UreMusic: Audiation-Based Music Composition, Theory & Ear Training/Composing Hour: Inner Ear Training – Year 1 (Audiation)

  • $1,750 or 12 monthly payments of $155
  • $165/mo (Free 15-day trial)

Composing Hour: Inner Ear Training – Year 1 (Audiation)

  • Course

The Composing Hour: Inner Ear Training is a 52‑week audio course that refines your internal sound memory and deepens your concentration. Each 40‑minute lesson uses a sustained tone paired with ambient sounds to create a peaceful atmosphere, mask distractions, and train your focus—all without any written assignments.

Train your inner ear, build reliable audiation skills, and unlock creative musicianship—guided by a university-level educator. 52 weeks. 100% audio. No screens. No written assignments.

  • Try Composing Hour Risk-Free:

    Start your 15-day free trial today (available only with monthly payment plan). Flexible payment plans available.

Student Highlight

"I took musicianship courses with Kevin when I was back in college, and I have seen so much growth in my music theory and ear training skills. Kevin's courses have taught me how to sight-read music, and to analyze musical scores effectively. I enjoyed taking Kevin's courses because Kevin taught me what I needed to know to become successful with my craft. By taking Kevin's courses, it has allowed me to not only go out and perform, but also provide private instruction to students of all ages. If you want to strengthen your musicianship skills, you should try Kevin's musicianship courses. You will notice a big difference in your musicianship skills.”

Christine W.

Former University Student

How This Course Was Developed

The Story Behind Composing Hour: Inner Ear Training

Composing Hour: Inner Ear Training was born out of a simple but powerful realization: many musicians struggle not because they lack knowledge, but because they haven’t been taught to truly hear and imagine music from within.

After more than 25 years teaching music composition and ear training—including 8 years as a university professor—I saw firsthand how traditional methods left even talented students frustrated. Written drills and theory-heavy lessons rarely translated into confident, creative listening.

That’s why I set out to build something different.

Who This Course Is For

This course is for musicians who want to:

  • Musicians who want to develop a powerful inner ear and true musical intuition

  • Anyone frustrated by traditional ear training or theory‑heavy lessons

  • Composers, performers, and improvisers seeking a creative, structured, step‑by‑step approach

  • Students who prefer audio‑based, screen‑free learning

  • Anyone ready for a long‑term journey that gradually reshapes how they hear and create music

Built on Experience. Refined by Results.

Built on Over 25 Years Teaching Students

  • Tested with live students: Every lesson, exercise, and audio session has been shaped by direct feedback from real musicians—beginners, professionals, and passionate hobbyists alike.

  • Iterative, real-world development: The curriculum has evolved through thousands of hours of teaching, with each new cohort helping me fine-tune the experience for maximum clarity and transformation.

  • Personal review and quality: I record, review, and refine every lesson myself—ensuring each session delivers the clarity, focus, and creative spark that drives true progress.


Why Audiation-Based, Pure Audio Immersion?

Unlike most courses, Composing Hour is delivered entirely through audio—no screens, no written assignments, no distractions. This method trains your inner ear, deepens concentration, and builds lasting musical intuition. It’s the same approach I’ve used to help students unlock skills they never thought possible.

You’ll experience:

  • Guided, relaxing, and focused listening to build internal sound memory

  • Step-by-step progression that builds the audiation skills you’ll need for future work in counterpoint and form.

  • A living, evolving curriculum shaped by student feedback and real creative challenges.

A Living Curriculum—Crafted for Your Growth

Join a course that’s as dynamic and ambitious as you are.

This isn’t a static program. Each lesson is part of a living, breathing journey—one that grows with your insights, feedback, and creative breakthroughs. You’re not just developing musicianship skills; you’re developing the inner symphony that drives your artistry.

A Living, Evolving Journey

Throughout this experience, you’ll discover that the curriculum has room to grow with you. While the core structure is consistent, your reflections and insights help shape how future lessons evolve for the whole community. Whether you’re a composer, performer, or improviser, the skills you build here support your creative path.

