Read it
Learn to read notes, rhythms and music symbols.
Music theory education · Courses in development
Decode Music
Understand Music Theory Step by Step
Decode Music is a planned set of music theory courses. They will help you understand the music you read, hear, play and create.
These courses are planned. Availability, prices and full course contents will be confirmed before enrolment.
From a symbol to a musical idea
01
Read it.
02
Understand it.
03
Hear it.
04
Use it.
Learn what written music means, how it sounds and how to use it.
Knowing the answer is only part of understanding.
A student may remember a definition or complete an exercise while still wondering what the idea means in music. A clearer connection between the page and the sound makes that knowledge more useful.
You might know a scale formula without hearing a sense of key, name an interval without recognising its role in a melody, or build a chord without understanding where it wants to go.
Cadences and written exercises have a place in learning and examination preparation. Decode Music’s intended approach adds the musical connection: why the pattern matters, what it sounds like and how you might use it.
The Decode Music approach
Read it. Understand it. Hear it. Use it.
Understand it
Understand each idea and how it connects to what you already know.
Hear it
Listen to examples so you can hear what the notes and patterns mean.
Use it
Use what you learn to play, study or write music.
Built on the Foundation-First Method
Read → Understand → Play → Create
Decode Music follows the same teaching approach. Listen to examples, understand what you hear and use the ideas in your playing and writing.
Planned courses
Build the foundations. Then put them to work.
Start with music basics, then learn about scales, chords and harmony. Analysis and Composition help you use these ideas. Exam Prep and the Complete bundle are also planned.
- Step 1Planned
Decode Music: Foundations
Learn to read notes and clefs, count rhythms and understand rests and time signatures. These symbols tell you what to play and when.
Start here if you are learning to read music and understand rhythm.
- Step 2Planned
Decode Music: Scales & Keys
Learn how major and minor scales are built. Understand key signatures, which tell you which notes are usually sharp or flat.
Build on basic notation and pitch understanding.
- Step 3Planned
Decode Music: Intervals & Chords
Learn about intervals (the distance between notes), triads (three-note chords) and inversions (different ways to order chord notes).
Connect pitch and scale knowledge to chord building.
- Step 4Planned
Decode Music: Harmony
Learn how chords work together. Explore chord progressions (sequences of chords) and cadences (chords that help a phrase end).
Build on scales, intervals and chord understanding.
Apply your understanding
- Put theory to workPlanned
Decode Music: Analysis
Use theory to understand actual pieces: connect written patterns to the musical choices you hear and play.
For students who are ready to use their music basics.
- Put theory to workPlanned
Decode Music: Composition
Apply theoretical ideas to creating music, connecting rhythm, melody, harmony and structure.
For students who are ready to use their music knowledge to write pieces.
Exam preparation and a planned course bundle
- Choose your goalPlanned
Decode Music: Exam Prep
A planned route for applying musical understanding to theory examination requirements.
The exact syllabus, prerequisites and examination alignment will be confirmed before enrolment.
- Choose your goalPlanned
Decode Music: Complete
A planned bundle of Decode Music courses. The included courses will be confirmed before it is available.
Bundle contents will be confirmed when the products are available.
Who it is for
Choose a starting point based on what you understand now. Each planned product has a different role; later topics build on earlier foundations.
- Music students who can answer exercises but want a clearer musical explanation
- Pianists, keyboard players and other instrumentalists connecting notation with playing
- Examination students who want understanding alongside preparation
- Aspiring composers and songwriters developing their musical decisions
- Producers who need stronger theory foundations before applying ideas in a DAW
Not sure where your gaps are?
The free music theory assessment can help you find topics to practise and plan your study. It checks written theory knowledge. It does not assess playing, listening or an exam grade.
Take the Free AssessmentFor teacher-guided support, explore live music theory lessons.
Use Theory in the Music You Play
Reading music tells you what is written. Understanding a piece helps you notice patterns, shape a phrase and make choices in performance.
Read and play with meaning
Connect notation and rhythm with phrasing, structure and the sound you want to make.
Hear harmony and structure
Use scales, chords and harmonic relationships to understand a piece and make sense of musical direction.
Create with intention
Bring theory into composition, songwriting and arrangement. In production, it can inform musical decisions alongside the separate craft of working in a DAW.
Hashini’s existing teaching
Putting music skills into practice
These published results come from Hashini Herath Music’s existing teaching. They are not results from the planned Decode Music products or promises of future outcomes.
LCM Theory of Music · Winter 2025
100% Distinction
In the LCM Theory of Music Winter 2025 examination session, every student who sat the examination achieved Distinction - the highest result available.
LCM Theory of Music · Summer 2026
Distinction & Merit Results
In the Summer 2026 LCM Theory of Music examination session, students achieved Distinction and Merit results, with no failures.
Choose the Course That Suits You
Decode Music is planned to explain how music works. Pianist to Producer helps you use the music skills you already have to create tracks on a computer.
If theory foundations are the missing piece, start there. If you already have those foundations and want to translate keyboard ideas into a DAW, explore the separate Pianist to Producer programme and its fit requirements.
Pianist to Producer
Turn musicianship into music production.
For pianists, keyboard players and songwriters who know music basics and want to turn keyboard ideas into tracks on a computer.
Explore Pianist to ProducerQuestions about Decode Music
Do I need previous music-theory knowledge?
Foundations is planned for students learning to read music and understand rhythm. Later courses build on these basics. Entry requirements and full course contents will be confirmed before enrolment. Ask Hashini where to start.
Is Decode Music only for exam students?
No. The planned courses connect theory with reading, listening, playing and writing music. Exam Prep is one of the planned options.
Can pianists and instrumentalists use it?
Yes. The planned courses connect written music with what you play. Choose a course based on what you already know, whatever instrument you play.
Is this useful for composers and producers?
Yes. Learning about scales, intervals, chords and harmony can help you write and arrange music. Decode Music is planned to teach these ideas. For making music with software, explore Pianist to Producer.
How is it different from memorising theory for an exam?
The approach asks you to read a concept, understand why it works, connect it with sound and use it in music. Examination preparation can still be a goal, while musical meaning remains the foundation.
Can I buy a Decode Music course now?
No. These courses are still being planned. Prices, dates, lesson format and full contents have not been announced. If you need help now, you can ask about live music theory lessons.
Start with what you understand now.
Tell Hashini about your background and the theory concepts you want to understand. You can ask about the planned Decode Music path or discuss existing live theory lessons. Mention Decode Music in your message so Hashini knows what you’re interested in.
Ask About Your Next Step