Music Composition Books
by book level
Mini Composers League, primer.
"The Composers League" is a method book series on "How to Compose," for early and late beginners. This book series emphasizes the key concepts of writing your own music. Book 1 assumes the student already knows and understands black keys, white key names, some positions, and writing the music alphabet and finger numbers. Book 1 teaches composition WITHOUT the music staff.
Composers League, Book 1.
A method book series on "How to Compose," for all ages. Book 1 emphasizes the next key concepts of starting to write your own music on the staff. Mostly including simple melodies with some harmony, use of pedal, and writing the grand staff. Book 1 assumes the student already knows and understands naming accidentals and white key names, most common positions, some key signatures, and how to read middle c position range on the staff. Book 2 teaches composition WITH the music staff.
Composers League, Book 2.
A method book series on "How to Compose," for all ages. Book 2 emphasizes incorporating most of these concepts on the staff: some musical terms, writing key signatures, different rhythms, some tempo terms, use of pedal, and some new positions. Book 2 assumes the student already knows and understands naming accidentals and white key names, most common positions, some key signatures, and how to read middle c position range on the staff. Book 2 teaches composition WITH the music staff and some theory concepts.
Composers League, Book 3.
A method book series on "How to Compose," for all ages. Book 3 emphasizes incorporating most of these concepts on the staff: musicality, more tempo terms, more use of pedal, some minor key signatures and positions, and more complex rhythms. Book 3 assumes the student already knows and understands naming accidentals, most major positions, most major key signatures, and how to read the full staff. Book 3 teaches composition WITH the music staff and knowledge of most theory concepts.
Composers League, Book 4.
A method book series on "How to Compose," for all ages. Book 4 emphasizes incorporating most of these concepts on the staff: expressive tendencies, accents, 8va/8vb, complex pedal clearing, complex rhythms, and most tempo and expressive terms. Book 3 assumes the student already knows and understands naming accidentals, most major positions, most major key signatures, and how to read the full staff. Book 3 teaches composition WITH the music staff and knowledge of most theory concepts.