Regular reflective check-ins invite you to share your observations and breakthroughs, contributing to a course that improves over time based on real student experience. This isn’t a rigid program; it’s a long-term listening practice designed to deepen your inner hearing and support your artistic growth.

Pure Audio Delivery

No Written Assignments or Books to Download

  • All sessions are recorded audio lessons. 

  • Instructions, examples, and feedback occur entirely by sound—designed to sharpen your inner ear.

Interactive Listening

Stay Engaged Throughout

Each lesson invites you to pause, listen, and even record your practice. You’ll also have space for self‑reflection, with community features expanding as the course grows.

Incremental Mastery

Step-by-Step Instructions

  • A sequential 12‑month part, each lesson builds on the skills and concepts of the previous. 

  • Emphasis on repeated listening, internalization, and application of ideas through active, ear-centered practice.

Sequential Progression

A Three-Year Curriculumn

  • Year 1: Audiation Focus on developing a finely tuned internal hearing and imagination.

  • Year 2: Counterpoint* Begin exploring the technical and creative aspects of counterpoint—including species work, voice independence, and the early foundations of canon and invention—building on the audiation skills developed in Year 1.

  • Year 3: Form* Explore musical form by learning how to shape larger musical ideas and connect your audiation and counterpoint skills into clear, expressive structures.

Highly Affordable

UreMusic School

  • A Professional Music School without the high fees.

Compose Your Story

The Composing Hour Music Lessons Series

Year 1: Awakening Your Inner Music (Audiation)

Year 1 is about learning to hear music where it matters most — inside your own mind. The focus is on developing clear, stable internal sound and learning to listen with intention.

Deep Listening: You’ll explore what it really means to listen inwardly. Through guided sessions, you’ll begin to recognize how audiation works and how internal sound becomes the foundation for all creative musicianship.

Building Your Inner Sound: Step by step, you’ll learn to hold pitches, imagine simple intervals, and track musical ideas without relying on your instrument. These early skills form the core of reliable internal hearing.

Learning Through Experience: Each session invites you to slow down, focus, and work directly with sound — without written theory or technical jargon. The emphasis is on perception, clarity, and developing the inner stability that future musical skills depend on.

Year 2: Hearing Two Voices in Motion*

Year 2 introduces the core skill of counterpoint: hearing two independent musical lines at the same time. The focus is on developing clarity, stability, and sensitivity to how voices move together and apart.

Musical Dialogue: You’ll learn how two lines interact — sometimes moving in parallel, sometimes diverging, sometimes echoing each other. Instead of memorizing rules, you’ll train your ear to recognize the natural push and pull between voices.

Imitation and Response: Through guided listening, you’ll begin to sense how one idea can lead to another. You’ll hear simple imitations, call‑and‑response gestures, and small variations that create direction and shape.

Developing Voice Independence: Each session strengthens your ability to hold one line steady while imagining another. This is the perceptual foundation of real counterpoint — learning to hear both voices clearly, without losing track of either.

Year 3: Hearing and Shaping Musical Form*

Year 3 focuses on understanding how musical ideas unfold over time. You’ll learn to hear larger shapes, connect smaller ideas into coherent structures, and develop the internal sense of form that supports confident composition and interpretation.

Building Musical Structure: You’ll explore how phrases relate, how ideas return or evolve, and how contrast and continuity work together. Instead of memorizing formal labels, you’ll train your ear to recognize the natural flow of musical ideas.

Connecting Ideas Into Larger Arcs: Through guided listening and internal practice, you’ll learn to sense how small motifs can grow into longer passages. You’ll begin to hear how sections balance each other and how musical tension and release shape the overall form.

Integrating Your Skills: By combining your audiation work from Year 1 with the two‑voice clarity from Year 2, you’ll develop the ability to imagine and shape longer musical structures internally. The final project invites you to apply these skills in a piece or study that reflects your growth and developing musical voice.

