Composition in theComposition in thePrivate StudioPrivate Studio
A blog written byA blog written by
Amy Rose ImmermanAmy Rose ImmermanOwner, Cincinnati Music Academy, LLCOwner, Cincinnati Music Academy, LLC
[email protected]@cincinnatimusicacademy.com
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
This blog covers…This blog covers…
How to get startedHow to get started Teaching compositionTeaching composition
♪ Intuitive vs. non-intuitive studentsIntuitive vs. non-intuitive students♪ Lyrics?Lyrics?♪ Multiple instruments?Multiple instruments?
The actual processThe actual process The finished productThe finished product
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Getting StartedGetting Started Make this a summer projectMake this a summer project Get notation software, and learn to use it Get notation software, and learn to use it
beforebefore your program begins your program begins Have a computer & preferably a midi Have a computer & preferably a midi
keyboard in your studio, or teaching areakeyboard in your studio, or teaching area
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Things to consider…Things to consider… Specific dates or offer anytime?Specific dates or offer anytime? Close studio to regular lessons & focus Close studio to regular lessons & focus
solely on composition, or integrate into solely on composition, or integrate into regular teaching week?regular teaching week?
Meet weekly, or condense the process Meet weekly, or condense the process into one or two weeks?into one or two weeks?
Class or private?Class or private? Minimum age or ability?Minimum age or ability?
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Advertise – of course!Advertise – of course! If this is new, start with your own studentsIf this is new, start with your own students
WebsiteWebsite
FacebookFacebook
Studio FlyerStudio Flyer
Newsletter / e-mail to your students & Newsletter / e-mail to your students &
clienteleclientele
ColleaguesColleagues
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Most important words…Most important words…
No Experience NecessaryNo Experience Necessary Individual program – 5 hours (+/-)Individual program – 5 hours (+/-) Tuition includes materials, 5 copies Tuition includes materials, 5 copies
of published composition, of published composition, competition materialscompetition materials
Base the tuition on your regular Base the tuition on your regular hourly rate, plus above materialshourly rate, plus above materials
Composition Class – option?Composition Class – option?
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Get your flyer and application into the hands of area teachers & students!
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
If you teach a class…If you teach a class…
Text used for group program is:Text used for group program is:Young Composers Notebook (3 Volumes)Young Composers Notebook (3 Volumes)
By Francis Balodis,By Francis Balodis,Frederick Harris MusicFrederick Harris Music
Music by Me, Five VolumesMusic by Me, Five VolumesKevin Olson and and Wynn-Anne Rossi
FJH MusicFJH Music
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Getting Started!Getting Started! Some materials Some materials
are very basic…are very basic…
Start at the Start at the piano withpiano with♪ Clipboard or lap Clipboard or lap
deskdesk♪ PencilPencil♪ EraserEraser♪ Ruler (optional)Ruler (optional)♪ Blank staff Blank staff
paperpaper© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Other materials include…Other materials include…
Piano and/or keyboardPiano and/or keyboard
ComputerComputer
Notation SoftwareNotation Software
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
MusicArrangers.com/instrumentsMusicArrangers.com/instruments
Will the song have words?Will the song have words? As soon as a student registers, ask if he or As soon as a student registers, ask if he or
she wants lyricsshe wants lyrics
If the student wants lyrics, itIf the student wants lyrics, it’’s easier if they s easier if they are original (to avoid copyright issues)are original (to avoid copyright issues)
Students must bring lyrics to the first Students must bring lyrics to the first sessionsession
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Rough Drafts Rough Drafts are fine!are fine!
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Lyrics give you a jump start – Lyrics give you a jump start – they provide the rhythm!they provide the rhythm!
Reciting the lyrics gives us the rhythmReciting the lyrics gives us the rhythm With the rhythm in place, the meter is With the rhythm in place, the meter is
determineddetermined Next, determine a keyNext, determine a key Decide if an introduction is Decide if an introduction is
appropriate?appropriate?
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Original Lyrics –Original Lyrics –
Alien Attack,Alien Attack,
Patrick, age 10Patrick, age 10
Repeating lines Repeating lines (highlighted) (highlighted) became the became the
chorus.chorus.
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Rhythmic Dictation…Rhythmic Dictation…
Remember that part of your music Remember that part of your music training?training?
Lyrics give you a jump start – they Lyrics give you a jump start – they provide the rhythm!provide the rhythm!
