From a Music School Teacher - You Can Do It, Too! Composition

2024-01-15

Theme：Keyboards, Software, Tips ＆ Useful Info

You can do it too! Composition section
Decide on a theme→What kind of music do you want to compose: cheerful, lonely, gentle, etc.?

① First, Let's start with16 bars!

The easiest way to start is in 4/4 time.
C major and A minor are easy to use because they do not have any #s or ♭s.

② Compose using the piano, not with sheet music!

I will play the first 4 bars in the lesson and ask you to play 4 bars of a melody that leads to it.

The rules are:

☆ Play the continuation from the last note that the teacher played
☆ End with a note that leads to the next note.
☆ The rhythm does not need to be too short. Only quarter notes are needed.

③ Let the teacher make bars 9 through 12, and then you make the last 4 bars!

Rules:

☆ Make it so that the song ends with the last two bars.
☆ Make the last note “Do” if it's C major, and “La” if it's A minor.

When you have finished the piece, play it from the beginning to the end with your teacher's accompaniment.
If you record it, you won't forget it, and it will be easier to add chords afterwards.

④ Let's arrange the melody you have created!

In short, we will change the rhythm and add notes.

How to change the rhythm

Let's divide ♩ into smaller notes into ♫ and ♬.
If it’s too difficult, it might be easier to sing the rhythm you want to change!

⑤ Let's try to add a chord under it!

As you get used to it, chords will come naturally, but in the beginning, use cadences.

Cadences
This is the basic rule of musical writing!
For example, this is C major ♪

C→F→G7→C
(1 → 4 → 5/7 → 1)
Using these chords, you can create a simple song.
As you get used to it, you will be able to add more variations such as major sevens and minor chords.

☆Try a little step up!
Decide on a theme when you write a song.
It’s also a good idea to decide on a genre. For example, you can also try a swing style, a tango, a march, etc.
Deciding on a theme makes it easier to combine rhythms and rests.
The 8th bar feels like the end, so you can write with the intention of ending on the 13th bar.

In Conclusion

Compose your own music. It may seem like a hurdle, but once you get to compose your own music, your world will expand and it will become more and more enjoyable. Listening to your own compositions afterwards is also a great learning experience. Absolutely try to create your own unique sound.

sato yumi

I teach piano to children at the Onagawa Free Music School. Every day I give fun lessons surrounded by little angels. I have fun every day, using music therapy with preschool students and challenging myself with songs of various genres with second-year students. I have fun every day. What I enjoy most is watching my students grow.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　