In the previous lesson we made a composition plan to start putting together the basic elements of our piece. In this lesson we’re going to get practical and start composing!
We will begin by composing the main theme or melody for the slow movement. If you want a refresher on how to compose a melody, why not enrol in our course: How to compose a great melody?
In this lesson we’ll cover:
- Setting intentions and considering mood
- Composing an effective melody
What to think about first:
- Consider the mood and character you want to create.
- Restate your chosen key (write out key signature if you like)
- Set a couple of intentions. This is where you give some purpose to your melody and decide what kind of character or feeling you want to present or what you want your instrument to demonstrate.
For example…
Instrument: flute (+ piano)
Key: A minor
Intentions: I want to demonstrate the lower register of the flute and include some longer notes to give the performer expressive opportunities.
Composing an effective melody
Whilst you may feel confident with composing a melody, here’s a reminder of what makes a good tune.
It’s important to establish the key in the first 4 bars. How do we do this?
- Start on the tonic
- Finish the first phrase on the dominant (optional)
- Perhaps use triadic or scalic movement, using notes from the chosen key.
Example melody
Here’s the first part of the melody for the slow movement. There are some insights below.
Blue – tonic; Green – dominant
Notes on the melody:
- The range of the melody is fairly narrow to start with and opens out in the final bar.
- Keeping the original melody fairly simple gives scope to develop the tune later on.
- Beats 1 & 3 are the strongest beats of the bar. Notice how the tonic and dominant are placed on these beats.
Defining feature
We could say the ‘defining feature’ of this melody is the use of dotted rhythms. I can develop this feature later on in my piece. Can you think about what might define your melody?
Compose your melody
Using the example above as a guide, compose your 4-bar melody. Remember:
- Start on the tonic
- Try to place the tonic and dominant on beats 1 & 3
- include a defining feature (a simple musical feature that repeats within the phrase)
Click on the purple button below for manuscript paper.
Once you’ve written your melody remember to record it somewhere either by notating it (writing it down) on manuscript paper or in a notation programme, or playing it into a DAW, such as GarageBand.
Hopefully you now have a 4 bar melody for the start of your slow movement. In the next lesson we’re going to extend and develop this tune.
Let’s Go!
Click the MARK COMPLETE button below and move on to the next lesson.