While the course is taught on the piano, concepts apply to every instrument.Â
The Problem
Most people learn music backwards.
They spend energy learning concepts before they understand why they exist, how they connect, or where they fit in the bigger picture.
For example, most courses have you practicing scales before you understand
- What a scale even is?
- Why they exist?
- How are they created?
- How many are there?
That disconnect is where confusion begins and where we step in.
Before You Learn starts with the big picture of how music works and how everything is connected.Â
Understand the big picture. Then everything makes sense!
 THE SOLUTION
Tension and Release
This one concept is so powerful because it's all you need to understand how everything in music works; it's the hidden link that connects everything.
Every term, every topic you're going to learn—scales, melody, harmony, rhythm—isn't a separate, disconnected subject. They're all just different ways to create and vary tension.
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The good news? You're already familiar with this concept.Â
Try This
Press both keys.
Which one has more tension?
Now — which would you use to relax?
That choice is exactly what musicians make.
Each sound you heard felt different because it had a different level of tension.
If this makes sense, you already understand the key to understanding all music theory!
Every scale, chord, melody, and harmony sounds and feels different for the same reason: each creates different levels of tension.
Start with the conceptProfessional music educators and students endorse this course because, before note names, before sheet music, before confusion, you start with a clear overview of how all music works and is created. Â
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“Learning how sound and music work has been made painless.”
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“This course makes musical concepts accessible and easy to understand. My kids are already using what they’ve learned to improvise and create.”
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“After just four hours, I could explain why intervals and scales create different moods and emotions.”
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“I could read music, but I had no idea how to simply sit down and play. This course changed that.”
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“It’s simple, practical, and helped me explore musical elements I never consciously considered when composing.”
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“A comprehensive and easy-to-follow introduction to music theory.”
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“Everything finally clicked. The concepts were simple, my confidence grew, and I was soon playing piano and creating my own music.”
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“Concise, clearly explained, and filled with exercises that make each concept easy to understand. An excellent course.”
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“Instead of endless drills, I was creating music from the start. It made learning music exciting again.”
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“Easy to understand and stress-free. I can’t believe how much I learned in such a short time.”
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“An inspiring and easy-to-follow way to understand what lies beneath the music we hear.”
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“An approachable and insightful introduction to music theory, even with no prior knowledge.”
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“A unique approach that takes the frustration out of music theory and makes learning enjoyable.”
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“Easy to read, easy to understand, and it helped me improve my piano skills. Highly recommended.”
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“A completely different way to learn music—relatable, enjoyable, and easy to understand.”
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“A great starting point for your music theory journey.”
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“After wanting to learn music for more than 20 years, this course finally made it possible. Even at 58, I was able to learn, retain, and play music—and I loved every minute of it.”
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“This turned music theory on its head for me. Concepts that once confused me finally made sense—and it made me excited to learn more.”
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“It’s hard to put the course down!”
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“I witnessed firsthand the enthusiasm this course inspires. This approach is interactive, accessible, and builds creativity and confidence.”
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“This is more than a game changer—it’s a paradigm shift.”
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“As an educator, I can clearly see how impressive this new method is. I’ve recommended it to our children’s school.”
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“I wish I had this book when I taught music theory and composition.”
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“This course makes complex concepts simple and easy to understand.”
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“I wish Berklee had this course. This should be the way music is taught.”
“The clearest introduction to music theory out today. You never feel lost or confused—instead, you feel inspired to learn more. I wish I had it during my freshman year at Berklee.”
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“The Tao of Music Learning? An innovative, accessible approach that explains music through tension and release—much like the Daoist idea of yin and yang as two forces working together as one.”
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“Before You Learn has reframed my understanding of music theory. It made the complex concepts I knew more intuitive and experiential.”
“This course simplifies music theory in a way I’ve never seen before.”
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“Eric’s approach makes complex musical concepts easy to understand by connecting them to things we already know.”
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“After seeing Eric’s course, I asked him to teach his method to the 30 teachers in our district.”
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“After Eric demonstrated his course, I instantly saw the advantage of his approach.”
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“I wish I had this resource when I began teaching. It fills an important gap in music theory education.”
