I offer private music composition lessons through Zoom. Most of my students are high schoolers interested in developing a composition portfolio for conservatory and music school applications. Many of my students found me through my YouTube channel, where I have posted videos about music school applications. My former students have been accepted to:

  • Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California
  • New England Conservatory of Music
  • Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University
  • Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Bloomington
  • Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University
  • Belmont University School of Music

While the quality of a piece of music is often considered subjective, there are many techniques that can be used to objectively improve a composition. In lessons, I focus primarily on these objective techniques, which include:

  • employing notational accuracy, specificity and clarity
  • considering physical limitations and instrumental idioms
  • understanding counterpoint and orchestration principles
  • utilizing proper harmonic spellings
  • demonstrating structural foresight

I began formal musical training at age six, when I had my first piano lesson. I continued taking weekly lessons for 12 years. I began playing flute at age nine, and started weekly flute lessons a few years later. In high school, I started practicing flute and piano more seriously and developed chronic back pain from overuse. In order to cope with the pain and resulting frustration, I began composing. I fell in love with the creative process and decided to apply to music schools for composition during my senior year of high school. I had also always enjoyed math and planned to pursue academics in some capacity at college.

I was accepted to Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music and Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, where I took a variety of music and STEM classes. I also studied composition privately with Hans Thomalla, Jay Yim, Alex Mincek and Chris Mercer. During college, I scored over 10 films, composed chamber and solo concert music and produced several original EDM and pop songs.

In June 2020, I graduated from Northwestern University with a double major in Music Composition and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences (MMSS), and a certificate in Financial Economics from the Kellogg School of Management. I received Program Honors in Composition and completed an MMSS thesis titled A Geospatial Analysis of the Form and Migration of Crime: Hotspots in Los Angeles.

In 2019, I started uploading videos to my YouTube channel which has since generated over 100,000 views. My most popular videos are related to the college application process and life as a music student.

I offer hour-long music composition lessons through Zoom for $60 per hour. Payments are due at least 48 hours before each lesson. Students are encouraged to email their scores to kitra@cox.net at least 24 hours before each lesson.

There will be no refunds if a student misses a lesson. If a lesson is cancelled less than 48 hours before the scheduled time, the full price is still due.

Please email me at kitra@cox.net to schedule a lesson.