SYLLABUS
COMPOSITION - Sonata Development Sections
Instructor - Andrew James Clark - www.andrewjamesclark.ca
This course provides the basic composition skills needed to compose short, single movement works using the techniques and principles found in self contained seventeenth century classical music. The order in which these concepts are presented is non-negotiable and students must complete each assignment fully before being permitted to move on. An accompanying assignment will be given each week, written for solo instrument. It is strongly recommended that students at least complete up to level 10 RCM harmony before beginning composition lessons. All assignments must be hand written!
1. NOTATION
Order of sharps and flats, stem sides, beaming, note heads.
2. ELEMENTS
Pitch, Rhythm, Articulation, Dynamics, Timbre
3. MOTIVIC CONSTRUCTION
Short, durable musical statements.
4. THEME WRITING
Well defined and memorable musical ideas.
5. SENTENCES AND PERIODS
Classical Phrase Structure.
6. ACCOMPANIMENT FIGURES
Five figures from Viennese Sonata Cycles
7. SIMPLE, BALANCED AND ROUNDED BINARY
Baroque Dance Forms
8. THEME AND VARIATION
Beethoven's Variations in C Minor and Eroica Variations
9. TEXT SETTING
Syllabic Emphasis, slurs and melismas.
T. MELODY WRITING / WRITING FOR VOICE
Vocal characteristics and song writing
E. ART SONG
Duet texture, range, word painting.
SYLLABUS
COMPOSITION II - LEARNING TO CONTINUE
Instructor - Andrew James Clark - www.andrewjamesclark.ca
This course uses Sonata Form to foster the basic composition skills needed to expand and develop musical ideas into cohesive musical narratives. Acquiring these skills will help students avoid developing a dependancy on sequences, literal repetition, and improvisation as a method to extend their work indefinitely. The course will culminate with the composition of a one movement Sonata.