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“I base my preschool and elementary curriculum on Mindology, a student-centered approach to how children think and learn. I immediately saw the same philosophy in Before You Learn—making learning intuitive, engaging, and centered around the student.”
“I can see this course being used not only to teach music, but as a Social and Emotional Learning course as well.”
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Before You Learn presented at the 2026 Balance Mind Conference, NY.
What you'll learn
Nine modules. One concept. Complete understanding.
Each lesson builds on the last, so everything you learn helps you understand what comes next. Lessons average 12 minutes.  Â
How You'll learnÂ
A proven step-by-step learning path
Â
01
Learn
one music element (one building block) at a time, in plain language.  — each lesson averages 12 minutes
02
Experiment
with each building block. — growth is built from experimentation, not repetition
03
Create
music with each new building block. — simple, but yours
04
Apply
everything you learned to understand the next lesson.
05
Rinse and Repeat
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Where it leads
A limitless foundation.
After the nine modules, you’ll have a solid understanding of how all music works—and receive your Course Completion Certificate. More importantly, you’ll see music as layers of building blocks that can be combined in endless ways—giving you the confidence to improvise, compose, and express yourself freely.
At this point, you’ll naturally want to read and write music. These skills are much easier to understand when you want and need to learn them.
You’re now ready for the three included Companion Courses:
- History of Music Genres
- History of Note Names
- History of Sheet Music
These short courses will turn rules into reasons—and make what you’ve learned even more meaningful.Â
Coming Soon
The Song Library
Come learn the songs you love with our step-by-step videos —then use 'song mapping' to create your own versions.
Micro-Lessons
Stuck on anything? Book a twenty-minute online private session with Eric and get it resolved on the spot.
Learning CommunityÂ
Join fellow students in our private community group — share what you're creating, ask questions, stay inspired.
Courses & pricingÂ
Choose the option that fits your needs and budget.
Both options include the 9-module Foundation Course plus 3 Companion Courses:
- The History of Music Genres
- The History of Note Names
- The History of Sheet Music
You'll learn how and why music works—while playing, experimenting, and creating music every step of the way.Â
ReadÂ
Foundation Course PDF Download
$144Â or 5 Ă— $28.80
In this option, you will read all the course material and go through the practice sessions on your own.
Includes-
- PDF downloads
- 4 Bonus Video Practice sessions
- 9 Quizzes and Assessments to ensure growth and progress
Also Included:
- 3 Companion Courses -Â history of note names, sheet music, and genres
- Bonuses and Gifts
- Course Completion Certificate
While this is the most affordable option, it provides everything you need to succeed. The bonuses and gifts will encourage you to complete the tasks, while the course library will help you stay organized and track your progress.
Start With A 7-Day Money-Back GuaranteeWatch
Foundation Course Guided Videos
$220Â or 5 Ă— $44
In this option, I will guide you through all the course material and practice sessions using 18 instructional videos.
Includes-
- 9 Step-by-Step Video Lessons
- 9 Guided Video Practice SessionsÂ
- 9 Lesson Review and Study Guides
- 18 Quizzes and Assessments to Ensure Your Growth and ProgressÂ
Also Included:
- 3 Companion Courses -Â history of note names, sheet music, and genres
- Bonuses and Gifts
- Course Completion Certificate
This option offers the best value! For roughly the price of a couple of private lessons, you will feel as though you have your own personal teacher. The bonuses and gifts will encourage you to complete the tasks, while the course library will help you stay organized and track your progress.
Start lA quick look inside course library
Easy-to-Follow Lessons Â
Guided Practice SessionsÂ
Quizzes to Ensure Growth
Common Questions
What is music and why do we create it?
Who created the course?
Do I need to buy an instrument first?
How fast will I actually see progress?
I have zero experience. Is this really for me?
Will this course teach me a few tricks so I can sound good at a party?
Start before the confusion does.
We create music to evoke feelings, moods, and emotions—to express what it means to be human. At the heart of every musical emotion is one thing: tension and release.
Learn the one concept that explains how all music works.
7-Day Money-Back Guarantee