Turn your musical ideas into finished, well-shaped pieces.
Private composition lessons for writers who want to develop ideas beyond the first few bars, write more confidently for instruments and ensembles, and put their musical knowledge into practice.
You have ideas you like, but you’re not sure what should happen next.
You understand music theory, but struggle to turn that knowledge into actual music.
You want to write for orchestra or other ensembles, but aren’t sure how to make all the parts work together.
Whether you’re working toward a professional career or composing for the love of it, I can help you build the skills and process to move your music forward.
Your ideas deserve somewhere to go.
You may already have years of experience as a musician, a solid understanding of theory, or a DAW full of promising sketches. But none of that automatically makes it easy to develop an idea, shape a complete piece, or write convincingly for an ensemble.
Private lessons give you focused guidance on the music you actually want to create. We can identify what is holding a piece back, strengthen the areas that need work, and develop practical ways to keep moving when you get stuck.
I’ve worked with students ranging from beginners to professionals. Some come from formal composition or performance programs. Others are self-taught, work primarily in a DAW, or are approaching composition after years of playing, producing, songwriting, or teaching.
The lessons are shaped around your current ability, musical interests, and goals. You might be preparing for professional work in film, television, or games; building a portfolio; strengthening an existing music career; or simply trying to write music you are proud to finish and share.
What we can work on
The exact focus depends on your music and your goals, but common areas include:
Composition and form
Developing ideas beyond the initial sketch, escaping the “loop and build” trap, creating and developing motives, shaping phrases and sections, planning larger forms, writing transitions, and giving a piece a satisfying sense of direction.
Orchestration and arranging
Writing effectively for multiple instruments, understanding orchestral textures, using contrast and timbre, choosing instrumentation, separating compositional problems from orchestration problems, and creating clear, purposeful parts.
Melody, harmony, and theory
Writing and developing melodies, harmonizing ideas, improving chord progressions and voice leading, using chromatic or jazz harmony, strengthening counterpoint, and learning how to apply theoretical concepts in real music.
Film scoring
Scoring to picture, analyzing film music, writing themes, supporting story and emotion, and working through the technical aspects of film scoring.
Production and mockups
Creating more realistic and expressive MIDI performances, improving fullness and clarity, making better use of virtual instruments, and addressing production problems that affect the musical result.
Workflow and completion
Developing a more reliable writing process, making decisions with greater confidence, focusing your practice, and learning how to carry a piece from its first idea through to completion.
How the lessons work
Everyone has a different background, set of strengths, and reason for writing music. There is no single curriculum that makes sense for every composer.
We begin by assessing where you are now and identifying the areas that will make the greatest difference to your writing. From there, I develop assignments and areas of study around your individual interests and needs.
My teaching is practical. In general, you complete a specific writing assignment or bring in a piece you are working on. We use the lesson to examine it closely, identify what is and is not working, and study other music when it helps clarify a solution.
You may have theories about what you need to improve, but your actual music usually gives us the clearest answer. The goal is not simply to collect more information. It is to help you hear, understand, and use what you are learning in your own work.
What students say
“Ryan is an excellent teacher that will push you to achieve your goals.
Before I took lessons from Ryan my compositions started and stopped without actually going anywhere that interested the listener. Each lesson I learned more and more about probably the most important aspect of composition, musical form. This was helpful for me as I’m never short on ideas but always had a challenging time developing and expanding on them and deciding what needed to come next. Ryan is great at assessing the needs of his students and offering constructive feedback to help you improve.”
– Rick McGuire
“Ryan is incredible! Working with Ryan has, in all ways, made me a better composer.
One of the many things I appreciate about him is his ability to communicate complex ideas in a straightforward way. His accessible approach to composing music and rich experience in the industry makes for an amazing teacher. 5 stars and all the Oscars!”
– Ryan Ricks
“Coming from a non-traditional musical background, I came in knowing a lot of music theory but having no idea how to apply it. From our very first class, Ryan has been amazing at identifying those gaps through listening to my work and providing the correct books and exercises to fill them. He’s extremely inspiring. I feel energized and excited to do the work he assigns. Whenever I get stuck, he provides guidance that enables me to move forward. He’s also extremely flexible and enables me to work around my changing schedule. I recommend learning from Ryan to all my friends and enjoy learning from discussing their classes with him as well.”
– Mayank Sanganeria
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these lessons only for aspiring professionals?
No. I work with composers who are pursuing professional careers as well as people who compose as a serious hobby.
What matters most is that you care about improving your craft, enjoy writing music, and are willing to put what we discuss into practice. A specific goal is helpful, but that goal can be professional, personal, or somewhere in between.
What musical background do I need?
You do not need a formal music degree or advanced theoretical training.
Lessons are most productive when you have a working grasp of musical fundamentals—for example, when basic triads and simple Roman-numeral harmony are not completely new—because that allows us to spend more of our time on composition.
An uneven or mostly self-taught background is completely fine. Many musicians understand certain areas deeply while having gaps in others. We can identify and address those gaps as they become relevant to your writing.
If you are unsure whether your current level is a good fit, describe your background in the application.
Do I have to read music?
No. Although I believe notation is an excellent way to craft motives and develop musical ideas, I do not require students to work in notation.
I am equally comfortable examining sheet music or a DAW piano roll, and I understand that many composers come from self-taught, production, songwriting, or other non-traditional backgrounds.
Do I need to use particular software?
No. As long as you can use your current tools to create and share your music, there are no software requirements.
I personally work in Logic and Sibelius, but students use a wide range of DAWs and notation programs without a problem.
How often are lessons?
As often as you want.
In my experience, every other week is usually the most effective schedule. It gives you enough time to complete the assigned writing or analysis while remaining regular enough to see steady progress.
Lessons do not have to follow a regular schedule. If school, work, or life makes a fixed schedule difficult, we can arrange lessons less frequently.
Can I book just one lesson?
Yes. A single lesson can work as a consultation in which you receive feedback on a piece, work through a specific problem, and ask whatever questions are most useful to you.
How are lessons conducted, and what are the rates?
Lessons are conducted over Zoom.
A single one-hour lesson is $95. Lessons are $85 each when you purchase four at a time.
Do you accept students under 18?
Yes. If you are under 18, I will arrange a brief meeting with a parent or guardian before the first lesson.
How do I apply?
Fill out the private-lesson application and tell me about your musical background, current struggles, and goals.
If you have questions before applying, email ryanleachmusic@gmail.com.
Ready to move your music forward?
Bring the ideas, sketches, unfinished pieces, and questions you already have. We’ll use them to identify what your writing needs next.
Questions? ryanleachmusic@gmail.com