Aliens come attacking us and that is why weAliens come attacking us and that is why we’’re re here.here.
With the rhythm in place, the meter is With the rhythm in place, the meter is determined.determined.
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
A key is determined – major or A key is determined – major or minorminor
Alien AttackAlien Attack – scary song, definitely – scary song, definitely minor!minor!
Do you want an introduction before Do you want an introduction before the words begin to set the mood of the words begin to set the mood of the piece?the piece?
Can the intro sound Can the intro sound ““spacey?spacey?”” How do you want the chorus to How do you want the chorus to
sound – what kind of mood?sound – what kind of mood?© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Whatever you do, make sure the Whatever you do, make sure the composition is within the studentcomposition is within the student’’s s ability to perform. In the chorus of ability to perform. In the chorus of ““Alien AttackAlien Attack””, notice the simple LH , notice the simple LH octaves and basic chord inversions. octaves and basic chord inversions. Throughout the verse, notice the Throughout the verse, notice the simplicity of LH. Add fingering if the simplicity of LH. Add fingering if the student needs it.student needs it.
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Alien Attack Chorus
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
LaurenLauren’’s Pieces Piece
Non-intuitive studentNon-intuitive student No confidence improvisingNo confidence improvising TeacherTeacher: : ““LetLet’’s just fool around on the s just fool around on the
piano, make up a little melodypiano, make up a little melody”” LaurenLauren: : ““Do I have to?Do I have to?”” ““Listen to this blues scale. Do you like Listen to this blues scale. Do you like
that sound?that sound?”” ““Whoa, thatWhoa, that’’s cool!s cool!””
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Have stuent play this simple Have stuent play this simple accompaniment while teacher improvises accompaniment while teacher improvises with the blues scale.with the blues scale.
This is SO cool!This is SO cool!
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Okay, switch parts!Okay, switch parts!
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
The blues scaleThe blues scale Show student how to play a blues scaleShow student how to play a blues scale
DonDon’’t panic, yout panic, you’’ll make it easier…ll make it easier…
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Put blue tape on the blue notes!Put blue tape on the blue notes!
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Now, letNow, let’’s improvise!s improvise!
I donI don’’t wannat wanna DonDon’’t tell me, show me!t tell me, show me! Do I have to?Do I have to? Yes, you have to!Yes, you have to! I donI don’’t wannat wanna So I played… which uses the rhythm of So I played… which uses the rhythm of ““I I
dondon’’t wannat wanna””
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Of course, there has to be more…Of course, there has to be more…
What did you do last weekend?What did you do last weekend? I went to a birthday partyI went to a birthday party How was it?How was it? We went to a movie – we saw Garfield. We went to a movie – we saw Garfield.
My friend really likes Garfield.My friend really likes Garfield. Okay…. LetOkay…. Let’’s put that into our piece!s put that into our piece!
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
My friend, likes GarfieldMy friend, likes Garfield
Anything worth doing once, is worth doing Anything worth doing once, is worth doing twice.twice.
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
One more ideaOne more idea
What else have you been up to lately?What else have you been up to lately? Well, I went to Las Vegas for my birthday Well, I went to Las Vegas for my birthday
party!party!
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
3 rhythmic motives made 3 rhythmic motives made the piecethe piece::
I donI don’’t wannat wanna
My friend likes GarfieldMy friend likes Garfield
I went to Las Vegas for my I went to Las Vegas for my birthday partybirthday party
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
A song without lyricsA song without lyrics
Discuss moodDiscuss moodCreate a storyCreate a story
♪ Family vacationFamily vacation♪ Vacation Bible SchoolVacation Bible School♪ Fact or fiction!Fact or fiction!
But then what?But then what?
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Where do the first notesWhere do the first notescome from?come from?
If student has no musical ideas of his If student has no musical ideas of his own, help create them by asking own, help create them by asking questions…questions…
Will your piece be:Will your piece be:♪ Happy or sad, scary, new age?Happy or sad, scary, new age?♪ Fast or slow?Fast or slow?♪ Smooth or bouncy? Will you use pedal?Smooth or bouncy? Will you use pedal?♪ Combinations of the above?Combinations of the above?
