Some successes from The Understanding of Music Seminar™:
“Thanks Duncan for opening the door, erasing the myths and sharing this message and method with the world!” – L.S.
“I’m so grateful. I feel released from a prison of boring piano lessons where I didn’t understand what or even why I was learning. When you told us that we were learning to play scales in order to create I really cried with joy and the relief from frustration. Thank you!” – C.P.
“Thank you for opening the doors to a whole new dimension in music for me – I can’t believe I was able to play on keyboard with both hands!!! I am amazed at your energy; your teaching methods and communication skills are excellent!” – A.D.
“Not only have I gained a complete understanding of music, I have also gained self-belief and the inspiration to be a better person. I can’t thank you enough!” – E.K.
“Thanks Duncan. I’ll play my way up to pub then bar then concert hall!! You have shown the way!” – E.T.
“Duncan strips away the mysteries and difficulties surrounding the art of playing music and shows how to do both keyboard and guitar to the masses. You’ve opened up the possibilities to a degree I would never have thought possible!” -A.R.
“Thank you so much for an enlightening seminar. Having studied piano and theory from the age of 6 years I never understood or had explained to me many of the things contained in this seminar.” – K.C.
“Brilliant seminar. Can’t express how priceless a gift this is. Thank you Duncan.” – N.B.
“I was so enthralled and enthusiastic after the first 2 hours that I immediately registered for the songwriting seminar, bought an extra guitar and even bought an electric piano! Thank you so much – this is life-changing in more ways than just musically – you are a star!” – S.H.
“There are no words to express my gratitude – this means much more to me than being able to access music; it means coming back to life! Really!! Thank you!” – R.S.
“It took me a years studying music theory to cover what you taught everyone in one weekend!” – N.F.
“Even as a music teacher I still doubted myself and my ability. Now I feel like there is NO limit as to what I can achieve!” – D.D.
“This seminar has opened me up to the beauty and simplicity of something that has been pretty much a mystery to me for my whole life. Brilliant!” – S.D.
The Understanding of Music Seminar™ is delivered online LIVE with lots of attendee interaction and drilling over three days.
See Seminar Schedule for details of Seminar dates.
The seminar is $595 plus tax (if required) including all materials.
110 daily lessons accompany the Seminar and attendees can select EITHER the 110 lessons for the keyboard or 110 lessons for the guitar. If an attendee would like to purchase both sets of lessons they are available for an EXTRA fee.
The Understanding of Music Seminar™ removes incorrect ideas:
Music is complex and difficult to learn.
Music is a “serious” subject.
Music takes years to learn.
Music education is expensive.
Music requires at least some natural ability and talent.
Music is not for everyone.
What is contained in The Understanding of Music Seminar™?:
Learn all the note names on keyboard and guitar and how to work out the note names on every Western musical instrument.
How to play every scale and mode on both keyboard and guitar. Scales are easily memorized in the seminar.
How to play every chord on both keyboard and guitar. Chords are easily memorized in the seminar.
Simple explanations of the physics of sound and music history.
Powerful and easy exercises to teach coordination.
How to read song books and chord charts so that you can accompany yourself on a keyboard or guitar while singing.
A simple 10 minute daily practice schedule that really works.
A course of 110 daily lessons to ensure graduates maximize the full potential of the seminar.
Video presentation of every concept and exercise in the Seminar demonstrated on both keyboard and guitar.
How can all this happen in one weekend?
Duncan Lorien has developed an advanced system of easy steps to ensure everyone in the Seminar fully understands and is able to apply each step before the next step is started. The attendee interacts with the Seminar manual while following easy to understand slides and diagrams on an audio visual presentation, observing the keyboard from an overhead camera and watching close-ups of those same concepts on guitar. Each concept is fully drilled before the next concept is introduced. The seminar graduate continues their progress at home with the daily practice schedule for a further 110 days. The Seminar manual, daily practice manual and all other materials are included in the cost of the Seminar.
What is the graduation rate?
100 %. This graduation rate explains the huge expansion of this “grass-roots” movement around the world as graduates tell family, friends and colleagues about their success from doing the Seminar.
What instruments are required?