  • $1,750 or 12 monthly payments of $155
  • $165/mo (Free 15-day trial)

Composing Hour: Inner Ear Training – Year 1 (Audiation)

  • Course

The Composing Hour: Inner Ear Training is a 52‑week audio course that refines your internal sound memory and deepens your concentration. Each 40‑minute lesson uses a sustained tone paired with ambient sounds to create a peaceful atmosphere, mask distractions, and train your focus—all without any written assignments.

Key Features

52-Week Audio Course

  • 52 weeks: Keep Downloaded Lessons Forever
    Students are supported through an entire year, with each lesson building on the last to develop real, cumulative musicianship.

Pure Audio Immersion

  • No screens, no written assignments, no distractions.
    The entire course is delivered through guided audio—train your inner ear and musical imagination anywhere, anytime.

Real-World Results, Not Just Theory

  • Developed and refined with feedback from real students—beginners to professionals.
    Every lesson is tested and improved based on student progress and feedback.

Personal Instructor Involvement

  • Every lesson is recorded, reviewed, and refined by Kevin Ure personally.
    You’re learning directly from a university-level composer and educator, not a faceless app.

Living Curriculum

  • Course content evolves based on student insights and needs.
    This is not a static, one-size-fits-all program—your experience and feedback help shape future lessons.

Mindful, Relaxing Approach

  • Lessons begin with relaxing breathing and focus exercises.
    This isn’t just ear training—it’s a practice in mindful listening and deep concentration.

Unique Pathway to Advanced Musicianship

  • Year 1: Audiation → Year 2: Counterpoint → Year 3: Form.
    A structured, multi-year pathway from foundational listening to more advanced creative skills.

Risk-Free Start

  • Free 15-day trial and flexible payment plans.
    Students can try the course with no risk and choose a payment option that fits their budget.

Awakening Your Inner Music

Course Overview: The Internal Sound Journey

Year 1

This structured journey guides you step by step from building a strong internal auditory foundation to developing the skills for expressive internal performance—all delivered through immersive, downloadable audio lessons.

Foundations & Mindful Listening (Weeks 1–10)

  • Cultivate your internal sound memory with guided tone meditations and focused interval recognition.

  • Strengthen your ability to hear pitch clearly and notice subtle changes in tone and color through attentive, mindful listening.

Sketches & Melodic Discovery (Weeks 11–20)

  • Explore simple melodic fragments by humming along and trying small variations.

  • Gradually shift from passive listening to actively shaping and internalizing your own melodic ideas.

Harmonic Expansion, Dual Listening & Orchestration (Weeks 21–31)

  • Expand your harmonic awareness by hearing melodies layered across different orchestrations and instrumental colors.

  • Develop the ability to balance, track, and internalize two simultaneous musical lines using call-and-response, dual-voice, and orchestration-focused exercises.

  • Deepen your understanding of timbre and instrument families as you experience the same musical material across strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion.

Creative Variations & Expressive Transformation (Weeks 32–40)

  • Reimagine familiar themes by playing with tempo, rhythm, dynamics, timbre, and pitch inflection.

  • Use guided imagery and orchestration shifts to explore how expressive choices shape the character and feel of your internal performance.

Final Synthesis & Mastery (Weeks 41–52)

  • Integrate the skills you’ve built by shaping a small internal study or composition that brings your work together.

  • Refine your internal performance through ongoing mental rehearsal, leading to a final piece that reflects your growth and developing musical voice.

FAQs

You've got questions, we've got answers!

Who is this course for?

This journey is for serious, committed musicians who are ready to transform their craft. Whether you're a composer seeking to create intricate soundscapes, a performer striving for deeper interpretation, or an improviser dedicated to honing your spontaneous creativity, this experience is designed for those who are fully invested in elevating their musical artistry.

What exactly is “Audiation”?

Audiation is the art of hearing music in your mind—a core skill for any musician who aspires to truly internalize and create music from within. In Year 1, you'll cultivate this essential skill through immersive listening exercises that are designed for musicians who are serious about taking their auditory and creative capabilities to a higher level.

How are the lessons delivered?

