Music Theory Mastery Online Course - with Composition and Songwriting

29/01/2026

Music Theory Mastery course filming today! We are nearly the same height stood up. One of us has slightly shorter legs and longer body... one one us has longer legs and shorter body... Can you guess which is which?!? 🤣🤣🤣 Massive thanks to the super talented Jenny Williams for her sensational vocals.

22/12/2025

Love these guys! A great team, creating immense student success.

🎄 Happy Christmas from all of us at Presto Music School! 🎄

As we wrap up another wonderful year of music, our last day of teaching will be tomorrow, Saturday 20th December. We’ll be taking a short festive break, and will reopen on Monday 5th January.

Thank you to all our amazing students, parents, and families for making 2025 such a joyful and musical year. We can’t wait to see you all in the new year for more lessons, progress, and fun! 🎶✨

Wishing you a safe, happy, and musical Christmas!

15/12/2025

🎶 Music Theory Breakdown: O Mio Babbino Caro 🎶

We’ve just released a full music theory breakdown of Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro, featuring the sensational vocal talent of Jenny Williams.

LINK TO FULL BREAKDOWN IN COMMENTS - PREMIERES MONDAY 15th DEC 6PM UK TIME.

This aria is a masterclass in emotional writing. Beneath its apparent simplicity lies exquisite harmonic movement, phrase shaping, and tension and release that every musician can learn from.

In the full breakdown, we explore how melody, harmony, and structure work together to support the vocal line, and why these choices are so effective at communicating emotion.

The complete theory walkthrough is available via the links in the bio / comments, and it forms part of our Music Theory Mastery (MTM) course.

MTM is invaluable for musicians who want to:
🎵 Understand how great music actually works
🎵 Apply theory directly to performance, composition, and songwriting
🎵 Improve musical interpretation and expression
🎵 Gain confidence for exams, auditions, and creative work
🎵 Learn theory through real music, not abstract rules

If you want theory to feel musical, relevant, and genuinely useful, this is a perfect place to start.

👉 Full breakdown available on YouTube - 15.12.25 6pm UK time.

Jenny Williams

13/12/2025

🎄✨ Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ✨🎄

This festive season, we to share a little "thank you" Christmas music video, recorded at the Presto Music / Theory Mastery Studio.

Since opening our doors in 2003, Presto Music School has now supported over 20,000 students on their musical journeys across the world. That milestone matters, because behind every number is commitment, practice, growth, and belief.

To our incredible students and their families:
thank you for your trust, your hard work, and your continued support. You are the reason our standards stay high and our vision keeps moving forward.

We cannot wait to welcome you back in 2026 for even more progress, creativity, and serious musical fun. 🎶🚀

Huge thanks to Jenny Williams for more beautiful vocals as ever.

11/12/2025

OUTTAKES!

It has been an incredible year of student progress on our Music Theory Mastery course, although not everything in the studio went quite to plan. Here’s an outtake reel from a recording session with Jenny Williams and it’s too good not to share.

Jenny’s performance of the Bach / Gounod Ave Maria is breathtaking and our Music Theory Breakdown video is already proving hugely impactful for students. We’re genuinely proud of it.

By the time we reached the wrap up, my brain was fried, so here are the outtakes as a small Christmas gift to everyone.

Enjoy.

07/12/2025

Massive congrats to all our Presto Music School students! Another 100% session. This session, not only did everyone pass, but 98% got either MERIT or DISTINCTION! How is your Theory / Composition going? Comment "Go" below and we'll send you our free resources and course info.

🌟 Exam Results Are In! 🌟

We are thrilled to share that our students achieved outstanding results across both LCM and Rockschool exams this session. An incredible 98% of all entries were awarded Merit or Distinction - a true reflection of the dedication and hard work our learners bring to their music.

We’re so proud of every student who stepped into their exam. Congratulations to all!

RSL Awards

🎶✨

09/11/2025

🎹 Free access to our composing courses and Music Theory Mastery — link in bio.

Why does Clocks by Coldplay sound so hypnotic?

It’s not just the chords — it’s the rhythm.

The song takes a simple 4-beat pattern with 8 eighth notes and subdivides it in a way that feels fresh and unexpected.

So, how can you use rhythm creatively when composing or songwriting?

Let’s break it down.
🧩 1) Understand the pulse
Clocks is in 4/4 — four beats per bar.

Most pop songs group those beats evenly: 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and.
Coldplay instead emphasises a three-note pattern across those four beats:
1-and-2 | and-3-and | 4-and
Or...
Think of it as 123/456/78

🔁 2) Try “123/456/78” yourself
Play this rhythm while the drums or metronome keep a 4/4 groove.

🧠 3) Subdivide differently
Experiment with subdivisions:
• Duple – 2s and 4s (even feels).
• Triple – 3s and 6s (swing or circular feels).

🎵 4) Shift accents
Keep the same notes but move the accent to a different beat or off-beat.

This simple trick turns a basic loop into something memorable.

🧰 5) Think rhythm before harmony
Sometimes rhythm is the hook.
Start with a rhythmic cell — a clap pattern, a percussive riff, or a short repeated motif — then build harmony underneath.
It’s how Coldplay, Billie Eilish, and Jacob Collier create grooves that stick instantly.

🎧 Want to master rhythmic creativity, chord flow, and melody writing step by step?
Get free access to our composing courses and Music Theory Mastery — link in bio.

09/11/2025

One of the world's oldest rhythms - found in pop and rock and funk and RnB?!?

🎹 Free access to our composing courses and Music Theory Mastery — link in bio.

Why does Clocks by Coldplay sound so hypnotic?
It’s not just the chords — it’s the rhythm.

The song takes a simple 4-beat pattern with 8 eighth notes and subdivides it in a way that feels fresh and unexpected.

So, how can you use rhythm creatively when composing or songwriting?

Let’s break it down.
🧩 1) Understand the pulse
Clocks is in 4/4 — four beats per bar.
Most pop songs group those beats evenly: 1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and.
Coldplay instead emphasises a three-note pattern across those four beats:
1-and-2 | and-3-and | 4-and
Or...
Think of it as 123/456/78

🔁 2) Try “123/456/78” yourself
Play this rhythm while the drums or metronome keep a 4/4 groove.

🧠 3) Subdivide differently
Experiment with subdivisions:
• Duple – 2s and 4s (even feels).
• Triple – 3s and 6s (swing or circular feels).

🎵 4) Shift accents
Keep the same notes but move the accent to a different beat or off-beat.
This simple trick turns a basic loop into something memorable.

🧰 5) Think rhythm before harmony
Sometimes rhythm is the hook.
Start with a rhythmic cell — a clap pattern, a percussive riff, or a short repeated motif — then build harmony underneath.
It’s how Coldplay, Billie Eilish, and Jacob Collier create grooves that stick instantly.

🎧 Want to master rhythmic creativity, chord flow, and melody writing step by step?
Get free access to our composing courses and Music Theory Mastery — link in bio.

08/11/2025

It’s crazy how often artists get criticised for being “too inspired” by others.

Ed Sheeran. Taylor Swift. Huge names — yet often pulled into court for simply doing what every creative does: developing ideas.

Direct copying is wrong, of course. But inspiration? That’s how all art evolves.

Music theory helps you understand why certain ideas sound similar, how harmony and melody interact, and what makes your voice unique.

When you understand the language of music, you can take influence confidently — and shape it into something that’s completely yours.

🎹 Learn the difference between imitation and inspiration.
Discover Music Theory Mastery and create music that’s original, informed, and truly you.