Duncan Lorien recommends the keyboard as the fastest instrument to begin learning music on and it is ideal to have a keyboard in front of you plus access to a guitar. If you do not yet possess or cannot borrow both of these instruments then alternatives can be suggested such as keyboard apps for tablets and practice fretboard tools. The information is fully applicable to other instruments such as strings, brass and woodwind however the keyboard and guitar are the main instruments focused on during the Seminar.
Who should come to this Seminar?
Absolute beginners, professionals in all styles of music, college graduates with music degrees, music teachers and music college instructors and professors have all attended and testified to successes they have experienced with the Seminar. The youngest graduate was only 6 years old and the oldest was 91. The youngest recommended age is 13 years old (depending on study ability). Younger children will be considered on written application.
What are the other important details I need to know?
The basic rules you are asked to adhere to while attending a Seminar delivered by Duncan Lorien:
No drugs or alcohol may be consumed during the days on which the Seminar is being held (prescription drugs under medical supervision should be advised to the Seminar Organizer).
Any attendee with reading or hearing problems or physically challenged is requested to advise the Seminar Organizer so the best efforts can be made to accommodate that attendee.
Any attendee who is unable to adhere to the full schedule and maintain punctuality creates a disruption to the rest of the attendees and will be refunded and asked to leave the Seminar.
Recording the presentation is not permitted as it creates a distraction plus all materials are internationally copyrighted.
Attendees undertake to immediately advise of any confusion or difficulty so that it can be fully handled at that time.
Some successes from The Understanding of Reading & Playing Music Seminar™:
“A tsunami of information. Every time I take one of Duncan’s seminars I learn more and more, and have a greater understanding of music. If more people could understand the words and symbols, they would be able to enjoy communication via music and enjoy playing music. Thank you, Duncan!” – J. D.
“You cleared up so much misunderstanding and wrong thinking. The history you provided ties it all together and the simplicity and eureka moments of your methods are invaluable. I can now understand how to read music on any western instrument. Amazing! Truly privileged to experience your life’s work. Thank you so much.” – L. K.
“After doing the seminar I feel a lot more confident reading music. It helped to understand why music seems so complicated and why people who teach it seem to make you feel stupid all the time. I now see it’s just the way those old Christian monks wrote it in a difficult to understand code. Thank you Duncan for all of this wisdom!” – M. M.
“It’s unbelievable to have the experience of doing the seminar at home. The new format is amazing with all the cameras and stunning presentation slides. I enjoyed that the concepts were laser-focused on the problems we face reading music without overloading or overwhelming us when sharing the information. My reading of pitch is so much faster now as is my fretboard knowledge and my sense of rhythm. My reading skills will go through the roof! The amount of content was ideal for the online setting. I am extremely motivated :)” – R. S.
“Thank you again for an amazing Understanding of Reading and Playing Music Seminar! The presentation slides and close-up cameras really help the level of understanding. This seminar opened me up to realizing I can reach a whole new level of confidence and ability as a musician than I I’d ever thought possible. The new online format is great and I was happy I could join all the way from South Africa. I am excited to continue my progress with your practice lessons. I had always thought that music was something for “other people”. Thanks to Duncan’s vital seminars, I now know it is something I can make a part of my life. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!” – B. M.
“I am looking forward to the daily practice lessons and for sure I will be at the next online seminar with Duncan. It’s so convenient to be doing this at home beside my piano and guitar with a cup of coffee in hand. I learned how to read and play music with the true data on the subject of music. I understood everything! Thank you very much Duncan for teaching me.” – K. B.
“Just imagine if you could understand music fully? How much more it would bring to your life? Duncan delivers this seminar in a fun and entertaining way and gets down to the roots of the subject. I quit at 16 after 5 years of Russian music school, thinking that I didn’t have a “musical ear” even though I really tried and actually played 2 instruments using just memorization. Now I know more than I learned in 5 years and understand what I am doing. Duncan is the best teacher I ever had. See you soon, Duncan! Very very grateful for all your seminars!” – O. P.
