ScalesMusicChordJazzMusic theoryAurally identify chordsPianoRead lead sheetsAurally identify musical intervalsRead music notationMusic PerformanceMusic composition
9,068 already enrolled
Offered By
What you will learn
Aurally identify musical intervals, chords, and chord progressions
Write and practice major and minor scales in a variety of keys
Compose a 12-bar blues with a melody
Define and discuss harmonic function and modal interchange
Skills you will gain
About this Specialization
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Nurture your love for, and understanding of, music with this specialization. Learn the fundamentals of music theory, including major and minor tonalities, chord scales, song forms, and chord qualities. You’ll also practice training your ear to hear and recognize various intervals, chord progressions, and chord qualities. For the Capstone project, you will directly apply the knowledge you’ve gained to write and perform a short musical composition. This specialization begins with the basics of music and builds to more advanced concepts, providing you the knowledge you need to improve your skills as a musician.
Applied Learning Project
In the capstone course, you will write and perform a 24-measure musical composition in A A B A song form. This culminating project will combine the skills and knowledge you learn and provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate your growth as a musician.
Learner Career Outcomes
50%
Started a new career after completing this specialization.
14%
Got a pay increase or promotion.
Learner Career Outcomes
50%
Started a new career after completing this specialization.
14%
Got a pay increase or promotion.
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online courses
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Flexible Schedule
Set and maintain flexible deadlines.
Beginner Level
Students may want to have some knowledge of basic music notation and will need access to an instrument, preferably a keyboard or piano.
Approx. 5 months to complete
Suggested 4 hours/week
English
Subtitles: English, Ukrainian, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish, Lithuanian, Catalan, German
How the Specialization Works
Take Courses
A Coursera Specialization is a series of courses that helps you master a skill. To begin, enroll in the Specialization directly, or review its courses and choose the one you'd like to start with. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. It’s okay to complete just one course — you can pause your learning or end your subscription at any time. Visit your learner dashboard to track your course enrollments and your progress.
Hands-on Project
Every Specialization includes a hands-on project. You'll need to successfully finish the project(s) to complete the Specialization and earn your certificate. If the Specialization includes a separate course for the hands-on project, you'll need to finish each of the other courses before you can start it.
Earn a Certificate
When you finish every course and complete the hands-on project, you'll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and your professional network.
There are 4 Courses in this Specialization
Developing Your Musicianship
723 ratings
Learn the basic concepts and approaches needed to understand, create, and perform contemporary music.
Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys
358 ratings
After a tremendous response from learners on Coursera, Berklee Online has created a Developing Your Musicianship specialization, and this course is the second course in the series. If you have a basic knowledge of music theory or if you have completed Developing Your Musicianship I, this course will continue to help you understand key musical concepts, enabling you to create and perform contemporary music. Taught by Berklee College of Music professor George W. Russell, Jr., the course includes four lessons that delve into the next level of harmony and ear training.
Musicianship: Tensions, Harmonic Function, and Modal Interchange
276 ratings
After a tremendous response from learners on Coursera, Berklee Online has created a Developing Your Musicianship specialization, and this course is the third course in the series. If you have a general understanding of music theory or if you have completed Developing Your Musicianship I and II, this course will continue to help you understand musical concepts, enabling you to create and perform contemporary music. Taught by Berklee College of Music professor George W. Russell, Jr., the course includes four lessons that delve into an intermediate level of harmony and ear training.
Developing Your Musicianship: Final Project
73 ratings
This course will guide you through the final project for the Developing Your Musicianship Specialization. This course will continue to help you apply the musical concepts you learned throughout the specialization, enabling you to create and perform a 36-measure composition. Taught by Berklee College of Music professor George W. Russell, Jr., the course includes four videos in which George models each stage of the project. Through peer feedback and discussion, practice, and applying what you’ve learned, this final project will hone your skills as a musician.
Offered by
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music was founded on the revolutionary principle that the best way to prepare students for careers in music is through the study and practice of contemporary music. For more than half a century, the college has evolved to reflect the state of the art of music and the music business. Berklee serves distance learners worldwide through its award-winning online extension school, Berklee Online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the refund policy?
Can I just enroll in a single course?
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Is financial aid available?
Can I take the course for free?
Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
How long does it take to complete the Specialization?
The whole specialization will take 18 weeks to complete. The breakdown is as follows:
Developing Your Musicianship - 6 weeks
Musicianship: Chord Charts, Diatonic Chords, and Minor Keys - 4 weeks
Musicianship: Tensions, Harmonic Function, and Modal Interchange - 4 weeks
Developing Your Musicianship Final Project - 4 weeks
The specialization may be completed sooner or later than the recommended 18 weeks depending on your pace of learning.
What background knowledge is necessary?
While it would be helpful to have some familiarity with musical notation (such as the staff, note values and names, etc.) it is not required. Developing Your Musicianship I provides resources for students who are not familiar with musical notation at the start of the course.
Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
Yes, we recommend taking them in order. Each course builds on the knowledge you learned in the last.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?
No. Berklee does not offer university credit for massive open online courses at this time.
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
