FAQs
- Do I need the Schillinger System of Musical Composition in order to take
a course?
No. All the courses are self sufficient and don’t require you to use Schillinger’s books. On the other hand they are well worth reading and will certainly augment the examples and descriptions offered in the courses. - Do I need to read all of Schillinger’s books?
No. There is a huge amount of information in the two volumes on music let alone The Mathematical Basis of The Arts or kaleidophone. Think of these books as treasure troves of spells that you will dip in and out of for many years to come. - Can I still take courses at the school without buying a course book?
Yes you can. Of course we recommend you buy a book as it is more beautiful than a pdf file. Once you have the book you can download the audio examples for free from the Course Download menu. If you want tuition based on the course work assignments in the book then you can arrange tutorials via the site. These will be charged at a standard hourly teaching rate. - How much music do I need to know before I start?
The more you know the better; preparation is all. But if you are unsure you may take an assessment (offered to all new students) and the preparatory course called Basic Principles and Foundations (course code A). As a general guide-line you should be able to read music (treble and bass clef) to some degree, at least well enough to explore the musical examples which accompany the lessons, either by playing them or programming them into your music software. - Do I need an instrument?
Certainly, it will help to have access to an instrument. - Can I drop in and out of a course?
The schedule for a course is up to you. You may take as long as you like over a lesson before mailing it back to the school and receiving the next instalment. Email exchanges, raising questions about each lesson, are built into the courses, but if you wish to have numerous exchanges, you may have to book extra lessons (course code K). - Do I have to compose music in a particular style?
Absolutely not! The techniques we offer in these courses are useful for all kinds of music making so you don’t have to be a composer or a specialist to study at the Schillinger School of Music. - Do I get a certificate?
At present this school is not affiliated with any external accreditation scheme, however, a letter from the school is available for those who want evidence that they have successfully completed a programme of study. - Do I need a CD player?
Yes unless you can receive MP3 files via email. - Do I need a computer?
If you have no instrument then a computer will be almost essential as a soundmaking device. A computer and some music sequencing software are strongly recommended. - What software do I need?
The method of communication should be discussed at the outset of the course. At the very least, you need to be able to receive and send email. The ability to read PDF files using Adobe Acrobat Reader and MP3 files is strongly recommended. You will need to scan hand-written scores and send them as email attachments or via the post. A score writing package (such as Finale or Sibelius) will allow you to save scores as graphics that can be attached to email or embeded in, for example, a word file and saved as a PDF. A sequencing software package (such as Cubase, Logic or Performer) will allow you to create mp3 and/or midi files that can be attached to email. - Can I take a course using only the post?
Yes. Obviously, this will take longer and the delay involved in the postal service will diminish the relative immediacy of the email tutorial. There will be an additional cost to cover the postal charge. - What if I want to cancel a course?
If on receipt of the first lesson you change your mind about the course, then you may have a refund minus one lesson. After this point, no refund is possible but you can drop out of a course and reactivate it later. - Policy and Licence
All materials belong to Jeremy Arden and the Schillinger School of Music and are subject to copyright law. Materials may not be copied and redistributed in any way. Rights reserved. - Registration and payment
Please contact us via the link above for details. - Site Registration and Login.
Please note that the links from courses to audio examples and the Gallery submissions will not be available unless you have registered. Go through the registration process (remember that passwords need to be between 8 and 16 characters and must contain both numbers and letters) to receive an email allowing you to fully register. Then proceed to login to the site.
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The Schillinger School of Music is grateful for the support of Rosalie Coopman.