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Getting started from scratchGetting started from scratch Improvise – question and answer phrasesImprovise – question and answer phrases
Choose key comfortable for the studentChoose key comfortable for the student
Each composition needs 2 or 3 motives – 2 is Each composition needs 2 or 3 motives – 2 is finefine
Create melody first - accompaniment laterCreate melody first - accompaniment later
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Once you have a motive or two...Once you have a motive or two...♪ The piece practically writes itself with the The piece practically writes itself with the
use of several composition techniques.use of several composition techniques.
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Composition TechniquesComposition Techniques
MotiveMotiveA musical ideaA musical idea
RepetitionRepetitionRepeat the motive Repeat the motive higher, lower, in higher, lower, in the other handthe other hand
SequenceSequenceRepeat the motive Repeat the motive on a different pitchon a different pitch
Composition TechniquesComposition TechniquesInversionInversion
Repeat the motive upside Repeat the motive upside down!down!
RetrogradeRetrogradeRepeat the motive Repeat the motive backwards!backwards!
Rhythmic ShiftRhythmic ShiftShift the motive to a Shift the motive to a different position in the different position in the measuremeasure
FragmentationFragmentationRepeat a portion of the Repeat a portion of the motivemotive
A basic recipe toA basic recipe toconstruct a piececonstruct a piece
8 or 16 measure sections8 or 16 measure sections Question / answer phrasesQuestion / answer phrases
♪ Questions end on dominantQuestions end on dominant♪ Answers end on tonicAnswers end on tonic
Two motives – keep it simple!Two motives – keep it simple! A B A form – good to start withA B A form – good to start with
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
A B A FormA B A Form
Major – relative minor – majorMajor – relative minor – major Major – parallel minor – majorMajor – parallel minor – major Minor – major – minorMinor – major – minor Fast – slow – fastFast – slow – fast Slow – fast – slowSlow – fast – slow Legato – staccato – legatoLegato – staccato – legato RH melody – LH melody – RH melodyRH melody – LH melody – RH melody
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
What about the accompaniment?What about the accompaniment?
Sometimes accompaniment is put in Sometimes accompaniment is put in after each section is written. Other after each section is written. Other times, you can wait until the entire times, you can wait until the entire piece is done.piece is done.
If student has accompaniment ideas, If student has accompaniment ideas, great!great!
If not, offer suggestions and let the If not, offer suggestions and let the student choose.student choose.
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Accompaniment ideasAccompaniment ideas Alberti bassAlberti bass
Broken chord Broken chord
Accompaniment ideasAccompaniment ideas Broken ChordBroken Chord
Accompaniment ideasAccompaniment ideas Solid chords / open fifthsSolid chords / open fifths
Boogie Bass – Open intervalsBoogie Bass – Open intervals
Accompaniment ideasAccompaniment ideas Tonic - DominantTonic - Dominant
Accompaniment ideasAccompaniment ideas
Basic octavesBasic octaves
New AgeNew Age
Accompaniment ideasAccompaniment ideas
Basic chord progressionBasic chord progression
Be creative!Be creative!
Michael…Michael…♪ Age 9
♪ 4th Grade
♪ Mr. Fancy Pants made it to MTNA National in 2005
♪ One motive; ABA major, minor, major,B part – inverted motive
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Intuitive StudentsIntuitive Students
Piece is already made upPiece is already made up Listen with student and determineListen with student and determine
♪ rhythmrhythm♪ time signaturetime signature♪ keykey
Sometimes it helps to record itSometimes it helps to record it Offer stylistic and musical suggestions Offer stylistic and musical suggestions
as neededas needed
Butterflies – orig. sound file
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
JessicaJessica’’s Six Published Piecess Six Published PiecesPiano/Voice
Piano/Voice
Piano/Flute/Viola
Piano/Violin
Piano
Piano
♪ Age 13, 7th Grade
♪ 9 years of piano lessons
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
The student must be able to perform The student must be able to perform the piece s/he writesthe piece s/he writes
Keep within studentKeep within student’’s playing abilitys playing ability All pieces are handwritten at the pianoAll pieces are handwritten at the piano
♪ Start with blank staff paperStart with blank staff paper♪ Student draws every clef, brace, grand Student draws every clef, brace, grand
staff, etc.staff, etc.
Back to the process…Back to the process…
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
The writing The writing takes the takes the
most amount most amount of time, but of time, but
the students the students learn a lot! learn a lot!
