“An in-depth online introduction to music theory ”
– This course is taught once a year –
One Trimester only: January – April
Saturday’s, 11am-12pm: ONLINE only, 12 sessions.
STARTING DATE: JANUARY 17, 2026
Teacher: Marc Mommaas
Materials developed by Marc Mommaas (Improvisation – ‘a theoretical and creative reference guide’, only available through NYJW). All sessions are recorded (to revisit materials and following classes at your own time if you can’t make Saturday mornings.)
“The Mystery Unveiled”
This course is developed to alleviate the mystery around theory. Theory is a great tool to speed up the process of learning tunes, connecting to chord changes as an improvisor and to develop material as an aspiring composer. This theory course is developed as an easy to follow step by step process with time to present the questions you always wanted to ask. It will be a lot of fun using creative methods, audio samples, hands on excercises and handouts with as a foundation a publication written by Marc Mommaas: ‘Improvisation; A theoretical and creative reference guide’ ©2019. Style and level is not of importance, and by the end of the semester you will be able to analyze a standard like a pro and learn chord changes as harmonic sentences.
This course is for all musicians, from vocalists, to pianists and drummers, all are welcome.
This course is developed and guided by in demand educator, composer and saxophonist MARC MOMMAAS (professor at the New School, co-founder of NYJW and HJW). Ever felt that you are falling short in understanding the main principles of harmony and theory? Then this is the class for you. This course will cover:
- chord/scale relationships
- the modes
- voiceleading principles
- voicings
- upper extensions
- major and minor tonality
- analysis of tunes
Level: Beginner / Intermediate
Schedule & Cost
Winter/Spring: January through April, 2026: 12 sessions: $465
RECORDED SESSION / Materials
Sessions are recorded and accessible for enrolled students only, so you will not miss a beat! Students that can not attend in real time through the entirety of the course are eligible for two 30 minute private sessions with the teacher. We recommend to set up 30 minutes before the start the of the course and 30 minutes in the end of the course as an evaluation.
Materials: ‘Improvisation – ‘a theoretical and creative reference guide’, by Marc Mommaas, 190p. Only available through NYJW. Cost: $45.
The second course will be offered at a 10% discount (composition/counterpoint).
Discounts and Special Scholarship Opportunities for Students 26 and Younger
For students regularly enrolled in multiple workshops, we offer a 25% discount on each workshop after the first. If you are a student between 17 and 26 years old, you could qualify for a 25% discount on any of our workshops. Please contact us for more information.