Each week, you'll receive a meticulously crafted 40‑minute audio lesson paired with 20 minutes of Flawless Ear Training, forming a complete 60‑minute session. Every session is designed exclusively for committed musicians who value focused, uninterrupted time to refine their inner listening and creative insights.

How long is the overall course?

The program unfolds over three dedicated years:

  • Year 1: Awakening Your Inner Music (Audiation)

  • Year 2: The Enchanted Dance of Voices (Musical Interplay)

  • Year 3: Weaving the Tapestry of Sound (Musical Form)

This structured progression is ideal for musicians who wish to invest themselves fully, gradually deepening their skills from inner listening to the art of composition and beyond.

I’m new to these ideas—will I be able to follow along?

Absolutely, but this course is best suited for those who are deeply committed to their musical journey. Rather than overwhelming you with technical jargon from the start, we begin by strengthening your ability to listen and imagine, so you can grow into more intricate concepts at a pace that challenges and supports you.

How flexible is the curriculum?

While our curriculum is meticulously designed for a deep, progressive transformation in your musical skills, it’s also a living, evolving journey. Regular reflective check-ins allow us to adjust and refine the content based on real-time feedback from our dedicated community of serious musicians.

Can I re-listen to the lessons if needed?

Yes! All audio sessions remain accessible and you can download them so that you can revisit whenever you need to reinforce your learning. Re-listening is strongly encouraged, as it deepens your understanding and is essential for committed musicians striving for mastery.

What equipment do I need?

All you need is a reliable device to play audio—a smartphone, computer, or tablet—and a one-hour block of time where you won't be disturbed. This setup ensures you are immersed and fully engaged in every transformative session.

How will these lessons enhance my musical journey?

This course is designed to help you develop a strong internal musical foundation. By building advanced audiation skills, you’ll deepen the way you approach performance, improvisation, and composition. It’s an immersive experience that challenges you to grow—ideal for musicians who want to refine their craft and strengthen their internal connection to music.

How do I get started?

If you’re ready to commit to this transformative journey, simply follow the enrollment details on our website or platform. If you see a waitlist, it means that enrollment is not yet available. Please join the waitlist, but only if you're serious about starting.

Join us and immerse yourself in a process that promises to elevate your musical expression like never before.

Start With Year 1

*Additional years are separate memberships.

This course is like private lessons without the need to meet on a schedule. Students can learn and grow at their own pace through carefully created, expert-level courses.

Course Breakdown

Every lesson, exercise, and interaction is delivered solely through audio content—no visuals or written materials. This blueprint prioritizes clear verbal instructions, ear training exercises, and guided listening experiences to cultivate deep audiation and mastery in counterpoint (including invertible counterpoint, canon, invention, and fugue) and form.

Perfect Pitch Can Be Learned: Study Challenges Long-Held Beliefs
Audiation: The Foundation of Music Learning Theory
The Gordon Approach: Music Learning Theory
The Gordon Institute for Music Learning
Perfect pitch can be learned, says researcher. But only if you practice perfectly

Seminars

January 2026 Seminar

Week 1: Getting Centered on Sound (Total Time: 1:15)

• Start with a brief guided meditation to settle your mind and tune in to a sustained tone. 

• Simply listen to the tone, absorbing its color and quality. 

• Outcome: Begin building your internal sound memory.

01 Week 1 – Premise Behind the Structure and Pedagogy.mp3
02 Week 1 – Introduction.mp3
03 Week 1 – Getting Centered on Sound.mp3

Session 2: Two Tones, One Journey (Total Time: 1:30)

04 Week 2 – Two Tones, One Journey_ Elevating Your Listening with Eb and C.mp3
05 Week 2 – Dual Perspectives_ Sharpening Your Ear with the Distinct Voices of Eb and C.mp3
06 Week 2 – Dual Perspectives_ Days 2+.mp3

Session 3: Discovering Intervals

07 Week 3 - Discovering Intervals (Introduction).mp3
08 Week 3 - Discovering Intervals (Full Session).mp3
09 Week 3 - Discovering Intervals (7-Minute Session).mp3

