Creative Musical Composition: A Modern Introduction for Beginners in the Field

Overview

Musical composition is an increasingly blended and growing world. What music is being written now? What does it mean to be a composer? How do we develop our own compositions and musical style in the face of so many ideas and so much choice? On this course, learners will be introduced to a wide range of historical and modern compositional practices, before being tasked with self-selecting technical ideas from given lectures and developing them into two newly composed pieces of music. In support of this, we will explore historical compositional techniques from the Western Classical Tradition (Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Romantic Era Music) and engage with their transformation over the course of the 20th Century (into the modern day); explore jazz, pop, rock, and metal music; explore film and video game music; and explore a wide range of non-Western music. Learners will also be instructed in modern editorial standards - learning how to use a range of software packages in support of their creativity, helping them to develop pathways to the performance and recording of their works.

Programme

Through a series of online lectures, seminars and support sessions, learners will cover the following topics:

1. Expectations, Plans, Music Theory, and Software Packages.
2. First Steps in Musical Composition and Cultivating your Own Voice.
3. Renaissance and Baroque Compositional Techniques.
4. Classical and Romantic Compositional Techniques.
5. Compositional Technique in the 20th Century.
6. Compositional Technique in Jazz, Pop, Rock, and Metal.
7. Non-western Musical Techniques.
8. Compositional Techniques in Film and Video Games.
9. Current Trends and Techniques in Classical Composition.
10. Preparing Your Music for Performance, Submission, and More.

Learning Outcomes 

1. Demonstrate the ability to compose a new piece of music, including the preparation of well edited, communicative, and professionally usable scores and performance parts (as required).
2. Research and demonstrate an understanding of a wide range of compositional techniques - both historical and modern - and evidence their usage within their music.
3. Clearly and confidently communicate their musical intentions through speaking, performance, or written instructions.
4. Evaluate, analyse, discuss, and justify the technical components of music (both their music and the music of others), specifically as it relates to compositional methods and processes.

Assessments 

1. 500 Word Presentation and 5 Minute Composition - 25%
2. 750 Word presentation and 10 Minute Composition- 75%

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements.

What do I Need

As this is an online course, you would need the following: 

• Internet access.
  
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit.
• Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.