Music Theory Course
Online Composition Lessons for Japanese Music
Features
01 Learn the Music Theory You Need for Composition from Home!
The Music Theory Course at Honey Music School offers online composition lessons for people who want to create Japanese music, such as J-POP, anime songs, Vocaloid-style music, and classic Japanese pop songs (Kayoukyoku).
Lessons are held one-on-one through Zoom. You will mainly learn how to create melodies and chords. You will also use a DAW and listen to the sounds in real time, so you can understand music theory in a practical way.
This course is recommended if you have questions like these:
“I can think of melodies, but I do not know how to add chords.”
“I make chord progressions by feeling, but I do not understand the theory.”
“I want to learn music theory that I can actually use when writing songs.”
Your instructor will support you based on your level, experience, and goals.
What You Can Learn in the Music Theory Course:
- How to create melodies
- How to add chords to your melodies
- The basics of keys, scales, and diatonic chords
- How chord progressions are used in J-POP and anime songs
- How to analyze melodies and chord progressions in Japanese songs
- Composition practice using a DAW
- Feedback on melodies you have created
Depending on your goals, we may also recommend the DAW Beginner Course for basic DAW skills, the DTM Course(Desktop Music) for arrangement and full song production, or the J-POP Analysis Course for song analysis.
02 Learn with Experienced Instructors!
Your lessons will be taught by instructors with experience in composition, arrangement, and music production. Our instructors have supported many students, from complete beginners to experienced learners.
They will guide you step by step, based on your understanding and music experience.
During the lesson, your instructor can share a keyboard, teaching materials, and other visual tools on the screen. This makes it easier for beginners to learn at their own pace.
If you do not have music production equipment or a DAW yet, we can also give you advice during the free trial lesson. Please feel free to contact us.
Recommended for People Who:
- Want to try composing music for the first time
- Want to create J-POP, anime songs, Vocaloid-style music, or classic Japanese pop songs
- Want to take part in Japanese music activities while living in another country
- Feel that self-study is no longer enough
- Do not know what they do not understand yet.
03 Learn Step by Step with Original Teaching Materials!
At Honey Music School, lessons are based on our original teaching materials.
The curriculum is listed below. If you take lessons twice a month, many beginners complete the course in about one year. Students with music experience often complete it in about six months.
However, the time needed to complete the course can vary greatly depending on your music experience and learning pace.
Below is an overview of the main curriculum:
| / | Curriculum |
| Chapter1 | Tones Recognition |
| (1),(2) | Tone Names / Sharps (♯) and Flats (♭) |
| Chapter2 | Tone Steps |
| (1),(2) | Scale / Diatonic Scale |
| Chapter3 | About Chords |
| (1),(2) | Major/Minor Chords |
| (3) | Non-Major /Minor Chords(dim/aug) |
| (4) | Seventh Chords(7,M7,m7,mM7) |
| (5),(6),(7) | Other Common Chords(add,sus) / Applied Chords / On Chords |
| Chapter4 | Structure of Music Composition |
| (1),(2) | Diatonic Chords / Chord Functions |
| (3),(4) | Substitute Chords / Music Analysis |
| (5) | Commonly used Chord Progressions |
| Chapter5 | Development of Tones |
| (1),(2) | Minor Scale / Parallel Keys and Tonic Parallel Keys |
| (3),(4),(5) | Non Diatonic Chords / Cyclic Chords / Intervals |
| Chapter6 | Compose |
| Preparation | Decide on the style and direction of your song / Learn how to input notes into your DAW |
| Creating Melodies with the Pentatonic Scale | Create melodies where each note must be followed by a different note (avoid the 4th and 7th) / Create melodies where the same note may be repeated consecutively (avoid the 4th and 7th) / Experiment with using the 4th and 7th notes occasionally for variation |
| Developing a Motif | Compare motifs without leaps to those incorporating leaps / Use techniques like “run-ups” or syncopation for added rhythm |
| Building Melodies and Chords | Refine melodies and chord progressions for balance and flow |
- As an option, specific composing advice is also available upon completion of the curriculum.
- For students who are also taking the Vocal Mixing Course, lessons can also focus on creating vocal harmonies. You can learn how to build harmony parts based on keys, chords, and melody lines.
04 You Can Record Your Lesson!
You can record your lessons and use them for review. Please use Zoom’s recording function to save your lesson. This function is available on PC and Mac.
Students are responsible for recording their own lessons. You may also use a voice recorder or smartphone to record the lesson.
