Stage 2 Music Technology

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Suggestions to improve Music Technology Arrangements and Compositions The quality of student works will be enhanced through the use of Compositional/Arranging Devices and Recording/Mixing Techniques. The appropriate and developed use of these techniques will determine the effectiveness of their work. Examples of Arranging/Compositional Devices Metre Rhythm Tempo Dynamics Articulation Phrasing Tonality Harmony Tone Colour Texture Form Regular/Irregular (5/4, 7/8, 11/8) , changing metres. Syncopation, simple/complex, cross rhythms, triplets. Fast, Slow, Changing Loud/Soft, Crescendo/Diminuendo, Accents Staccato, Legato, Mezzo Staccato, Different types of accents. Regular, Uneven, Overlapping, Extended phrases. Major/Minor/Modal, Pentatonic, Bitonal, Atonal, Modulation. Traditional, Modem, Dissonant, Unison. Different sounds from each instrument, eg. pizzicato, muted, etc. How the parts are combined: Solo/Tutti, Polyphonic/Homophonic. Binary, Ternary, Rondo, Sonata, Variations, Song Form, Ostinato, Layered, Repetition with development.

The following Specific Arranging/Composition Techniques may be explored Ostinato Imitation Augmentation Diminuition Inversion Word Painting Hemiola Hocket Countermelody Pedal Point Phasing Aleatoric Dual Time Ethnic Styles Mixed Styles Rhythmic, Melodic, Harmonic or Bassline. One part copies another, e.g. Canon or Round. Increasing the note values by a proportion. Shortening the note values by a proportion. Shape is inverted - melody goes down instead of up, etc. The music illustrates the words, e.g. "Downhill", "Rolling" 2 beat phrases across 3/4 time. A single melody divided between two or more instruments. A second melody which accompanies the main tune. A steady bass note held on despite changing harmonies. Similar lines which drift apart over time, then merge again. Elements of chance. E.g. A dice or coin determines the rhythm or pitch. Two time signatures at once. E.g. 6/8 melody over 2/4 accompaniment. Indian, Gamelan, Gypsy, Aboriginal, Scottish, Argentinean, Flamenco String 4tet & Jazz, Didgeridoo & Bagpipes, Gamelan & Techno

Established Styles Tango, Waltz, Polonaise, Polka, Techno, Grunge Rock, Swing, etc.

Examples of Recording and Mixing Techniques that should be evident in the Arrangement/Composition. Layering of MIDI Instruments to produce a complex sound. MIDI Quantizing, Audio Anchor points Audio Sample manipulation Tempo - Tone FX Audio Processing such as Reverb, Echo, Chorus, Distortion, Compression etc. EQ - Tone Automation of Mixdown Dynamic Panning Instrument Balance
Materials prepared by Antony Hubmayer Copyright SSABSA
SSABSA Support Materials: musc-tl-024, last updated 9 March 2006 page 1 of 1