Music Composition DUMmIES

tonality all at once, near the very end. This alerts us that the climax is on its way (it also puts the orchestra in a range whe ...

There are more harmonic possibilities in a single note than there are melodic possibilities in a chord. Exercises .............. ...

Take any two notes and explore the chord combinations available. Take any two chords and explore the melodic possibilities betw ...

124 Part III: Harmony and Structure ...

Chapter 11 Chapter 11: Composing from the Void......................................................................... In This ...

Composing Using the Movement Around You.......................................... Many musicians, especially pianists, have a se ...

Introducing Effort Shapes ........................................................................... A more precise and useful ...

Laban named the combination of the first three categories (space, weight, and time) the effort actions, or action drive. Flow, o ...

When staccato is light and direct it can result in Dab, and when it gets heavy and bound, it might become Punch. Or if the energ ...

the other hand. At a time when listeners demanded that their expectations be fulfilled musically, it was difficult for composers ...

Flick ...................................................................................................... Flickis light, indi ...

Float...................................................................................................... Floatis light, indir ...

slowly wringing them out emotionally while moving to your musical climax, potentially exhausting them with the sheer effort of m ...

The string entrance is flick with a little suggestion of slash. The brass enters with a heavy dab leading to punch. A few punche ...

Exercises ....................................................................................................... Pick out five ...

Pick any two effort shapes and try to write a 16-measure transition from one to the other. Try to write a short musical beginni ...

Chapter 12 Chapter 12: Beginnings, Middles, and Endings .......................................................... In This Chapt ...

A Word About Form ..................................................................................... While the idea of compos ...

The power of titling............................................................................ Talk to any punk rock band — fo ...

In many cases, the very first set of chords or notes is the most important part of the song. Your opening musical phrase is just ...