Artist & Song Deep Dives: Learn Music Theory
Don't just play the notes—understand the magic behind the melody. I break down iconic tracks to teach you the theory, harmony, and techniques that make them hits.
In our "Music Factory" workshops, we perform harmonic analysis of popular songs from artists like The Beatles, Adele, and Queen. We explore unique music theory concepts like the "Something" chord progression, the Andalusian Cadence, and whole-tone scalar motion to reveal the genius behind the hits.
This is a glimpse into our detailed song breakdown process. We use a combination of performance demonstration, on-screen sheet music, and a keyboard view to dissect every part of a song. Here, we are exploring a Beatles classic, making complex arrangements easy to understand.
Here is our talented student Aadya playing and singing "Yellow Submarine." Our courses encourage students to tackle full songs, combining instrumental skills with vocals. This performance is a great example of what you can achieve through our structured "Music Method" course.
Learning the themes from Rowan Atkinson's classic shows is a fun way to study melody and chords. In this video, I am demonstrating how to play the theme from "The Thin Blue Line." These themed workshops break down memorable tunes into manageable parts.
Our Rowan Atkinson Lesson Series is a unique offering where we explore the brilliant compositions of Howard Goodall. This poster shows the schedule, which includes piano classes, choral sessions, and theme analysis for shows like "Blackadder" and "Mr. Bean."
We tackle epic rock anthems like "Layla" by Eric Clapton in our "Music Factory" workshops. This session focuses on melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic transcription, dissecting the song's famous guitar solos and chord progressions to understand its structure.
We stay current by exploring hit-selling modern albums, like this workshop on Taylor Swift's "Midnights." We analyze her cryptic lyrics, synth-pop production, and the music theory behind her confessional songwriting style, covering electronica, dream pop, and chill-out music elements.
Our Disney Classics workshop is always a favorite. We explore the magical compositions from films like "The Lion King" and "The Jungle Book," breaking down the sheet music and piano arrangements so you can play these timeless melodies yourself.
Music is everywhere, even at the Olympics. This "Music Factory" workshop explores and transcribes the hit songs from the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony. It's a one-of-a-kind class where we analyze the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic elements of culturally significant music.
A look at the sheet music for Charlie Puth's "See You Again" from one of our detailed tutorials. We focus on teaching the iconic piano intro riff, breaking down the notes and the music theory behind the hook that made the song a global hit.
About Artist & Song Deep Dives
In these workshops, I don't just teach you the notes for a song like Layla or Yellow Submarine. We actually dissect the harmonic structure, analyze the chord progressions, and look at the production choices so you understand exactly why they sound so good. You’ll walk away with my personal handwritten notes and a recording of the session, so you can practice the specific hooks and techniques at your own pace without feeling lost.
My approach with the 'Music Factory' and artist-focused workshops is to move beyond standard sheet music. Whether we are analyzing the 'Something' chord progression by The Beatles or dissecting the synth-pop production on a Taylor Swift album, the goal is the same: to give you the tools to analyze any music you hear.
How We Deconstruct Hits
We look at music from multiple angles during these 75 to 90-minute sessions:
- Harmonic Analysis: We break down the chord progressions and explain the theory behind them—why a minor chord might feel major or how a specific cadence works.
- Technique Breakdown: You get an overhead view of my keyboard to see exactly how to execute the hooks, riffs, and finger patterns.
- Transcription & Ear Training: We often work on transcribing elements by ear, which is a core skill for any musician wanting to develop a deeper relationship with their instrument.
Who This Is For
Whether you are a complete beginner trying to understand melody or an advanced player looking to improve your improvisation, these deep dives help you bridge the gap between 'playing' and 'understanding.' These are live, interactive sessions, so you can ask questions in real-time, or join us later by watching the HD recording included with the course.
We run these workshops both online and at our Bangalore centers in Langford Town and Sahakar Nagar. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start knowing the 'why' behind the music, pick a workshop and let's get into the details.
Nathaniel School of Music
I’m Jason Zac, and at Nathaniel School of Music, we believe music is about feeling and understanding, not just reading sheets. Whether you're in our Bangalore studio or joining live online, my goal is to guide you through the real theory behind the songs you love.
Find the right music course
Explore our other programs, from theory basics to advanced production.
More from Specialized Music Workshops by Nathaniel School of Music
More services by Nathaniel School of Music