Course Introduction

Welcome, introduction to the Shostakovich-Hernández Medrano method and what you will learn in the course.

Welcome

Welcome to the Shostakovich-Hernández Medrano-Cárdenas method course and what you will learn in it.

Traditional Harmony Course

This course is the direct transmission of the method that master Humberto Hernández Medrano passed on to me during three years in his studio in Colonia Roma in Mexico City — a method rooted in the tradition of Dmitri Shostakovich and the finest Western music pedagogy.

Today that legacy comes to you, after I put it into practice and refined it for over 20 years producing music at the highest level, completely free, online.

What will you learn?

By the end of this course you will be able to:

Write 4-voice chorales (SATB) following classical rules
Recognize and apply fundamental harmonic progressions from the tonal repertoire
Use inversions, cadences, and modulations with precision
Understand why chords sound good (or bad) — not just memorize it
Write and correct your own exercises with the help of the Virtual Teacher

Why study classical harmony in the age of AI?

We live in a paradoxical moment: AI can generate music in seconds, but musicians who understand why harmony works are more valuable than ever.

Knowing harmony allows you to:

Guide AI with judgment — not just accept what it generates
Compose with intention, not just by accident
Analyze any music you hear
Teach with solid foundations

This course is not a museum. It is a tool for the 21st-century musician.

How the course is organized

The course follows the pedagogical sequence of master Hernández Medrano's method with all the improvements I personally developed over three decades of teaching:

Preparatory Module — Notation, rhythm, and intervals
Complete Harmony Course — Choral writing in the harmonic vocal quartet

Each lesson includes:

Theoretical explanation
Demonstration videos
MIDI practical exercise
Automatic correction by the Virtual Teacher

The Virtual Teacher

The Virtual Teacher is an automatic correction system that analyzes your MIDI exercises and tells you exactly which errors you made and in which measure.

It doesn't just say "wrong" — it tells you what you need to correct to master the course perfectly. It's like having master Hernández Medrano reviewing your homework.

How to start?

If you already know how to read and write music, intervals, and basic rhythm, follow the order of the lessons. Don't jump to advanced content before understanding the fundamentals — in harmony everything builds on what came before. If you don't have the basics, simply start with the preparatory module.

When you're ready, move to the next lesson. 👇