“I had despaired over ever being able to understand how Western music actually works; it had to be something deficient in me. Duncan Lorien debunks popular but incorrect explanations and approaches while bringing to the surface the underlying simplicity. With the accurate and helpful presentation slides and overhead cameras it was all understandable; even by little old me. The seminar plus the extensive daily lessons give a precise, step-by-step method for developing my new understanding into proficient playing, exactly what I was looking for. Duncan Lorien has made a great contribution to our beautiful world.” – J. P.
“This was an amazing seminar! In the school system in Denmark we were just given music and told to play it without even being told what notes were, why you used symbols for them or even why music was written in this form. I got totally lost and gave up the cello and music. In this seminar you not only learn WHY, but HOW to use the symbols, and suddenly I could ACTUALLY READ MUSIC!” – V. M.
The Understanding of Reading & Playing Music Seminar™ is delivered online LIVE with lots of attendee interaction and drilling over three days.
See Seminar Schedule for details of Seminar dates.
The seminar is $595 plus tax (if required) including all materials.
110 daily lessons accompany the Seminar and attendees can select EITHER the 110 lessons for the keyboard or 110 lessons for the guitar. If an attendee would like to purchase both sets of lessons they are available for an EXTRA fee.
What is contained in The Understanding of Reading & Playing Music Seminar™?:
Learn all the note names on keyboard and guitar and how to work out the note names on every Western musical instrument.
How to start reading music for keyboard and guitar in minutes (this revolutionary system amazes even professional musicians).
To be able to read the highest and lowest notes for both left and right hand, guitar tablature, key signatures, the circle of fifths, beat, measure and meter, how to create different rhythmic styles and how to count rhythm correctly.
How to develop really good finger coordination.
To understand how to read and play music from pieces by Bach, Mozart and Beethoven hands together on the keyboard by the end of the Seminar.
A simple 10 minute daily practice schedule that really works.
A course of 110 daily lessons to ensure graduates maximize the full potential of the seminar.
No claim is made that graduates are playing fluently in only one weekend as muscle control needs time to develop but beginners are reading and playing music hands together by the end of the weekend and professional musicians are reaching creative heights they have only dreamt about.
How can all this happen in one weekend?
Duncan Lorien has developed an advanced system of easy steps to ensure everyone in the Seminar fully understands and is able to apply each step before the next step is started. The attendee interacts with the Seminar manual while following easy to understand slides and diagrams on an audio visual presentation, observing the keyboard from an overhead camera and watching close-ups of those same concepts on guitar. Each concept is fully drilled before the next concept is introduced. The seminar graduate continues their progress at home with the daily practice schedule for a further 110 days. The Seminar manual, daily practice manual and all other materials are included in the cost of the Seminar.
What is the graduation rate?
100 %. This graduation rate explains the huge expansion of this “grass-roots” movement around the world as graduates tell family, friends and colleagues about their success from doing the Seminar.
What instruments are required?
Duncan Lorien recommends the keyboard as the fastest instrument to begin learning music on and it is ideal to have a keyboard in front of you plus access to a guitar. If you do not yet possess or cannot borrow both of these instruments then alternatives can be suggested such as keyboard apps for tablets and practice fretboard tools. The information is fully applicable to other instruments such as strings, brass and woodwind however the keyboard and guitar are the main instruments focused on during the Seminar.
Who should come to this Seminar?
Absolute beginners, professionals in all styles of music, college graduates with music degrees, music teachers and music college instructors and professors have all attended and testified to successes they have experienced with the Seminar. The youngest graduate was only 6 years old and the oldest was 91. The youngest recommended age is 13 years old (depending on study ability). Younger children will be considered on written application.
What are the other important details I need to know?
The basic rules you are asked to adhere to while attending a Seminar delivered by Duncan Lorien:
No drugs or alcohol may be consumed during the days on which the Seminar is being held (prescription drugs under medical supervision should be advised to the Seminar Organizer).
Any attendee with reading or hearing problems or physically challenged is requested to advise the Seminar Organizer so the best efforts can be made to accommodate that attendee.
Any attendee who is unable to adhere to the full schedule and maintain punctuality creates a disruption to the rest of the attendees and will be refunded and asked to leave the Seminar.
