Composer Forge — Composition Level 1 Live Cohort

Learning composition, alone

Learning composition alone can feel like teaching yourself in the dark.

⟳

You're working through Composition at your own pace — but there's no one to tell you if you're actually on the right track.

No group going through it alongside you. No one to compare notes with, or see how someone else tackled the same exercise.

△

Self-paced learning works — but it's easy to let a module sit unfinished when there's no one expecting you to show up.

◻

You want the accountability and structure of a real class, without the years and expense of a university course.

"As it stands, Composer Forge is self-paced — that's by design, and it will always be there. But a number of you asked for something more: a community, a group experience, going through the content live with an instructor." — from the survey that shaped this cohort

The Composition Level 1 Live Cohort

One module a week. One class. One instructor. Twelve weeks to a completed third of the Composition track.

Each week, Jack teaches that week's Composition Level 1 module live — in real time, with the full 90-minute session dedicated to that week's material. By the end of the 12 weeks, you'll have completed the equivalent of a semester of a composition subject in a degree, with a Certificate of Completion to show for it.

Session time: 11am Eastern · 8am Pacific · 4pm UK · 5pm Central Europe. Tuesdays, 4 August – 20 October 2026.

Jack teaches the week's module live

Real-time teaching, not a recording — the full session is dedicated to that week's concept.

You complete a two-part exercise

Part 1 analysis, part 2 composition — applying the week's concept to your own work before the next session.

Anonymous peer debrief

Jack reviews 2–3 anonymous submissions from the previous week with the group. You learn from Jack — and from your classmates.

Sessions are recorded

Can't make a live session? Every session is recorded, so you can revisit it — or catch up — indefinitely afterwards.

Meet classmates for life

A private space just for this cohort is being set up so you can connect with your classmates outside sessions — details before Session 1.

Already got some theory under your belt? Composition Level 1 assumes you've covered Theory Modules 1–5. Theory Level 1 is the self-paced Theory track already live on Composer Forge — it's included free with your enrolment, and you'll be enrolled in it (if you're not a member already) as soon as you sign up, so you can start working through it immediately. It moves faster than Composition, so those first five modules won't take long to get through before Session 1.

What the 12 weeks covers

Twelve modules. One completed third of the Composition track.

This is Composition Level 1: Foundations — the same curriculum on the self-paced platform, taught live, one module a week.

Introduction to Composition

The building blocks — musical elements, motifs, and turning ideas into structure.

Melody Writing Fundamentals

Write memorable motifs and complete 8-bar melodies with proper phrasing.

Harmony Fundamentals and Chord Progressions

Functional harmony and harmonising your own melodies.

Triadic Voice Leading

4-part (SATB) voice leading and smooth chordal textures.

Diatonic Melody and Harmony in Minor

Composing confidently in minor keys.

Major Key Modes and Chord Scales

Modal colour — Dorian, Mixolydian, and modal vs tonal composition.

Fundamentals of Rhythm

Rhythm as a compositional tool, not just a backdrop.

Introduction to Counterpoint

Independent melodic lines, consonance and dissonance, simple canons.

Emotional Storytelling in Music

Composing to convey specific emotions and shape an emotional arc.

Simple Forms — Binary and Ternary

Structuring complete short pieces.

Song and Instrumental Forms

Verse-chorus, 12-bar blues, rondo, and more.

Portfolio Development

2–3 complete original pieces, professionally prepared and presented for feedback.

Want the full breakdown, module by module?

Browse the full curriculum →

Who's teaching it

Composer Forge instructors are professional composers and musicians with real industry experience and a genuine passion for teaching.

Lead Composition Instructor

Jack Elliot Barton

Jack Elliot Barton is a composer, pianist, and educator based between London and Barcelona. He holds a Postgraduate Certificate in Composition and an MMus in Sonic Arts from Goldsmiths, University of London, following undergraduate studies in Music at the University of Manchester.

Alongside teaching, Jack has worked across film, theatre, contemporary performance, and jazz, with projects ranging from Abbey Road recording sessions to live performance at venues including Cafe Oto and Sadler's Wells.

He has taught music technology, jazz workshops, and one-to-one tuition across a range of ages and experience levels. Outside of teaching, he draws inspiration from nature, language, and the role of sound and music within society.

View Jack's full instructor profile →

The guarantee

Win your money back.

Applies to Full Package and Premium tier buyers. Meet both conditions below and you get all your money back as store credit, redeemable against anything else available on Composer Forge.

Attend all 12 live sessions* — verified via Zoom attendance
Submit all 12 exercises — for marking

Put the credit toward a future live cohort — Composition Level 2, Orchestration Level 1, whatever comes next — feedback credits, full platform membership if you want the entire five-track system, or anything else available on Composer Forge.

You either come out a better composer, or you come out a better composer who got here for free. There's no losing outcome.

* Counted as attended if you're present for at least 60 of the 90 minutes.

Outside US or European timezones? You can request an exemption from the attendance requirement before the cohort starts — handled case by case.

Why are we giving this education away for free?