If you are worried about remembering what you learned, please let your instructor know.
Sharing lesson recordings with third parties is strictly prohibited.
05 Members Can Also Join Special Projects!
After learning the basics of composition, members can join practical projects available only to Honey Music School members.
By joining music collaboration projects, BGM production projects, and other activities, you can gain experience that you cannot get from lessons alone.
Current Projects and Activities:
- Student Collaborations
- Office BGM Collaboration
- World Sings J-POP
- Radio Program
- School Label Music Release
- Counseling Sessions
Video
-individual session-
Monthly fee
| Price | 1 lesson / 50 minutes |
| 1 time a month | 5,700 yen |
| 2 times a month | 11,400 yen |
| 4 times a month | 21,400 yen |
| Price/Student discount | 1 lesson / 50 minutes |
| 1 time a month | 5,420 yen |
| 2 times a month | 10,830 yen |
| 4 times a month | 20,330 yen |
- Price is in Japanese “yen”.
- No enrollment fee.
- For those who wish to take 5 lessons in a month, we offer a plan of 4 lessons + an additional 1 lesson.
- Payments are only accepted through PayPal. We will send you the PayPal URL on the 25th of each month for payment (Japan time).
- Make-up lessons must be used by the end of the month following the originally scheduled month (Japan time).
- You may adjust the number of lessons each month as needed.
Process
Form
Instructors
tomo
A global coach with rich experience teaching international students.
KZ Chrome
An instructor who gives kind, clear, and careful support, even for beginners.
Ryuta Aoki
A composer with experience creating music for singers and voice actors.
User Voice
Yūgen Ongaku
I have been enjoying my music theory course and J-Pop analysis lessons a lot with Tomo-sensei at Honey Music School. The music theory course was a lot of fun and very focused not only on understanding other artists’ music but also on applying that knowledge in my new creations. Together with the J-Pop analysis course, I have acquired a lot of crucial knowledge not just about music theory, but also about what makes J-Pop so special, including how some of the Japanese musical traditions are still present in modern J-Pop.
FAQ
There is a time difference between our countries, what time can we take lessons?
Our business time is from 10am to 10pm. So please check Japanese time in your country.
When is your holiday?
From December 30th to January 3rd in Japan time. It is new year’s holiday.
Will I have the same instructor every time?
Yes, you will be assigned a fixed instructor. If you wish to change your instructor, it is possible. However, we do not offer a new free trial lesson when changing instructors.
How do I book my lessons?
After we confirm your monthly payment, we will send you the booking page. Please note that booking is only available after payment is completed.
How can I pay the monthly fee?
We accept payment via PayPal only (credit card payment is also available through PayPal). The payment link is sent on the 25th of each month (Japan time). For the first month, the link will be sent immediately after registration.
Can I take more than one course or choose a different number of lessons than listed?
Yes, both are possible. Please pay the total amount for all selected courses. If you would like a different number of lessons than shown on the price list (for example, 5 lessons per month), we will calculate it as 4 lessons + 1 additional lesson.
Can I reschedule my lesson?
Yes, if you contact us by 6:00 p.m. (Japan time) at least 2 days before the scheduled lesson, we can reschedule it for another day.
Can I carry over my lesson to the next month?
Yes, you can carry over lessons until the end of the following month. (Example: Lessons for December can be carried over until the end of January.)
Are there any opportunities to share what I learned in lessons?
Yes! At Honey Music School, we offer activities like joining FM radio shows, contributing to background music for shops and offices, and music collaboration projects with other students.
Can I take lessons even if I don’t speak Japanese?
Yes, you can! However, for some language-related courses such as the Lyrics Course, a certain level of Japanese may be required. Please check the course page for more details.
Are the instructors native Japanese speakers?
Yes, all of our instructors are native Japanese speakers.
What are the benefits of learning music theory and chord theory?
It helps you expand your skills in composition and arrangement. You’ll be able to create music with more intention and expression. It’s also useful for improving your performance and making your own phrases.
Is music theory really necessary for composing or arranging?
It’s not absolutely required, but understanding theory can help you work more efficiently and make your music more convincing.
Can I learn music theory while using DTM (Desk Top Music) or composition software?
Yes! At our school, we recommend using a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) during lessons.
I can’t read sheet music at all. Is that okay?
No problem! We use approaches based on keyboard visuals, diagrams, and ear training, so you can learn without reading music.
