only tech essentials.
Ready to sign up for composition lessons?
Here’s how to get started:
Step 01
Fill out the “Schedule a Free Consult” form and tell me a little more about yourself and what kinds of lessons you’re interested in.
Step 02
We’ll set up a free 30-min. consultation to talk through your career path, current goals and projects, and ways I can help.
Step 03
At the end, you’ll have an opportunity to schedule your first virtual lesson (no pressure to decide on the spot, though).