Practical trainers and free tools for composers.
Notation & reading
Read notation fluently.
Small drills for the things a composer should know without thinking — pitches across registers, every clef, and the vocabulary written above the staff.
Pitch Notation Trainer
Practise reading staff notation and converting it to Scientific Pitch Notation, Helmholtz notation and octave registers.
8 languages · free OpenClef Reading Trainer
Practise clef reading across treble, bass, alto, tenor and mixed-clef modes.
8 languages · free OpenMusic Terminology Reference and Trainer
A reference and trainer for performance directions and instrumental techniques — 430 terms across ten languages.
10 languages · free OpenHarmonic series & natural brass
Hear how overtones work.
The harmonic series is the ground under brass writing, intonation and orchestration. Explore it, then test it against the natural trumpet and natural horn.
Harmonic Series Trainer
Explore and memorise the harmonic series, partials 1 through 16, with eight quiz modes and audio playback.
9 languages · free OpenNatural Trumpet Harmonic Series Trainer
Practise natural trumpet partials and transposition across six historical instruments (D, C, F, E♭, E, B♭).
8 languages · free OpenNatural Horn Trainer
Practise natural horn transposition and intonation across sixteen historical crook keys.
9 languages · free OpenStrings
Write idiomatically for strings.
Open strings and harmonics, notated and explained for the four orchestral string instruments — including the double-bass written-versus-sounding trap.
Instruments & orchestration
Know the instruments.
A single-glance range chart of the whole orchestra, plus drills for reading transposing instruments and for string double stops — the practical knowledge orchestration leans on.
Orchestral Instrument Range Chart
A visual range chart of the orchestra: the ambitus (lowest–highest sounding pitch) and transposition of every standard instrument, on one concert-pitch axis.
9 languages · free OpenTransposing Instruments Trainer
Interactive transposition quiz for transposing instruments — B♭ Clarinet, A Clarinet, Horn in F, English Horn and more. Practise written pitch vs. concert pitch, within realistic ranges.
9 languages · free OpenStrings: Interactive Finger Chart
Enter an interval or chord and see how it is played on violin, viola or cello — which strings, fingers and position, drawn on a fingerboard diagram.
9 languages · free OpenCounterpoint, cantus firmus & paper
Tools for writing by hand.
Generate a modal cantus firmus, build counterpoint worksheets, or download blank staff paper — clean, no watermark — to work away from the screen.
Online Staff Paper
Free online staff paper you write and print straight from your browser. No sign-up, no watermark. With cantus firmus and counterpoint worksheets.
9 languages · free OpenCantus Firmus Generator
Generate a new, random modal cantus firmus for counterpoint practice — a different one each time. Hear it, add voices, write your solution, and print A4 worksheets for species counterpoint.
9 languages · free OpenFree staff paper, as a PDF
Free, adjustable staff paper you shape yourself: pick the size, staves and margins, then download a clean PDF. No watermark, no logo, no sign-up.
8 languages · free OpenWhere these tools fit
Part of the lessons, not a substitute.
The tools sharpen specific skills. The real work still happens in your own pieces — these are where the trainers connect to teaching.
I would recommend learning with a book at hand and staff paper in front of you — in the end it is best for concentration — but not everyone learns that way, and you can also use these tools to keep your knowledge sharp. However you work, I would strongly advise against learning theory without a teacher's feedback.
Composition lessons
The main access point — these tools support, but never replace, working on real pieces.
OpenMusic theory for composers
The written approach to theory that runs alongside the interactive trainers.
OpenOrchestration lessons
Where the natural-trumpet, natural-horn, open-strings and harmonics trainers do their work.
OpenCounterpoint and harmony
Where the staff-paper and cantus-firmus generators support hand-written exercises.
OpenWorking on a real piece?
The trainers are free and always will be. When you want a precise, personal response to your own music, send a score, sketch, recording or question.
Send a score, sketch or question