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The Living Composer Project

12/29/2018

Who comes to mind when you hear the word "composer?"

For most of my students, the answer to that question is someone like Beethoven or Mozart--a composer who lived and worked hundreds of years ago. And while of course those composers make up an important part of our piano study, I think it is also very important for students to learn about the living composers who are producing new music every day.

To this end, this spring I will be doing a semester-long project to help my students learn more about the music of living composers. I have created a series of worksheets that will help my students to think more about who writes the music they enjoy each day. I hope these worksheets will help my students to research and listen to new music, as well.

Feel free to download and use these worksheets with your own students if you like! I am planning on doing one worksheet each month with my students, culminating with each student performing a piece by a living composer at our spring recital in May. However, I tried to make the worksheets flexible enough that you may use them however you like. I will also be blogging later this month about the composers my students have discovered in their research.

Click HERE or on the pictures above to download the living composer project worksheets (#1-4).

What do you think? Do you encourage your students to listen to music by living composers? Who are your favorites? Please share your ideas in the comments!

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Happy holidays!

12/14/2018

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Today I am sharing my own arrangement of the Christmas classic, "Silent Night." I hope you will take a few minutes to relax and enjoy. (You can purchase the sheet music HERE if you are so inclined.)

Thank you to all who have read and commented here on my blog this year. I am thankful for each one of you! Wishing you and your family all the joys of the holiday season!

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Fun with Scales! (An Improv and Composing Activity)

12/7/2018

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In several of my previous posts on improvising and composing (see all of my posts related to composing HERE), I’ve talked about how to create a melody from the major or minor scale and how to harmonize it using chords from that scale. However, there is a wide, wide world of scales out there apart from the traditional major and minor that we hear most often in Western Classical music.

Today, I will be sharing a few different scales that might provide interesting composing opportunities for your students. Ready to have fun with scales? Let’s go!

1. The Major pentatonic scale

Now, I’ve talked a bit about the pentatonic scale and improv HERE. But it is worth repeating, because the pentatonic scale is so easy to harmonize, and it is found in so many different styles of music, from folk music to Impressionist music to jazz!

Beginners can use the black key pentatonic scale to create a melody and hold the damper pedal for instant harmony. Late elementary students can harmonize their melodies using any of the black keys—all of the notes of the pentatonic scale work well with the others.

For intermediate students, create an easy jazz improv by playing the pentatonic scale over seventh chords. For example, play a C major pentatonic scale (C-D-E-G-A) over the chords Cmaj7, Dm7, Em7, and Fmaj7. This will give you a nice, modern jazz sound.

2. The Whole Tone Scale

Do you want to evoke a feeling of magic or outer space? Use the whole tone scale! This scale is made up of all whole steps (hence the name) and is easiest to play as C-D-E-F#-G#-A# (three white keys followed by three black keys).

Just like the pentatonic scale, beginners can use the damper pedal to create instant harmony with the whole tone scale. More advanced students might enjoy harmonizing this scale with major thirds or augmented triads.

3. The Dorian Mode

The Dorian mode can be created by taking a natural minor scale and raising the sixth step—for example, playing the D minor scale with all white keys. To me, the Dorian mode evokes a feeling of medieval or Renaissance music—perhaps because I associate this mode with the song “Scarborough Fair,” which is based on this scale.

Since the Dorian mode is only one note away from the natural minor scale, it can be harmonized easily using chords built on the minor scale—just be sure to use a major IV chord instead of the minor iv usually found in minor keys. Or to play up the medieval feel, experiment with using open fifths to harmonize this scale.

4. The Lydian Mode

The Lydian mode can be created by taking the major scale and raising the fourth step—for example, playing the F major scale with all white keys. The Lydian mode has a playful sound; a couple of pieces based on this scale are “The Simpsons Theme” and “Lost Woods” from the “Legend of Zelda” video game.

Since the Lydian mode is only one note away from the major scale, it can be harmonized with many of the same chords. Just remember to use a major II chord instead of the minor ii usually seen in major keys.

If you would like a more structured way to compose with any of these scales, try using my “Snowflakes” guided composition activity, found HERE. Instead of using a major or minor five note scale as directed on the worksheet, substitute one of the scales I described above. This will help your students to create a really unique, wintry composition—as well as introduce them to some fun, new scale sounds!

What do you think? Do you encourage your students to improvise with scales? What are your favorite non-major or minor scales? Feel free to chime in below!

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The Living Composer Project

Happy holidays!

Fun with Scales! (An Improv and Composing Activity)

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