Session 4: Hiding Tones

10 Week 4 - Introduction.mp3
11 Week 4 - Hiding Tones (Full Session).mp3
12 Week 4 - Hiding Tones (7-Minute Session).mp3

Session 5: Responsive vs. Reactive

13 Week 5 - Introduction.mp3
14 Week 5 - Responsive vs. Reactive (Full Session).mp3
15 Week 5 - Responsive vs. Reactive (7-Minute Session).mp3

Session 6: Deepening Tone Awareness

16 Week 6 - Introduction.mp3
17 Week 6 - Deepening Tone Awareness (40-Minute Session).mp3
18 Week 6 - Deepening Tone Awareness (7-Minute Session).mp3

Session 7: A Second Flame Beside the Fire

19 Week 7 - Introduction.mp3
20 Week 7 - A Second Flame Beside the Fire (40-Minute Session).mp3
21 Week 7 - A Second Flame Beside the Fire (7-Minute Session).mp3

Session 8: Visualizing the Notes

22 Week 8 - Introduction.mp3
23 Week 8 - Visualizing the Notes (40-Minute Session).mp3
24 Week 8 - Visualizing the Notes (7-Minute Session).mp3

Session 9: Switching Bodies

25 Week 9 - Introduction.mp3
26 Week 9 - Switching Bodies (40-Minute Session).mp3
27 Week 9 - Switching Bodies (7-Minute Session) 1.mp3

Session 10: Consolidation & Flexibility

28 Week 10 - Introduction.mp3
29 Week 10 – Consolidation & Flexibility [C, Eb, Bb] (40-Minute Session).mp3 (Updated 8-11-2025)
30 Week 10 – Consolidation & Flexibility [C, Eb, Bb] (7-Minute Session).mp3

Session 11: Octave Expansion & Flexibility

31 Week 11 - Introduction.mp3
32 Week 11 - Octave Expansion & Flexibility (40-Minute Session).mp3
33 Week 11 - Octave Expansion & Flexibility (7-Minute Drill).mp3

Session 12: Thinking Beyond Perfection

34 Week 12 - Introduction.mp3
35 Week 12 – Thinking Beyond Perfection (40-Minute Session).mp3
36 Week 12 - Thinking Beyond Perfection (7-Minute Drill).mp3 (Updated 8-25-25)

Session 13: The Waves of Harmony – Cluster Deconstruction & Creative Response

37 Week 13 - The Waves of Harmony_ Cluster Deconstruction & Creative Response (Introduction).mp3
38 Week 13 - The Waves of Harmony_ Cluster Deconstruction & Creative Response (40-Minute Session).mp3
39 Week 13 - The Waves of Harmony_ Cluster Deconstruction & Creative Response (7-Minute Drill).mp3

Session 14: Cluster Stacking & Rhythmic Play

40 Week 14 – Cluster Stacking & Rhythmic Play (Introduction).mp3
41 Week 14 – Cluster Stacking & Rhythmic Play (40-Minute Session C, E♭, B♭, C#, F#).mp3
42 Week 14 – Cluster Stacking & Rhythmic Play (7-Minute Session C, E♭, B♭, C#, F#).mp3

Session 15: Resolving the Tension

No Introduction This Week
43 Week 15 - Resolving the Tension (40-Minute Only C, E♭, B♭, C#, F#).mp3

Session 16: Integration, Sustain, & Phrase Control

Student Guide (Week 16).pdf
44 Week 16 - Introduction.mp3
45 Week 16 - Integration, Sustain, & Phrase Control (40-Minute).mp3
46 Week 16 - Integration, Sustain, & Phrase Control (7-Minute).mp3

Session 17: Dual-Line Thinking

47 Week 17 - Introduction.mp3
49 Week 17 - Dual-Line Thinking (7-Minute Drill).mp3
48 Week 17 - Dual-Line Thinking (40-Minute Drill).mp3