What a great What a great way to way to
reinforce reinforce note reading note reading and rhythm!and rhythm!© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
The finishing touches…The finishing touches… DynamicsDynamics Tempo markingsTempo markings Pedal marksPedal marks FingeringFingering Expression marksExpression marks
♪ FermataFermata♪ PhrasingPhrasing
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
After writing is done, move to the After writing is done, move to the computer!computer!
Teach students how to use your Teach students how to use your notation software. Student sits in the notation software. Student sits in the ““driverdriver’’s seats seat””
Student enters piece into the computerStudent enters piece into the computer First hand experience is gained First hand experience is gained
marking slurs, pedal, dynamics, marking slurs, pedal, dynamics, articulation marks, finger numbers, articulation marks, finger numbers, ties, octave signs, lyricsties, octave signs, lyrics
Students are Students are fascinated with fascinated with Finale!Finale!
This is their favorite part of the whole This is their favorite part of the whole program!program!© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
When the piece is finished, When the piece is finished, students create their own students create their own
composition coverscomposition covers It has to be on a 8-1/2 x 11 piece It has to be on a 8-1/2 x 11 piece
of paper, with a half-inch borderof paper, with a half-inch border
May be hand drawn or computer May be hand drawn or computer
generatedgenerated
Send electronically to teacherSend electronically to teacher
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Finished pieces are Finished pieces are professionally publishedprofessionally published
1111””x17x17”” card stock paper (90#) card stock paper (90#)
Print shops do it better than Print shops do it better than ‘‘do-it-yourselfdo-it-yourself’’
shopsshops
MTNA members have an Office Depot discount! MTNA members have an Office Depot discount!
Download discount card from MTNA website.Download discount card from MTNA website.
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
If the If the back back side side isnisn’’t t used used for for
music, music, strut strut your your stuff!stuff!
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
©© Copyright Copyright ©© Copyright is secured automatically Copyright is secured automatically
when a work is createdwhen a work is created Students own the copyright on their Students own the copyright on their
musicmusic Registering a copyright establishes a Registering a copyright establishes a
public record of the copyright claim. public record of the copyright claim. The author may file a suit for any The author may file a suit for any infringement of copyright only if the infringement of copyright only if the copyright has been registered.copyright has been registered.
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Sample Copyright VerseSample Copyright Verse
© 2005 Student Name. Published by A © 2005 Student Name. Published by A Rose Piano, Inc. 7420 Montgomery Rose Piano, Inc. 7420 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236. All Rights Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236. All Rights Reserved.Reserved.
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
The finished composition…The finished composition… Compositions are entered into MTNA Compositions are entered into MTNA
and NFMC competitionsand NFMC competitions OFMC has an adult composerOFMC has an adult composer’’s contests contest Compositions are performed in fall Compositions are performed in fall
recital (really motivates others)recital (really motivates others) Student receives 5 copies of their Student receives 5 copies of their
published piece (included in published piece (included in composition tuition)composition tuition)
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Finished pieces used to add a Finished pieces used to add a colorful border to my studio wall!colorful border to my studio wall!
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Young students are motivatedYoung students are motivated
David, age 6
Celebrate Piano! ® Lessons & Musicianship 1A
Eleanor, age 7Eleanor, age 7
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
““Nor do I hear in my Nor do I hear in my imagination the imagination the parts successively, I parts successively, I hear them all at hear them all at once. ...All this once. ...All this inventing, this inventing, this producing, takes producing, takes place in a pleasing, place in a pleasing, lively dream."lively dream." (Wolfgang Amadeus (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756 -1791)Mozart, 1756 -1791)
““To compose music, To compose music, all you have to do is all you have to do is remember a tune that remember a tune that nobody else has nobody else has thought of.thought of.”” (Robert (Robert Schumann, 1810-Schumann, 1810-1856)1856)
We have a duty We have a duty towards music, towards music, namely, to invent namely, to invent it.it. ( (Igor Stravinsky, Igor Stravinsky, 1882-1971)1882-1971)
ItIt’’s an unforgettable experience!s an unforgettable experience!
There is There is a lot a lot of pride!of pride! Parents are proudParents are proud Students are proudStudents are proud Relatives are proudRelatives are proud Music teachers are proudMusic teachers are proud Win – win – winWin – win – win
© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]
Are you ready to teach Are you ready to teach composition?composition?
Ready, set, go! Ready, set, go!
Amy Rose ImmermanAmy Rose Immerman
[email protected]@cincinnatimusicacademy.com© 2015. Amy Immerman, [email protected]