Recording the presentation is not permitted as it creates a distraction plus all materials are internationally copyrighted.
Attendees undertake to immediately advise of any confusion or difficulty so that it can be fully handled at that time.
Successes from Understanding the Basics of Singing Seminar™:
”I didn’t know where to start with my vocal training. This seminar has already increased my vocal potential.” – N.F.
“I now have the brightest sparkle in my eyes, I can’t stop smiling! Thank you Duncan – your seminar is not only enlightening, but life-changing!” – E.K.
“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Duncan Lorien! I was thrilled and surprised to learn that I have powerful voice!” – M.C.
“Imagine KNOWING what sound will come out and being able to choose note, quality and strength at will! Wow!” – N.F.
”I have learned so much about singing and have improved dramatically. This data is not only limited to singing but is also about self-improvement.” – C.W.
“Thank you for your wonderful teaching methods and great sense of humor. Again, thanks a million!” – Y.A.
“Thank you Duncan!!! You showed us the steps to becoming excellent singers. I am better already and will now be a great singer!!!” – D.G.
“I have learnt how to claim my OWN space!” – T.M.
“Thank you for enlightening me in what I have loved all my life and helping me to understand how do it with more fire!” – J.S.
“Thank you for extracting the truth from a sea of rubbish to help us all make our musical dreams come true!” – B.A.
“In 20 years of being a professional singer nobody has given me so much help, information and understanding as Duncan did in 2 days. I always had problems with higher notes, now I have a way to manage them. I have also improved transitions between different registers of my voice. There is so much potential available by using the practice schedule in the handbook” – S.F.
“Now I finally KNOW that I am NOT tone deaf and believe that I never should have been told that I was in the first place”. – E.P.
“The handling of the vocal instrument, the excellent exercises and drills plus the handling of stage fright all stand out as voice and life-strengthening highlights of the weekend” – A.S.
“You have given me the exact tools I need to believe in myself and fine-tune my voice, thank you, thank you!” – K.E.
A determined graduate who traveled over 3000 miles to the seminar:
E-mail received a few days before the seminar:
Dear Duncan,
I have not found a ride out of here yet, but I have one more possibility with a trapper that needs supplies. The problem is that I am hundreds of miles from any major roads and it is only fly-in/fly-out. I have a plane ticket from Anchorage (Alaska) to Boston (Massachusetts). It is just getting out of here that is the problem. I am going to make the five-mile hike to his cabin now to see if he is willing to give me a ride. So I will let you know either way in the morning. Sorry for the delay. Smiles from the wild, wild West – D.M.
And her success story after completing the seminar:
“My career came to a halt when after a performance I was told by someone that I had the prettiest voice he had ever heard but that I made him feel uncomfortable and uneasy. From this seminar I realized that I wasn’t taking command of the room. I now have the tools to take command of any audience!” – D.M.
Understanding the Basics of Singing Seminar™ is delivered online LIVE with lots of attendee interaction and drilling over two days.
See Seminar Schedule for details of Seminar dates.
The seminar is $395 plus tax (if required) including all materials.
What is contained in Understanding the Basics of Singing Seminar™?
Finding out what “to sing” originally meant; almost no-one teaches this information today and it instantly changes even the way a professional sings!
How to train be relaxed in front of any audience. How to totally handle stage fright and how to develop your stage presence.
What is the meaning of the phrase “to sing in pitch” and how can it be trained?
Learn to improve your breath control with simple drills.
Discover the way the voice box really works.
How to visualize a sound before you sing it.
How to add vocal effects to your singing voice.
How to sing any syllable while maintaining the pitch of the sound.
Master intervals using well-known pieces of music.
Removing vocal breaks and transitions between voice registers.
Increasing your vocal range.
Projecting your singing voice and improving the tonal quality.
Learn how to sight-sing just by looking at music.
Learn simple vocal warm-up and cool-down exercises.
How to do a simple daily practice schedule that really works.
A manual containing all the information and drills.
Access to a video link containing demonstrations of all the drills.
No claim is made that graduates are singing like Celine Dion or Pavarotti in only a few hours but beginners totally understand how to sing and improve on a daily basis by the end of the seminar and professional singers are amazed how the simplicity and effectiveness of this new approach to singing effects everything they have previously been taught about singing.