Section 18: Dual-Line Expansion

7-Minute Session Note
50 Week 18 - Introduction.mp3
51 Week 18 - Dual-Line Expansion (40-Minute Drill).mp3
52 Week 18 - Dual-Line Expansion (7-Minute Drill).mp3

Section 19: Flexibility & Recall

53 Week 19 – Introduction.mp3
54 Week 19 - Flexibility and Recall (40-Minute Drill).mp3
55 Week 19 - Flexibility and Recall (7-Minute Drill).mp3

Session 20: Transformation & Variation – Changing the Phrase

56 Week 20 - Introduction.mp3
57 Week 20 - Transformation & Variation_ Changing the Phrase(40-Minute Drill).mp3

Section 21: Dual Lines & Pitches

58 Week 21 - Introduction.mp3
59 Week 21 - Dual Lines and Pitches (40-Minute Drill).mp3

Session 22: Parallel Paths

60 Week 22 - Parallel Paths (Introduction).mp3
61 Week 22 - Parallel Paths (40-Minute).mp3
62 Week 22 - Parallel Paths (7-Minute).mp3

Session 23

Fact-Checking the Talk
63 Week 23 - Introduction (Updated 11-10-2025)
64 Week 23 - Dual-Line Visualization & Memory Part 1 (40-Minute) Updated 11-10-2025
65 Week 23 - Dual-Line Visualization & Memory Part 1 (7-Minute).mp3

Session 24

67 Week 24 - Dual-Line Visualization & Memory Part 2 (40-Minute).mp3
68 Week 24 - Dual-Line Visualization & Memory Part 2 (7-Minute).mp3
69 Week 24 - Dual-Line Visualization & Memory Part 2 (7-Minute).mp3

Session 25

70 Week 25 - Introduction.mp3
71 Week 25 - Dual-Line Visualization & Memory Part 3 (40-Minute).mp3
72 Week 25 - Dual-Line Visualization & Memory Part 3 (7-Minute).mp3

Session 26

73 Week 26 - Dual-Line Visualization & Memory Part 4 (Introduction).mp3
74 Week 26 - Dual-Line Visualization & Memory Part 4 (40-Minute).mp3

Session 27

75 Week 27 - Reflection Session.mp3

Session 28

2-76 Week 28 – Hearing Timbre (Introduction).mp3
2-77 Week 28 – Hearing Timbre (40-Minute).mp3
2-78 Week 28 – Hearing Timbre (7-Minute).mp3

Session 29

2-79 Week 29 – Introduction.mp3
2-80 Week 29 – Woodwinds A Block (40-Minute).mp3
2-81 Week 29 - Woodwinds A Block (7-Minute).mp3

Session 30

2-82 Week 30 – Introduction.mp3
2-83 Week 30 – Brass A Block (40-Minute).mp3
2-84 Week 30 – Brass A Block (7-Minute).mp3

Session 31

2-85 Week 31 – Introduction.mp3
2-86 Week 31 – Percussion A Block (40-Minute).mp3
2-87 Week 31 – Percussion A Block (7-Minute).mp3

Session 32

Important Note
2-88 Week 32 – Cantus Firmus A Blocks.mp3
2-89 Week 32 - Strings (10-Minute).mp3
2-90 Week 32 - Woodwinds (10-Minute).mp3
2-91 Week 32 - Brass (10-Minute).mp3
2-92 Week 32 - Percussion (10-Minute).mp3

Session 33

2-93 Week 33 - The String Canvas.mp3

Session 34

2-94 Week 34 – The Woodwind Canvas.mp3

Section 35

2-95 Week 35 – The Brass Canvas.mp3

Session 36

2-96 Week 36 – The Percussion Canvas.mp3

Session 37

2-97 Week 37 – All Instruments.mp3

Session 38: Stability in Motion

2-98 Week 38 – Introduction.mp3
2-99 Week 38 – Stability in Motion.mp3

Session 39

2-100 Week 39 – Introduction.mp3
2-101 Week 39 – Independence of Motion (Foreground & Background).mp3

Session 40

2-102 Week 40 Introduction.mp3
2-103 Week 40 Meditation through Audiation.mp3