Solfège
Solfège is comprehensive training in the skills music demands — pitch, rhythm, harmony, phrasing, and score reading. These skills transfer directly into both performance and composition. Alongside them, you also build knowledge of music theory and music history.
At Utla Studio, using materials based on French professional music education, you cultivate two complementary abilities as these skills develop: reading a score and hearing the music within it, and translating the music you imagine into written form. You also learn to perceive subtle musical nuances and shape them into expressive performance.
Examples of Lessons
at Utla Studio
Music Theory
Learning the principles that structure music. By understanding how notes function and relate to one another, you gain knowledge that can be applied in both performance and analysis. This includes foundational rudiments as well as broader theoretical concepts.
Dictation
Training in notating what you hear. You learn to accurately capture melody, rhythm, and harmony, developing both your musical ear and your ability to transcribe sound into notation.
Sight-Singing
Singing from a score without instrumental support. This connects reading music with inner hearing and expressive performance. You will also work with unfamiliar pieces at first sight, strengthening your reading fluency and responsiveness.
Rhythm
Performing given rhythms without pitch. You learn to accurately grasp meter, duration, and the flow of tempo, internalizing a sense of rhythm until it becomes second nature.
Clef Reading
Reading scores in treble, bass, C, and other clefs aloud and at speed, without pitch. This builds the rapid, flexible reading skills essential for performance and score comprehension.
Musical Analysis
Studying how a piece is constructed. By tracing form, harmonic progression, and phrase structure, you uncover the composer’s intent and the expressive meaning embedded in the music.
Harmony
Harmony is one of the three fundamental elements of Western music, alongside melody and rhythm. As a subject, it explores the structure of chords — multiple notes sounding together — and how these chords connect to create musical motion.
By studying harmony, you develop a strong harmonic sense: the ability to naturally perceive musical flow and sonority. You begin to intuitively understand tonal relationships and modulation, anticipate chord progressions, and make more informed harmonic choices. Your sensitivity to phrase direction and changes in texture deepens, allowing you to embed meaning within the overall structure of a piece. As a result, your performance gains depth and dimension, with each note carrying intention and weight.
In composition and arrangement, harmony study also brings clarity and confidence to harmonic decision-making, making it easier to realize the sound you envision. For anyone seriously engaged in creative work, harmony is an essential foundation.
Harmony and Écriture
Harmony is a branch of écriture — the discipline of musical “writing” in the Western classical tradition. Écriture encompasses the study of compositional rules and stylistic conventions, and their practical application in composition and arrangement.
As the term suggests, harmony cannot be fully learned through reading alone. It is acquired through practice: writing, receiving feedback, and rewriting. Through this cycle, it becomes an embodied skill.
At Utla Studio, you study French harmony through hands-on work with materials based on the French curriculum.
* Écriture also includes counterpoint, fugue, and orchestration. Please contact us if you are interested in lessons in these areas.
Examples of Lessons
at Utla Studio
Bass Harmonization
Given a figured bass line, you add the three upper voices (soprano, alto, tenor) to build a complete harmonic texture.
Soprano Harmonization
Given a soprano line, you complete the alto, tenor, and bass to create a coherent progression.
Harmonic Analysis
You analyze the harmonic progression of existing works, identifying their structure and functional relationships.
Stylistic Harmony
You study and imitate the harmonic language of a specific composer or period, building practical writing skills through guided exercises.
Lesson Format
Utla Studio offers online lessons conducted entirely via email — there are no in-person classes. Using materials based on French professional music education, each course is tailored to your level and goals. Progress is made step by step through ongoing assignments and feedback.
Getting Started
- We begin by discussing your musical background and goals to design a suitable learning plan.
- We’ll recommend a textbook that fits your level, which you’ll then purchase.
Lessons can begin before the textbook arrives, so you can start right away.
Lesson Flow
Step 1
Lesson assignments
arrive by email
Step 2
You work through
the assigned tasks
Step 3
You submit your work
by email,
as audio or PDF
Step 4
Feedback arrives
Questions are
always welcome
Lesson Pace
- The pace is two lessons per month.
Each submission is returned with feedback and comments, followed by the next assignment. Assignments are not sent automatically; each new one follows your submission — so you progress at your own pace. - Each assignment corresponds to approximately 60 minutes of private lesson content.
Submission and Feedback
- Please submit your work within approximately one week of receiving each assignment.
Late submissions are also accepted. - Performance tasks should be submitted as audio files (MP3, M4A, etc.).
Written assignments should be submitted as PDF files, or as images if PDF is not an option (resubmission may be requested if the file is hard to read). - All corrected assignments are typically returned within one week, along with detailed explanations.
- You may ask unlimited questions regarding your corrected assignments.
Required Materials
- Recording Device
-
Some tasks are submitted as audio recordings.
A smartphone is fine — no special equipment needed. - Instrument
-
Any instrument will do. Please have one available for checking pitch.
- Music Notation Tools
-
Manuscript paper or music notation software may be used.
- Textbooks
-
Materials vary depending on subject and level. We’ll let you know at the start of the course.
- Email Access
-
All communication is conducted via email.
Tuition
- Enrollment Fee
-
¥5,000 (¥5,500 incl. tax)
- Solfège
-
2 lessons per month / ¥15,000 (¥16,500 incl. tax)
- Harmony
-
2 lessons per month / ¥15,000 (¥16,500 incl. tax)
- Additional / One-Time Lessons
-
Available upon request. Please feel free to contact us.
- For counterpoint, fugue, or orchestration, please contact us separately.
How to Apply for
a Free Trial Lesson
Utla Studio offers a free trial lesson in either Solfège or Harmony (one session).
To apply, please enter one of the following in the inquiry form’s “Message” field:
- Solfège Trial Lesson Request
- Harmony Trial Lesson Request
After reviewing your request, we’ll send you further details. In the trial lesson, we’ll correct your work and return it with detailed feedback.