The Music Interval Theory Podcast

Episoder

• The "1+1" Interval Game 03.07.2026 8min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about Learn Interval Magic and write music that truly stands out and is unique. Start your free 7-day trial today, and after that, it's less than one coffee per week! If you're new here, my name is Frank, and I'm the co-founder of the Music Interval Theory Academy (MITA), which I've been running since 2015. I teach composers how to stop guessing and start creating music with real intention, using intervals as the foundation instead of chords. How I got here... ** 1993: Heard the Jurassic Park score in the theater and was blown away. ** 2000: Started to compose and learned traditional theory. Quickly, I hit the same wall most composers hit: the music I wrote was technically correct but forgettable. ** 2005 onwards: Started scoring professionally for animation, film, documentaries, and video games (Disney, Mattel, theme parks, and many others). Built a library of 700+ tracks for production and sync. ** 2015: Everything changed. A workshop with Thomas Chase Jones (TC) flipped the way I think about music. It was all about intervals, and composition got cleaner, faster, and more original. That shift became a system. The system became MITA. ** Since then: hundreds of composers have gone through the Academy. My business partner TC has credits on approximately 1,800 TV shows (Scooby-Doo, Batman, Dexter's Lab, Tom and Jerry — look him up). Together, we teach what most music schools don't. On this channel, I share the exact methods I use to help composers find their voice, work faster, and stop feeling stuck. If you've ever felt like your music sounds too generic, or like you understand theory but still can't quite control what you're creating, you're in the right place. Never stop composing, Frank
• Why Composers Freeze at Bar 5 26.06.2026 10min

  Start here: Free Flipbook — Five Spells Every Composer Needs: https://musicintervaltheory.academy/spells/ Or join the community: Circle of Interval Magicians — $18/month: https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about/ If you're new here, my name is Frank Herrlinger. I'm the co-founder of the Music Interval Theory Academy (MITA), which I've been running since 2015. I teach composers how to stop guessing and start creating music with real intention, using intervals as the foundation instead of chords. How I got here... ** 1993: Heard the Jurassic Park score in the theater and was blown away. ** 2000: Started to compose and learned traditional theory. Quickly, I hit the same wall most composers hit: the music I wrote was technically correct but forgettable. ** 2005 onwards: Started scoring professionally for animation, film, documentaries, and video games (Disney, Mattel, theme parks, and many others). Built a library of 700+ tracks for production and sync. ** 2015: Everything changed. A workshop with Thomas Chase Jones (TC) flipped the way I think about music. It was all about intervals, and composition got cleaner, faster, and more original. That shift became a system. The system became MITA. ** Since then: hundreds of composers have gone through the Academy. My business partner TC has credits on approximately 1,800 TV shows (Scooby-Doo, Batman, Dexter's Lab, Tom and Jerry — look him up). Together, we teach what most music schools don't. On this channel, I share the exact methods I use to help composers find their voice, work faster, and stop feeling stuck. If you've ever felt like your music sounds too generic, or like you understand theory but still can't quite control what you're creating, you're in the right place. Never stop composing, Frank
• The Secret Is Prediction, Not Talent 19.06.2026 8min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about There is a reason some composers always seem to know what to play next, and it is not what most people think. This episode gets into the quiet habit that builds real musical confidence from the inside out.
• Fix the Score, Not the Knobs 12.06.2026 4min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about When something sounds wrong in your orchestration, the instinct is to reach for the controls. But what if the real problem is somewhere you have not looked yet?
• Diatonic vs. Intervallic - Which One is Better 06.06.2026 12min

  https://musicintervaltheory.academy/interval/interval-quiz.html Most composers never question the system they learned in. This video does. Diatonic and intervallic thinking each have their own advantages, and knowing the difference can change how you compose. Watch to find out which approach fits where you are right now. Take the free 4-minute quiz in the link above to find out where you are in your compositional journey.
• 5 Spells Every Composer Needs 29.05.2026 2min

