The Music Interval Theory Podcast

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about I teach you interval-based composition in 30 days (or less)! From the basics to advanced concepts, I'll guide you step by step. Start your free 7-day trial today, and after that, it's less than one coffee per week! If you're new here, my name is Frank, and I'm the co-founder of the Music Interval Theory Academy (MITA), which I've been runnin...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about Learn Interval Magic and write music that truly stands out and is unique. Start your free 7-day trial today, and after that, it's less than one coffee per week! If you're new here, my name is Frank, and I'm the co-founder of the Music Interval Theory Academy (MITA), which I've been running since 2015. I teach composers how to stop guessing a...

Start here: Free Flipbook — Five Spells Every Composer Needs: https://musicintervaltheory.academy/spells/ Or join the community: Circle of Interval Magicians — $18/month: https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about/ If you're new here, my name is Frank Herrlinger. I'm the co-founder of the Music Interval Theory Academy (MITA), which I've been running since 2015. I teach composers how...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about There is a reason some composers always seem to know what to play next, and it is not what most people think. This episode gets into the quiet habit that builds real musical confidence from the inside out.

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about When something sounds wrong in your orchestration, the instinct is to reach for the controls. But what if the real problem is somewhere you have not looked yet?

https://musicintervaltheory.academy/interval/interval-quiz.html Most composers never question the system they learned in. This video does. Diatonic and intervallic thinking each have their own advantages, and knowing the difference can change how you compose. Watch to find out which approach fits where you are right now. Take the free 4-minute quiz in the link above to find out where you are in yo...

https://musicintervaltheory.academy/spells/ Grab it! - It's free, and one of the best resources for composers available.

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about There's a question that trips up almost every composer trained in functional harmony. The answer most theory books give is complicated. Intervals make it simple.

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about Most composers don't have a creativity problem. They have a completion problem. Frank talks about why that folder full of almost-finished pieces might be the thing quietly holding you back.

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about You want richer harmony but every attempt starts sounding like jazz. Frank shares why color has nothing to do with genre, and what one small borrowed sound can do for your music.

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about There is a moment most composers know well: the melody feels right, but the harmony just won't cooperate. Frank shares what happened when he stopped thinking in chords and started thinking in lines instead.

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, Frank explores why adding more complex chords doesn’t always improve your music. Instead of focusing on chord labels, he invites you to think in terms of musical energy—shaped by elements like density, register, rhythm, and orchestration. By aligning harmony with the energy a moment truly needs, your compositions can feel mo...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, Frank explores the idea that “wrong” chords are often just incomplete musical moments. By adding context, adjusting harmony, and staying curious a little longer, composers can transform uncertainty into expressive and original harmonic choices. The episode encourages a shift from judgment to exploration in the creative proce...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, Frank explores how early self-judgment can quietly shut down your creative flow. By allowing your first ideas to be rough and unfinished, you create space for momentum, connection, and playful exploration. The focus shifts from proving something to simply building something, helping you reconnect with a more natural and enjo...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore why trying to “improve” a good melody can sometimes weaken it. I talk about the strength of diatonic, whistleable melodies and how they create trust and clarity for the listener. Instead of forcing complexity too early, I suggest using simple melodies as a foundation and adding tension with intention, not insecurit...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore why choosing chords can feel random when there’s no clear story behind your music. I share how defining a simple “story container” — like a scene, emotion, or memory — can guide your harmonic decisions and bring clarity to your composition. When the intention is clear, harmony becomes purposeful instead of accident...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore the hidden limitations of composing in isolation and how it can slow down your creative growth. I share why getting feedback and being part of a community can accelerate your progress, help you spot patterns faster, and make better creative decisions. The key idea is simple: growth doesn’t just come from doing more...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, Frank explores why interval theory often feels difficult and how the real challenge may lie in unclear fundamentals rather than complex concepts. He shares how becoming comfortable with treble and bass clef transforms intervals from abstract calculations into visual, intuitive tools. The episode highlights how small improvem...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore how relying on proven formulas can lead to familiar results, and why that’s not necessarily a problem. The real shift happens when you expand those foundations with your own perspective. This episode focuses on how originality comes from shaping what already works into something that feels personal and authentic.

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore how placing unconventional interval ideas inside familiar structures can make them feel natural and expressive. The focus is on balancing complexity and simplicity so your music remains engaging while still being clear and meaningful to the listener.

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore what to do when you discover unusual note combinations that don’t seem to fit traditional harmony. Instead of trying to force them into familiar structures, I share how context, storytelling, and musical direction can transform any sound into something intentional and meaningful. The focus is on shifting your minds...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about Professional musicians can perform extremely complex music, but what often matters more than complexity is clarity of structure. When musical lines are built from recognizable patterns, performers can process them quickly and play them with confidence. Random intervals without internal logic are much harder to read and less enjoyable to perf...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about Complex interval structures can look beautiful on paper, but choral writing requires a special sensitivity to how singers actually experience pitch. Unlike instruments, singers generate pitch internally and rely heavily on familiar tonal patterns as reference points. In this episode, we explore why staying closer to recognizable scales and m...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about Many musicians instinctively hear the major second as more dissonant than the minor third. But when we look at the overtone series—the natural harmonic structure inside every sound—we discover a surprising perspective: relationships corresponding to the major second appear earlier than those connected to the minor third. This episode explore...

https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, Frank explores why many composers struggle to apply intervallic thinking in their music and how a simple shift in perspective can solve the problem. Instead of forcing interval techniques into an existing tonal system, composers can look for areas where both systems naturally overlap. Using a C major triad as an example, Fra...