MANCHESTER MIDI SCHOOLMUSIC COMPOSITIONCOURSE INfORMATION PACk12 WEEkS MIDISCHOOL.COM

MANCHESTER MIDI SCHOOLMUSIC COMPOSITIONCOURSE INfORMATION PACk

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introduction

the MMS Music composition course has been created to teach producers and engineers the musical skills they so often require in the studio.

Do you find yourself often struggling to come up with musical ideas? Have you written a killer riff, but are unsure how to develop a rhythm track? Do you find it difficult to structure music and finish off arrangements?

Having a good grounding in musical theory will help you to work out melodies, chords, drum beats, arrangements and structure: the Music Composition course will show you everything you need to know.

When collaborating with, or recording and producing other musicians, it is essential to be able to communicate effectively. The knowledge gained during the course will allow to to do this confidently.

The music composition course offers an insight into the theoretical side of music: students are encouraged to listen to a range of music analytically. This will develop their musical ear and serve to improve their writing and arranging skills.

In short, the skills and experience gained during the course will be of huge benefit to anyone wishing to improve their own music production and song writing. It will also help those looking to compose tracks/songs for other artists, and for concert, theatre, film or broadcast music.

duration: 12 WeeksLecture times: Monday/Wednesday 2 hours (slot to be arranged upon registration)

▶ About the course tutor ▶ A breakdown of what you will cover during the course

JuMp StrAight to:

Our Music Composition course MIDI lab facilities

Please don’t hesitate to contact us on mail@midischool.com with any questions you might have about the course.

MANCHESTER MIDI SCHOOLMUSIC COMPOSITIONCOURSE INfORMATION PACk

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

Steve trafford is an English songwriter, composer and arranger of music for film and concert hall.

Born in Manchester, he became well known on the Manchester live scene in various bands. His quirky singing and songwriting style received media attention and his songs were regularly played on national radio. This led to a period playing bass and guitar in the Fall with Mark E Smith where he toured the world and contributed material for two albums - notably the acclaimed ‘Fall Heads Roll’ album recorded at Philip Glass’s studio in New York.

Trafford continued to record and tour solo material and whilst in Berlin he was commissioned to write music for 3 independent films. The films were shown around Europe with Trafford giving talks at The Tate modern in London. In 2006 he co-wrote and played guitar on Paul Heaton’s ‘Cross Eyed Rambler’ album which involved touring the UK and Europe.

After studying for a Masters Degree in music composition at the University of Salford, he has written pieces for a variety of musical forces including works for an 80-piece symphony orchestra to be performed this year. He contributed the score to the Manchester film ‘Hi High Rise’ which has been shown at major film festivals around the country and is now being shown at Manchester Art Gallery. He is currently the manager and string arranger of the Manchester band Black Lights.

Other Experience

- Co-songwriter / guitarist & singer with Paul Heaton- Guitarist with Cerys Matthews- Co-songwriter / bass-player / guitarist with The Fall (Sanctuary / Narnack)- Film Composer for Susanne Burner (Galerie Giti Nourbakhsch)

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ABout thE courSE tutor...

Steve Trafford

MANCHESTER MIDI SCHOOLMUSIC COMPOSITIONCOURSE INfORMATION PACk

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including printing,photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems without the prior permission in writing from Manchester MIDI School.

Music composition course Weeks 1-6

Weeks 1-6 are designed to give the students a sound understanding of writing tracks,rhythm, song-writing and compositional techniques. The music composition course will provide the basis for the students to select their chosen areas to concentrate on in the following weeks. Subject taught in this section include: • Song writing, chord progressions/melodies/understanding harmony• Orchestration – scoring music/notation/strong links with RNCM giving students the opportunity to have their pieces performed and recorded. • Music for media – scoring to picture/working with video in Logic. • Arranging- reworking music/different styles/different instruments.

Music composition course Weeks 7-12

Students will receive one to one mentoring sessions to develop compositions in their chosen areas. This will involve evaluation and feedback on competencies and skills required to work in student’s chosen areas, which acts as a valuable sounding board for the students to discuss their works during the writing process. This section of the course will feature some high profile industry professionals from the film and pop world visiting as guest speakers as well as visiting musicians to perform and record student’s work.

1. using a keyboard with a workstation• 16th note based 8 bar rhythms and beats• Constructing bass lines• Inversions• Chord types• Scales

2. Song writing• Chord progressions• Cycle of fifths• Understanding harmony• Working out existing music

3. composing for media• Music evaluation

▶ Styles ▶ Prominence ▶ Melodic content ▶ Impact & effect ▶ Pre-existing music for promotion

• Target audience/client base• Time code/film manipulation• Scores• Instrumentation

4. orchestration• Reductions• Instrumentation• Sibelius tutorials• Music Arrangement

WhAt WiLL you covEr during thE courSE?

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