Composition – Ideas and Resourcing

Composition – Ideas and Resourcing

Section: Generating Ideas for Composition

• Understand that drawing inspiration or ideas for composing can come from a wide variety of sources. These could range from personal experiences to specific music genres you take interest in.

• Consider using a range of methods to produce initial ideas for compositions, including improvisation, experimentation with music technology, or a response to a particular stimulus (e.g., a piece of text, an image or an emotion).

• Remember the value of playing around and experimenting with different sounds. Such exploration might spark your creative process, and may lead to conceptually unique compositions.

• Never dismiss the importance of listening to a wide range of music from different genres, periods and styles. It could provide inspiration for your own compositions, and expand your understanding of different musical techniques.

Section: Developing Musical Ideas

• Once you have your initial ideas, the next step is to develop these in a musically sensible manner. This development could involve changes in melody, harmony, rhythm or structure.

• Learn to combine and contrast musical ideas, to keep your composition interesting and to demonstrate your understanding of form and structure.

• Always consider the intended effect or mood of the music, and ensure that this is reflected in the musical elements used.

• Work on a number of drafts and versions of your composition, and develop these iteratively based on feedback and self-reflection.

Section: Resourcing Your Composition

• Understand various music technologies and how they can be used to realise your compositions. These could include notation software, digital audio workspaces, sequencing software, and editing tools.

• Highlight that not all compositions need to be realised through a live performance. They could also be presented using software or other forms of technology.

• Learn about different instrumental and vocal resources that are available to you, and think about how these can be used effectively in your composition.

• Always be mindful about the suitability of your composition to the chosen or available performers (or software).

• Remember that the quality of your original idea is more crucial for success than the sophisticated use of technology. Technology should serve the composition and not the other way round.

Section: Revising Your Composition

• Be open to receiving feedback on your compositions, and consider such feedback when revising and refining your work.

• Learn to identify areas for improvement in your compositions during the revision process.

• Reflect on your working process, and note down ideas for improving your future compositions.

• Understand the importance of frequent revisions to your compositions, rather than trying to create a ‘perfect’ composition the first time round.

• Consider different viewpoints when revising your composition - listener, performer, and composer, and make effective changes accordingly.

• Always make revisions with a clear goal in mind. It may be to improve a certain aspect of the composition, or to better realise the intended mood or effect.

• Strive for your revising process to be a continual cycle of receiving feedback, making improvements, and re-evaluating your composition based on the changes you have made.