Post Description

When most people think of a composer, they imagine someone sitting in a dusty attic with a grand piano, big white wig, and the year is 1800. That might have been accurate back then, but the modern composer is just like you and me. In fact, I am one.

In this course I'll show you techniques I use for writing music in a variety of styles and situations. I've worked with major American orchestras, film studios, and video game designers, so I've got more than a little experience. I'm also a PhD in music composition and a university professor (of music composition).

Recently I was named as a semi-finalist for the Grammy Foundation's Music Educator of the Year award because of my in-person university classes. Now I'm taking those classes to Udemy in an online format in order to reach more students, and give them the joy of Music Theory.

I'm planning on making several "sections" of this class, and this is Part 2. As the class grows, we will go deeper and deeper into my techniques. This class is focused on the creating a sense of Tension and Release: one of the most fundamental concepts in music composition.

In this class, we will cover:

    My background, and listen to some of my music
    Why Tension and Release?
    Tools of the trade: Software
    Tools of the trade: Pencils and fine paper
    Long Term and Short Term Tensions
    Using Form for Tension and Release
    Forms that Create Drama
    Sonata Form
    The 4 Elements of Form
    Example: Mozart, Moonlight Sonata
    Composing with Sonata Form
    Modern Uses of Sonata Form
    Example: Muse, Butterflies and Hurricans
    Tension and Release with Meter
    Compound Meters
    Meter Signatures
    Alternating Compound and Duple Meters
    Using Rhythm for Altering Expectations
    Rhythmic Patterns
    Pattern Obfuscation
    Example: Philip Glass, Truman Show Soundtrack
    Example: Allen, Aporia
    Using Harmony for Tension and Release
    Consonance and Dissonance
    Prolonging Dominant
    Emphasized Resolution
    Pedal Tones
    Moving "Pedal Tones"
    Example: Aphex Twin, Ventolin
    Combining Multiple Techniques
    Example: Mozart, Sonata in C
    Example: Allen, Angel of Repose
    Film Music and Tension Cues
    Composing for Films
    Any much, much, more!

nJoy!