BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition

BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition © Pearson Education Ltd Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. Learning aims A Explore creative stimuli to meet a brief B Develop, extend and shape music for performances C Present compositions appropriately

BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition © Pearson Education Ltd Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. Note values and rhythm Adding a dot to the right of a note lengthens it by half.

BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition © Pearson Education Ltd Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. Time signatures 4444 Top number = the number of beats in a bar Bottom number = the type of beat. In this example, a crotchet is a quarter of a semibreve (the longest commonly used note) and so the bottom number is taken from the bottom number of the fraction 1/4. This time signature is the most common time signature. The vast majority of rock, pop and dance songs use this.

BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition © Pearson Education Ltd Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. Other common time signatures – commonly used for marches – always used for waltzes. ‘Happy Birthday’ is in 3-4. – although 6-8 is mathematically the same as 3-4, it is divided into 2 beats in a bar, not

BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition © Pearson Education Ltd Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. Pitch

BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition © Pearson Education Ltd Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. Musical notation/software Handwritten scores These must be clearly and carefully written. Use a sharp pencil and clear manuscript paper. Notation software This is best as it will result in clearer and more accurate work. A variety of packages are available. Avoid composing straight into the computer – use a musical instrument first.

BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition © Pearson Education Ltd Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. What is a short musical idea? Melodic idea – 4-bar melody Rhythmic pattern – 4-bar rhythm Chord progression – 8-bar chord progression Riff or hook – show how the riff or hook can be extended to 4 bars

BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition © Pearson Education Ltd Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. What is a more developed and extended compositional draft? Start with…Develop and extend it into… 4-bar melodyAt least 2 sections of melody, e.g. 2 x 8-bar melodies with chords and accompaniment 4-bar rhythmic patternAt least 2 sections with contrasting rhythms, e.g. 2 x 8-bar rhythms with multiple parts 8-bar chord progressionAt least 2 sections, e.g. 2 x 8 bars, with melody and accompaniment 4-bar riff or hookAt least 2 sections, e.g. 2 x 8 bars, or 1 x 8-bar verse plus 1 x 8-bar chorus with chords and accompaniment

BTEC First Music Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition © Pearson Education Ltd Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. What is a completed composition? Start with…Completed composition might be, for example… At least two sections of melody, e.g. 2 x 8-bar melodies with chords and accompaniment a song with intro, verse-chorus pattern, and outro a piece that follows a structure such as binary, ternary, etc. a piece of music for a film scene lasting approximately two minutes a series of pieces for a TV advertising campaign lasting approximately 2 minutes in total (e.g. 4 x 30-second pieces with variations). At least two sections with contrasting rhythms, e.g. 2 x 8-bar rhythms with multiple parts At least two sections, e.g. 2 x 8 bars, with melody and accompaniment At least two sections, e.g. 2 x 8 bars, or 1 x 8-bar verse plus 1 x 8-bar chorus with chords and accompaniment