How can all this happen in one weekend?
Duncan Lorien has developed an advanced system of easy steps to ensure everyone in the Seminar fully understands and is able to apply each step before the next step is started. The attendee interacts with the Seminar manual while following easy to understand slides and diagrams on an audio visual presentation. Each concept is fully drilled before the next concept is introduced. The seminar graduate continues their progress at home with the daily practice schedule and with access to a video of the drills.
What is the graduation rate?
100 %. No student has ever failed to notice a huge improvement in their ability to sing during the seminar and a dramatic improvement in the following weeks doing the drills learned during the seminar.
What instruments are required?
None. Simply bring your body with you as it helps when doing the drills 🙂
Who should come to this Seminar?
Absolute beginners in singing, professional singers in all styles of music, college graduates with music degrees, singing teachers and even music college professors have all testified to incredible success with the Seminar. You are never too old and never to young to learn to sing. The youngest recommended age is 13 years old (depending on study ability). Younger children are considered on written application.
What are the other important details I need to know?
The basic rules you are asked to adhere to while attending a Seminar delivered by Duncan Lorien:
No drugs or alcohol may be consumed during the days on which the Seminar is being held (prescription drugs under medical supervision should be advised to the Seminar Organizer).
Any attendee with reading or hearing problems or physically challenged is requested to advise the Seminar Organizer so the best efforts can be made to accommodate that attendee.
Any attendee who is unable to adhere to the full schedule and maintain punctuality creates a disruption to the rest of the attendees and will be refunded and asked to leave the Seminar.
Recording the presentation is not permitted as it creates a distraction plus all materials are internationally copyrighted.
Attendees undertake to immediately advise of any confusion or difficulty so that it can be fully handled at that time.
Successes from the Understanding of Songwriting Seminar™:
“This opened up unlimited realms of creative potential. Easily the most important investment I have made to myself as a musician and songwriter. Unbelievable!” – S.R.
“If I write everything I gained from this seminar, it will take 10,000 pages to do it! Thank you for this gift of knowledge!” – A.R.
”The bottom line is this….if you want to become a songwriter, THIS IS the class to take!” – R.N.
“The tools filling my toolbox after this seminar will help me build my future as a songwriter. Duncan has delivered above and beyond once again! What an incredible gift… I’ll be back again and again!” – C.D.
“This seminar is mind boggling among musical mysteries easily understandable. I totally enjoyed these 3 magical days.” - M.K.
“Before this weekend I had confusions and complexities on how to write music. One by one these have been replaced by a simplicity and a methodology I can now use. Now I can achieve my lifelong goal to write my music and share my songs with the world. What an incredible gift!” – J.M.
“Now I have all the tools that exist and I know how to use them in all combinations. You solved the Rubik’s cube of music! You put everything in order for me.” – J.A.E.
“I don’t need to look any further. I got all the tools. This seminar changed my life! Thank you!” – R.R.
“I loved this seminar! It gave me much more than I had hoped. I know that I can create an endless array of songs! Duncan is phenomenal, this seminar is amazing. Anyone who desires to write a song should do it.” – J.G.
“Thanks to the seminar my confusion and fears of songwriting are gone!” – R.M.
“Now I fully possess the tools to make a buck or two selling songs rather than treating this as an amateur exercise – which is my wife’s dream!!!! Duncan’s knowledge of music is enormous and his ability to teach the simplicity therein incredibly unique. That said, your heart and spirit are your true gifts!!” – R.S.
“I’m speechless and overwhelmed! The simplicity with which the subject has been communicated is literally mind-blowing in itself. Much admiration and appreciation.” – T.S.
“Duncan is truly the god of music teachers. This knowledge of chords and melody will going to help me fly like never before! This has been the most beautiful, enlightening thing I’ve done with my musical career. The whole world needs this data!” – D.O.
