Finding the best music courses or the best music lessons to fit your needs takes time and energy. Let me help you out and reduce that effort as much as possible.
Music Theory Course | Improvising | Jazz Philosophy | Bass Guitar | Beginner Guitar
Everyone that plays or wants to play music could probably find something that they can use to help them learn something new in music or take the next step.
As I developed the lesson materials for the Music Theory Workshop (a.k.a Music Learning Workshop – Getting It Down Cold ) I explored and continue to explore the various options for learning music.
Not everyone has the same needs or objectives when it comes to learning more about music. So in order help those interested in learning more music I've begun to compile a set of references and resources that I have found to be the best music courses or best music lessons that are available. You'll see many of them linked on the site sidebar, but I've often been asked:
“Which are the best music courses or lessons for my situation?”
So I'm listing the ones that I think will help you the most and giving you a short summary with where to get additional information if it seems appropriate to your needs. As I discover additional resources I'll update this page. Also be sure to get on the mailing list to stay up to date with new developments.
Best Music Courses for Straight Music Theory
1. Getting It Down Cold Music Theory Course
OK, let's be upfront here, I'm biased and going to tell you that I believe the workshop's Music Theory Course we sell here at MTW is the most effective and efficient course to learn how to read music. Music is a language and needs to be treated like that. The various principals need to be understood and the details on how the rudiments of music are put together should be tackled head on.
The music lessons and course were developed because I felt there was not an adequate and practical approach to teaching music theory for the everyday music student that was effective and would truly stick with them. Most reference books made your eyes glaze over after reading a few pages. All you did was read the essence and did not get engaged in the actually learning process. Therefore, the Getting It Down Cold Music Theory Series was created.
This course is made up of 4 workshops Notes | Rhythm Mastery | Key Signatures & Scales | Creating Chords, each of which is available individually or in combination. The approach of these course materials is to start at a high level overview and work into the details. It's a method which engages all learning senses and is further explained in detail in the workshop music learning methods report.
The short coming of this course is that it uses the keyboard as the primary reference instrument and relies on you to understand the basics of your instrument such as fingering and playing the specific notes. However, the music theory is valid for all instruments, singers, and songwriters.
The feedback on how the course augments those that are already taking lessons has been outstanding as the teachers seem to focus more on the mechanics of playing and not the elements of music itself.
Best Improvisation Course
Improvise for Real by David Reed
Improvise for Real is one of the top music courses for learning to improvise. This is one of the most unique courses and value packed music course offerings on the market today. My full Improvise for Real in-depth review to learn about the five mega lessons that will serve you for a lifetime of learning and enjoyment. It's a been a few years sense I reviewed this and David has made improvements to his offering. Also David has jam tracks to be used with the course to help speed along your process.
Go here: Learn more about Improvising with Improvise for Real pick up your copy today if you want to start down that journey of creation of music on the fly, you won't be disappointed. (This is a pure recomendation, I do not get any compensation if you purchase his course)
If you have any interest in being able to improvise you need to look into this one of a kind course.
Best Base Guitar Courses
Teach Me Bass Guitar One interest of mine is to be able to play bass guitar, and although I'm great at music theory and elements I have yet to sit down and work out playing the bass guitar. So I started looking for ways that I could get some home study in at my own pace and as I looked around I came across a couple of lesson and courses that I think out shine the others. As I have yet started my path (looking to pick up a bass guitar to get started) these offering will be my first choices.
1. Teach Me Bass Guitar by Roy Vogt
I've written about Victor Wooten's book “The Music Lesson” and when I was exploring these course here's Victor giving a little praise to Roy on the website. So naturally I had to start digging in and see what this was all about.
The DVD course is extensive and covers technique as well as music knowledge. The first 7 areas covered relate to music theory (it's great to see the greats trying to make sure you're getting the basics) so that you have at least a foundation in learning to play.
After that you'll learn more about chords, but mostly about technique and styles. New recent price drops, for the complete digital course containing 20 lessons you're paying less than $4 per lesson (try getting that directly from a teacher and having them laugh their head off.
Needless to say I'm recommend you pick this as the top home study bass guitar course for the beginner and advanced player. Check it out here:
Best Guitar Courses
This has got to be one of the hardest areas in the world to determine best music courses for learning guitar. There are so many beginner and specific style courses I don't know if you can find one that's specific. So I'm going to try and give ones that I've had an association with or have found enough information that they are worthy of your consideration.
1. New is Breakthrough Guitar
This is a new guitar method, that the pro's understand. I started out on the Grid 101 and quickly bought the lifetime option. I'm a big fan of pattern recognition when it comes to understanding your instrument and this method will not disappoint. This course will get you playing and music theory you learn will be a bonus to your creative side.
Go here to check it out: Breakthrough Guitar
Stay tuned
That's all I've got for now as for as the best music courses to help fit your situation.
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