Resources
| twenty_guidelines_for_songwriting_and_tune_writing.pdf |
Audio Examples of Techniques Described in the Handouts
Click Here for Audio Examples - opens new page in this class' SoundCloud account
Click Here for Audio Examples - opens new page in this class' SoundCloud account
ABC Notation
The home of ABC Notation and tutorials on its use http://abcnotation.com
Easy ABC - A very capable, and free, ABC software package. Go to the link. Download and install. It's my go-to ABC software. https://sourceforge.net/projects/easyabc/
Some sources of public domain melodies
https://thesession.org/tunes
http://abcnotation.com/search
http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/tunefind
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/catches.html
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/madrigals.html
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/allans.html
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/oneils1.html
Suggested Reading
Workman Press, New York
This small book is both a morale booster and a repository of techniques. A breezy and worth read intended to instill courage and insight.
Penguin Press 2017
A worthy read about why things become popular. Excellent chapters on music and rock and roll
Grove Press 2016
This book is a collection of 45 short stories about how famous pop songs were created. You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling, Light My Fire, Maggie May, Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay and many others. The book tells that back story of how these iconic songs
changed music. A good read with insight on how music becomes popular
Alpha Press - Penguin Group 2005
This book delivers all the essential ideas about melody writing including advanced topics such as orchestration. It is a bit light on songwiriting.
DON'T be put off by the title. This book delivers extensive information about music theory. The chapters on the blues, modal
structures chord substitution, melodic structures, and rhythm are first rate and very valuable to a melody writer in any genera.
Musical EdVentures; 3 edition (September 1, 2009)
If you need to know more about music theory, this THE book for you. Down to earth. Readable and directly useful in composing for singer-songwriers or traditional style music. I HIGHLY recommend this.book!!!! Available through Ed Roseman's website
http://www.edly.com/mtfpp.html or Amazon and at many music stores.
Composition YouTube
Everyone eventually gets in to a rut or suffers from the dreaded "writer's block". Watch Ben Levin compose on the fly. A twenty minute, unedited, exercise in composition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leCaUgSI8IY
Composition - about doubt and about listening and recording and editing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rdj_mCOuCo
Audio Recording and Editing Software
All DAWs require training. These professional tools are complex. Several free YouTube Channels offer excellent Reaper Tutorials.
The home of ABC Notation and tutorials on its use http://abcnotation.com
Easy ABC - A very capable, and free, ABC software package. Go to the link. Download and install. It's my go-to ABC software. https://sourceforge.net/projects/easyabc/
Some sources of public domain melodies
https://thesession.org/tunes
http://abcnotation.com/search
http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/tunefind
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/catches.html
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/madrigals.html
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/allans.html
http://www.oldmusicproject.com/oneils1.html
Suggested Reading
- Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You about Being Creative
Workman Press, New York
This small book is both a morale booster and a repository of techniques. A breezy and worth read intended to instill courage and insight.
- Hit Makers: the Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction
Penguin Press 2017
A worthy read about why things become popular. Excellent chapters on music and rock and roll
- Anatomy of a Song: The Oral History of 45 Iconic Hits that Changed Rock, R&B and Pop
Grove Press 2016
This book is a collection of 45 short stories about how famous pop songs were created. You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling, Light My Fire, Maggie May, Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay and many others. The book tells that back story of how these iconic songs
changed music. A good read with insight on how music becomes popular
- The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Composition
Alpha Press - Penguin Group 2005
This book delivers all the essential ideas about melody writing including advanced topics such as orchestration. It is a bit light on songwiriting.
- Jazz Theory and Practice
DON'T be put off by the title. This book delivers extensive information about music theory. The chapters on the blues, modal
structures chord substitution, melodic structures, and rhythm are first rate and very valuable to a melody writer in any genera.
- Edly's Music Theory for Practical People
Musical EdVentures; 3 edition (September 1, 2009)
If you need to know more about music theory, this THE book for you. Down to earth. Readable and directly useful in composing for singer-songwriers or traditional style music. I HIGHLY recommend this.book!!!! Available through Ed Roseman's website
http://www.edly.com/mtfpp.html or Amazon and at many music stores.
Composition YouTube
Everyone eventually gets in to a rut or suffers from the dreaded "writer's block". Watch Ben Levin compose on the fly. A twenty minute, unedited, exercise in composition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leCaUgSI8IY
Composition - about doubt and about listening and recording and editing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rdj_mCOuCo
Audio Recording and Editing Software
- WavePad audio software is both excellent and free for non-commercial use. Even the professional level version is less than $100. WavePad is intuitive, easy to use and high quality. http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html
- Reaper is an excellent, affordable, professional level digital audio workstation (DAW). Only $60! Reaper is available for PC or MAC. It's the software of choice for many professional studios.
All DAWs require training. These professional tools are complex. Several free YouTube Channels offer excellent Reaper Tutorials.
- Reaper Mania: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq297H7Ca98HlB5mVFHGSsQ
- ReaperTV: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMUHt6JzCMsdtvkaJpU3KXw/featured
- Reaper Bog: https://www.youtube.com/user/audiogeekzine
Music Writing Software – Standard Notation
http://www.sibelius.com/products/sibelius_first/index.html
https://noteworthycomposer.com
http://www.finalemusic.com
Note that both Sibelius and Finale have products aimed at creating and printing scores for symphonic-scale orchestras. These packages cost hundreds of dollars. Traditional and pop musicians do not need the complexity of these programs. Focus on Sibelius First and Finale Print. That's all you'll probably need.
- Sibelius First
http://www.sibelius.com/products/sibelius_first/index.html
- Noteworthy Composer
https://noteworthycomposer.com
- Finale Print Music
http://www.finalemusic.com
Note that both Sibelius and Finale have products aimed at creating and printing scores for symphonic-scale orchestras. These packages cost hundreds of dollars. Traditional and pop musicians do not need the complexity of these programs. Focus on Sibelius First and Finale Print. That's all you'll probably need.
Some additional Course Content that just won't fit into five days!
Figuring out the chords to a melody. This half-hour video is thorough, painstaking and may be very helpful. This music teacher sits at a piano and demonstrates how she chooses chords for two songs. If you are having trouble assigning chords to melody, this video might help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imj7FniRzyY
Figuring out the chords to a melody. This half-hour video is thorough, painstaking and may be very helpful. This music teacher sits at a piano and demonstrates how she chooses chords for two songs. If you are having trouble assigning chords to melody, this video might help.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imj7FniRzyY
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| 31_creating_melody_from_contour_waves.pdf |
| 7a_composing_from_chords.pdf |
| composing_from_harmonic_progression.pdf |