An email from a graduate about getting paid as a songwriter:
“Hi Duncan,
I just wanted to share my latest win with you. A friend of a friend just hired me to help him write lyrics for a marketing campaign for his company. I blew him away with the volume and quality of lyrics I was able to generate in a very short period of time (little does he know what the volume actually was, since I only shared the best ones with him). Of course, I am using all the techniques I learned in your seminars, from the really good idea drill to the emotional response palette, and the ever popular 2 minute songwriting drill. This contract with his company paid back more than I have spent on your seminars, so that’s an ROI (return on investment) you can’t argue with. Thank you for teaching me how to get paid for my music. The more I work with your material the more powerful it becomes. And I tell everyone about it…
Thank you, thank you, thank you.” - A.W.
The Understanding of Songwriting Seminar™ is delivered online LIVE with lots of attendee interaction and drilling over three days.
See Seminar Schedule for details of Seminar dates.
The seminar is $595 plus tax (if required) including all materials.
What is in The Understanding of Songwriting Seminar™?
The Lorien ten rules of melody.
The eight basic agreements of harmony.
Song structure, song formulas and song arrangement.
Modulation (moving from one scale to another within a song).
Parallel and related keys (scales used when modulating).
Transposition (moving the whole song higher or lower).
Cadences (musical punctuation using chords).
How chord charts make music notation simple.
Chord substitution (exchanging one chord for another).
Coming up with a really good idea.
How to create an emotional response palette
Chord patterning – how to develop different styles of music.
Creating in all styles of music from classical to jazz and rock.
How to create a melody that fits with chords you have written.
How to create chords that fit with a melody you have written.
How to create lyrics that fit with a melody you have written.
How to create melodies to fit with lyrics you have written.
What makes a song popular and financially successful.
Lorien chord system – the most powerful tool for composition.
How to write in quantity and with quality.
The basics of recording.
The basics of copyrighting.
The basics of promotion.
A practical ten minute-a-day daily practice schedule to ensure each graduate maximizes the full potential of the seminar.
Every graduate writing songs in four minutes for each song by the end of the seminar……..guaranteed!
How can all this happen in one weekend?
By approaching the subject of songwriting using the same system of easy steps developed by Duncan Lorien for The Understanding of Music Seminar™ that ensures everyone in the Seminar fully understands and is able to apply each step before the next step is started. All the Seminar information is included in an easy to read manual with simple diagrams. The attendee interacts with the manual throughout the Seminar and continues at home with the daily practice schedule. The Seminar manual is included in the cost of the Seminar.
What is the graduation rate?
100 %. When Duncan Lorien states “that every graduate is writing songs in four minutes for each song by the end of the seminar” that is exactly what each graduate achieves. He says that even the inability to play an instrument is absolutely no hindrance to doing The Understanding of Songwriting Seminar™ as the tools he gives the graduates actually supersede the need to play an instrument. A graduate can start producing professional songs and then notate them using an easy system he demonstrates so that other musicians can immediately read and play them.
What instruments are required?
It is ideal to have a keyboard in front of you and you are welcome to use a guitar throughout the seminar in addition to a keyboard. The information is fully applicable to other instruments such as strings, brass and woodwind however the keyboard and guitar are the main instruments focused on during the Seminar
Who should come to this Seminar?
If you are interested in attending The Understanding of Songwriting Seminar™ you must be a graduate of The Understanding of Music Seminar™, know the names of your notes on your instrument and be comfortable playing the Major and minor chords. The youngest recommended age is 13 years old (depending on study ability). If they have already graduated The Understanding of Music Seminar™ younger children will be considered on written application.
What are the other important details I need to know?
The basic rules you are asked to adhere to while attending a Seminar delivered by Duncan Lorien:
No drugs or alcohol may be consumed during the days on which the Seminar is being held (prescription drugs under medical supervision should be advised to the Seminar Organizer).
Any attendee with reading or hearing problems or physically challenged is requested to advise the Seminar Organizer so the best efforts can be made to accommodate that attendee.
Any attendee who is unable to adhere to the full schedule and maintain punctuality creates a disruption to the rest of the attendees and will be refunded and asked to leave the Seminar.
Recording the presentation is not permitted as it creates a distraction plus all materials are internationally copyrighted.
Attendees undertake to immediately advise of any confusion or difficulty so that it can be fully handled at that time.