  https://musicintervaltheory.academy/spells/ Grab it! - It's free, and one of the best resources for composers available.
• The Note Your Scale Won't Allow 27.05.2026 6min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about There's a question that trips up almost every composer trained in functional harmony. The answer most theory books give is complicated. Intervals make it simple.
• The 48-Hour Composition Challenge 25.05.2026 4min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about Most composers don't have a creativity problem. They have a completion problem. Frank talks about why that folder full of almost-finished pieces might be the thing quietly holding you back.
• Color Doesn't Belong to a Genre 22.05.2026 5min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about You want richer harmony but every attempt starts sounding like jazz. Frank shares why color has nothing to do with genre, and what one small borrowed sound can do for your music.
• When Lines Do What Chords Cannot 20.05.2026 4min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about There is a moment most composers know well: the melody feels right, but the harmony just won't cooperate. Frank shares what happened when he stopped thinking in chords and started thinking in lines instead.
• Think In Energy, Not Chords 18.05.2026 5min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, Frank explores why adding more complex chords doesn’t always improve your music. Instead of focusing on chord labels, he invites you to think in terms of musical energy—shaped by elements like density, register, rhythm, and orchestration. By aligning harmony with the energy a moment truly needs, your compositions can feel more intentional, clear, and expressive.
• Fix The Context, Not The Chord 15.05.2026 5min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, Frank explores the idea that “wrong” chords are often just incomplete musical moments. By adding context, adjusting harmony, and staying curious a little longer, composers can transform uncertainty into expressive and original harmonic choices. The episode encourages a shift from judgment to exploration in the creative process.
• Momentum Over Perfection 13.05.2026 5min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, Frank explores how early self-judgment can quietly shut down your creative flow. By allowing your first ideas to be rough and unfinished, you create space for momentum, connection, and playful exploration. The focus shifts from proving something to simply building something, helping you reconnect with a more natural and enjoyable composing process.
• When Simple Is Strong 11.05.2026 5min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore why trying to “improve” a good melody can sometimes weaken it. I talk about the strength of diatonic, whistleable melodies and how they create trust and clarity for the listener. Instead of forcing complexity too early, I suggest using simple melodies as a foundation and adding tension with intention, not insecurity.
• The Power of A Story 08.05.2026 5min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore why choosing chords can feel random when there’s no clear story behind your music. I share how defining a simple “story container” — like a scene, emotion, or memory — can guide your harmonic decisions and bring clarity to your composition. When the intention is clear, harmony becomes purposeful instead of accidental.
• Stop Composing Alone 06.05.2026 4min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore the hidden limitations of composing in isolation and how it can slow down your creative growth. I share why getting feedback and being part of a community can accelerate your progress, help you spot patterns faster, and make better creative decisions. The key idea is simple: growth doesn’t just come from doing more, but from seeing more.
• Why Basics Unlock Magic 04.05.2026 7min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, Frank explores why interval theory often feels difficult and how the real challenge may lie in unclear fundamentals rather than complex concepts. He shares how becoming comfortable with treble and bass clef transforms intervals from abstract calculations into visual, intuitive tools. The episode highlights how small improvements in note recognition can remove creative friction and make composing feel more natural and enjoyable.
• Find Your Musical Edge (With Interval Theory) 01.05.2026 3min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore how relying on proven formulas can lead to familiar results, and why that’s not necessarily a problem. The real shift happens when you expand those foundations with your own perspective. This episode focuses on how originality comes from shaping what already works into something that feels personal and authentic.
• Balancing Complexity and Simplicity 29.04.2026 3min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore how placing unconventional interval ideas inside familiar structures can make them feel natural and expressive. The focus is on balancing complexity and simplicity so your music remains engaging while still being clear and meaningful to the listener.
• Making Notes and Clusters Belong 27.04.2026 6min

  https://www.skool.com/circle-of-interval-magicians/about In this episode, I explore what to do when you discover unusual note combinations that don’t seem to fit traditional harmony. Instead of trying to force them into familiar structures, I share how context, storytelling, and musical direction can transform any sound into something intentional and meaningful. The focus is on shifting your mindset from “is this correct?” to “how can I make this belong?”