Level 1: Curiosity Edition
- Suitable for middle school; early years of high school (ages 11 – 16)
Course Curriculum
The Beautiful Mess consists of:
An on-demand video series in which Eric distills the entire creative process, from the moment of inspiration to the final note
Within the course curriculum, you’ll have access to a "Things I've Learned" video series, a Forum to connect with other students, 15 perusal scores (including choral, band and orchestral), reference sheets and useful links.
In addition, there are extensive Teacher and Student Guides, written by Emily Crocker and Dr Christopher Peterson, which can be previewed ahead of enrollment.
The Beautiful Mess: Masterclass in Composition & Creativity
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Chapter 1
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Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
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Chapter 4
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Chapter 5
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Chapter 6
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Chapter 7
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Chapter 8
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Chapter 9
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Chapter 10
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Chapter 11
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Chapter 12
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Outro
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Things I've Learned
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Resources
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Forum
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Credits
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Look I made a hat
Where there never was a hat.— Stephen Sondheim, Sunday in the Park with George
Creating something from nothing is a messy business, and in this masterclass we’ll dive deep into the mess. I’ll break down every part of my creative process, including all the important work done before the first note is written. I’ll go into great detail as to how I construct my music, building deep structure through emotional architecture and golden bricks. I’ll talk at length about how I deal with inspiration, writer’s block, deadlines, poetry, word painting, dissonance, and silence.
Above all, I hope the course will be a useful tool for anyone who longs to bring new ideas to life, to make a hat where there never was a hat.
Eric Whitacre
- Gain a deep insight into composition and the creative process using specific pieces and projects as case studies.
- Work through the challenges of identifying initial ideas and clarifying the overarching concept through some of the detail of composition to bring a new piece to life.
- Get inside the mind of this highly experienced and successful composer, bringing new understanding and experience to performances of his works.
- Study at a time of your choosing and go at your own pace; no coursework needs to be submitted.
- Work through the Introduction, a series of 8 pre-recorded video lessons each containing several sections, and finish with Eric’s highly focussed 4-note challenge.
- Designed for music-lovers, composers, students, directors, educators, singers, instrumentalists, life-long learners and curious minds.
Educational Resources
A comprehensive series of Teacher and Student Guides has been prepared to support the use of The Beautiful Mess in education. Written by Emily Crocker and Dr Christopher Peterson, there are three editions available dependent on the experience and ability of the students.
Level 2: Creator Edition
- Suitable for high school or college entry level (ages 14 – 18)
Level 3: Composer Edition
- Suitable for advanced high school, college, university (age 16+)
...so many different perspectives on music, art, creativity, and even existential aspects of life as a creative — it was a truly special experience for everyone...
Dr. Steven M. Sano, Professor, Stanford University (US)
Eric is blessed with the gift of communication that enables him to bring us behind the curtain into his creative process and inspire us.
Paul Thomson, Spitfire Audio
Our young composers were completely engaged and inspired by Eric’s teaching and his accessible grace. Many have tapped into their new-found creativity and gone on to write exciting new pieces of music as a direct result of their time with him.
Dorothy Gates, Salvation Army