Because a discount doesn't make you finish, and finishing is the entire point. Self-paced courses have a real completion problem — ours included. Tying the refund to full attendance and every exercise submitted means the only way to get your money back is to actually do the work: twelve weeks of real composition practice, a third of the entire Composition track, studied properly, with feedback the whole way through.

If you're serious about becoming a better composer, this is the most effective way to force yourself there. Show up, do the exercises, and it doesn't cost you anything.

Enrol

Choose your tier

Enrolment closes Monday 3 August 2026, 11:59pm ET. Early bird pricing applies to the first 10 seats.

Cohort only

$597

$2,894+ value

one payment

Live cohort — 12 weekly sessions
Session recordings
Composition Level 1 + Theory Level 1 platform access (bonus)
Certificate of Participation

No marked exercises. No guarantee.

Enrol →

Twelve fixed weeks. You know exactly what's coming and when.

Now

Enrolment open

First 10 seats at early bird pricing, both new buyer and founding member tiers.

~28 July

Onboarding email

Zoom link, full session schedule, and what to do before Session 1.

Mon 3 Aug

Enrolment closes

11:59pm ET. No late entries once the cohort starts.

Tue 4 Aug

Session 1 — 11am ET / 4pm UK

The cohort begins. 12 weekly Tuesday sessions running through to 20 October.

Tue 20 Oct

Final session

Certificates issued to students who completed the full 12 weeks.

Questions

FAQ

Composition Level 1 assumes you've covered Theory Modules 1–5. Theory Level 1 is the self-paced Theory track already live on Composer Forge — it's included free with your enrolment, and you'll be enrolled in it (if you aren't already) as soon as you sign up, so you can start working through it right away. It moves faster than Composition, so it won't take long to get through before Session 1.

These 12 modules cover Composition Level 1 from the very beginning, so if you've already got some background, it's excellent practice and revision — and a good way to catch any gaps you didn't know you had. If you're unsure whether Level 1 is the right starting point for you, email karleen@composerforge.com.

Yes — no catch. We want you to actually reach your composition goals, and this is the most effective way to make that happen when motivation on your own is hard to sustain. Attend all 12 sessions, submit all 12 exercises, and the full amount comes back as store credit. It also helps that you're not doing this alone — going through it with a class of composers at the same stage makes the whole thing far more interactive, and a lot less lonely.

Every session is recorded, so you can catch up on anything you miss. That said, the win-your-money-back guarantee requires attending all 12 live sessions and submitting all 12 exercises — if your schedule is genuinely unpredictable, Cohort Only drops the attendance requirement. If live sessions truly don't work for you, email karleen@composerforge.com to ask about a self-paced option.

Ninety minutes a week, same day and time, for 12 weeks — no guessing when the next session lands. Each week's exercise is built to fit around a normal week, not take one over. If you're not confident you can commit to all 12, Cohort Only drops the exercise and attendance requirements, so there's less riding on any single week.

Session time works for US and European timezones. If you're elsewhere, you can request an exemption from the attendance requirement before the cohort starts — handled case by case. Email karleen@composerforge.com.

Your existing self-paced access doesn't change. The cohort adds a live, interactive layer on top — the instructor teaching in real time, weekly exercises, and peer debrief. See the founding member pricing above for your discount.

Certificate of Completion is awarded to students who attend all 12 sessions and submit all 12 exercises (Full Package and Premium tiers). Certificate of Participation is awarded to Cohort Only students who attend all 12 sessions.

Change your mind before Tuesday 21 July — 14 days out from Session 1 — and you'll get a full refund, no questions asked. After that, enrolment is final: Jack's schedule and the cohort's size are locked in based on who's enrolled at that point. This is separate from the win-your-money-back guarantee above, which applies once the cohort is underway.

Email directly: karleen@composerforge.com. Everything gets read and responded to personally.

Learn composition foundations in our 12-week live program.

Learning composition alone can feel like teaching yourself in the dark.

One module a week. One class. One instructor. Twelve weeks to a completed third of the Composition track.

Twelve modules. One completed third of the Composition track.

Composer Forge instructors are professional composers and musicians with real industry experience and a genuine passion for teaching.

Jack Elliot Barton

A fraction of what a semester of private lessons costs.

Win your money back.

Why are we giving this education away for free?

Choose your tier

Twelve fixed weeks. You know exactly what's coming and when.

FAQ

Master Composition Foundations in 12 weeks.
One third of the entire Composition track — done properly, together.

Learn composition foundations in our 12-week live program.

Learning composition alone can feel like teaching yourself in the dark.

One module a week. One class. One instructor. Twelve weeks to a completed third of the Composition track.

Twelve modules. One completed third of the Composition track.

Composer Forge instructors are professional composers and musicians with real industry experience and a genuine passion for teaching.

Jack Elliot Barton

A fraction of what a semester of private lessons costs.

Win your money back.

Why are we giving this education away for free?

Choose your tier

Twelve fixed weeks. You know exactly what's coming and when.

FAQ

Master Composition Foundations in 12 weeks.One third of the entire Composition track — done properly, together.

Master Composition Foundations in 12 weeks.
One third of the entire Composition track — done properly, together.