Collage of piano and musical score

Music Production, Theory, and Composition

The Conservatory is privileged to have several composers among its faculty members and offers individual lessons in 30, 45, and 60-minute lengths, depending on student need and teacher recommendation.

Summer Music Technology

June 23 – 27, 2025
Monday – Friday: 1:30 – 4:00 pm
Instructor: Dr. Alexander Zhu
Tuition: $550

Register here

Set in our brand new, state-of-the-art music technology lab, this course offers an introduction to the world of music production using industry-standard software Logic Pro. Students learn the fundamentals of MIDI, editing, and mixing audio, as well as explore creative techniques for building their own digital tracks. By the end of the week, students have gained hands-on experience using a digital audio workstation (DAW) to create a complete musical project.

Ages 12+ are invited to enroll. Please contact the PCM office at music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626.683.3355 for more information.

June 23 – 27, 2025
Monday – Friday: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Instructor: Dr. Alexander Zhu
Tuition: $550

Register here

Learn the fundamentals of music composition in this fast-paced course! Students explore the essentials of creating music, generating and organizing ideas, notating melodies, and writing for instruments—all while developing their unique musical voice. Each student will compose an original piece using music notation software.

Ages 12+ are invited to enroll. Please contact the PCM office at music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626.683.3355 for more information.

June 23 – 27, 2025
Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 10:00 am
Instructor: Dr. Alexander Zhu
Tuition: $160

Register here

This class covers essential music theory concepts used in music production. Students explore foundational topics such as scales, chords, and harmony, and learn how to apply these principles when creating original beats, songs, and arrangements.

Ages 12+ are invited to enroll. Please contact the PCM office at music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626.683.3355 for more information.

Summer Youth Theory

June 10 – July 15, 2025
Tuesdays: 5:30 – 6:00 pm
Instructor: Renee Gilormini
Tuition: $120

Register here

This course is designed for students who have completed Theory Prep through Level 3. It reviews concepts learned in previous classes to prepare students for the fall.

2025-2026 Music Technology

August 16, 2025 – May 26, 2026
Tuesdays 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Instructor: Dr. Alexander Zhu
Tuition: $1,440

Register here

Set in our brand new, state-of-the-art music technology lab, this course offers an introduction to the world of music production using industry-standard software, Logic Pro. Students learn the fundamentals of MIDI, edit and mix audio, and explore creative techniques for building their own digital tracks. By the end of the year, students have gained hands-on experience using a digital audio workstation (DAW) to create and complete musical projects.

Ages 12+ are invited to enroll. Please contact the PCM office at music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626.683.3355 for more information.

August 27, 2025 – May 27, 2026
Wednesdays 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Instructor: Dr. Alexander Zhu
Tuition: $1,440

Register here

Learn the fundamentals of music composition in this fast-paced course! Students explore the essentials of creating music, generating and organizing ideas, notating melodies, and writing for instruments—all while developing their unique musical voice. Each student composes original pieces using music notation software to share with the class and their families.

Ages 12+ are invited to enroll. Please contact the PCM office at music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626.683.3355 for more information.

August 16, 2025 – May 26, 2026
Tuesdays 7:35 – 8:15 pm
Instructor: TBD
Tuition: $1,080

Register here

This course covers essential music theory concepts used in music production. Students explore foundational topics such as scales, chords, and harmony, and learn how to apply these principles when creating original beats, songs, and arrangements.

Ages 12+ are invited to enroll. Please contact the PCM office at music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626.683.3355 for more information.

2025-2026 Youth Theory Courses

August 25, 2025 – June 1, 2026
Tuition: $720/$360* for 30 min classes & $1,080/$540* for 45 min classes

Material fees not included
*Discount for students concurrently enrolled in individual lessons at PCM

2025-2026 Adult Theory Classes

August 25, 2025 – November 17, 2025
Tuition: $180

Material fees not included

Class Descriptions

Youth Theory

Students enrolling in Theory classes will be required to take a placement exam unless enrolling in Music Theory Prep.

Music Theory Prep is for young students who are just starting lessons and not yet proficient at reading music. Topics include: treble and bass clefs, time signatures, rhythm, notation, and an introduction to famous composers.

Age 9+.

This course is designed for students who have taken theory at PCM. It reviews concepts learned in previous classes to prepare students for the fall.

This class is for students who have completed Theory Prep through Level 2. Please contact the PCM office at music@pasadenaconservatory.org or 626.683.3355 for enrollment information.

Building on the skills learned in Prep 1, students will learn about accidentals and enharmonics, measures and simple time signatures, whole tones and semitones. Introduces major scales and key signatures. Course includes reading about and listening to works by great composers.

In this course, students expand their knowledge of key signatures to include relative, as well as the concept of harmonic minor.  They continue learning the constructs of good melody writing, and begin to study the great composers.  This level introduces tonic chord symbols.

Students expand their knowledge of key signatures to two sharps and flats and are introduced to melodic minor.  They play these scales on the piano and on their own instruments.  They learn about major and perfect intervals and begin octave transposition.  This level adds dominant triads and chord symbols to their repertoire.

In this level, students study key signatures and scales up to three sharps and flats.  They learn how to transpose a melodic line into another clef, and are introduced to minor intervals.  This course adds subdominant triads to the mix, and students now progress to writing four-measure melodies outlining specific harmonies.

Students continue the foundations established at the Elementary levels and further develop understanding of notational conventions, analysis, melody and composition, and music history.

Intermediate level examinations require cumulative knowledge of concepts from all previous levels.

Students learn about double sharps and flats, as well as augmented and diminished intervals. They learn how to transpose a melody up by any interval, and are introduced to half and authentic cadences. Students go more in depth into the characteristics of the Baroque and Classical eras.

Adult Theory

Using Basics of Keyboard Theory curriculum, students learn intermediate theory through sequenced instruction. This course is for intermediate level singers and players. A “Basics of Keyboard Theory” book* is required ($13.95).

Materials can be purchased in the front office or at various online retailers.

Using Basics of Keyboard Theory curriculum, students continue to expand their horizons through sequenced instruction in advanced music theory. A “Basics of Keyboard Theory book* is required ($13.95).

Materials can be purchased in the front office or at various online retailers.

The adult studies jazz theory class is for beginning to Intermediate ability levels. This class will include ear training drills on music intervals, triads and 7th chords. Students will study from lesson topics from Shelly Berg’s Book “Essentials of Jazz Theory”, including various scales, chord patterns, and soloing exercises that can be directly applied to jazz standards. Students will bring their instruments (pianos provided) and will be given weekly assignments to practice that are in line with their experience level and abilities.

Materials can be purchased in the front office or at various online retailers.

About Zoom and PCM Tech Support
Zoom is an easy-to-use video conferencing platform that allows “face-to-face” meetings and classes from the comfort of your home. At PCM, we have dedicated staff members that can help you get set up for the class via phone or email. If you’d like tech support please call the front office at 626.683.3355 or music@pasadenaconservatory.org.