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The Joy of Composing

Out now! New support material for schools in Cumbria: a composing course primarily for keyboard players with a minimum requirement of grade 1 equivalent.

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This course is supported by the Cumbrian Music Hub and created by Fredrik Holm who is the musical director for the Westmorland Youth Orchestra and a proficient composer and musician.

You can find all the information you need for the 10 tasks below. I suggestion you use the video link for inspiration and print out the written versions for completing for completing the assignements.

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Introduction
This explains what the course is about and what it takes to be a composer.

Video link: https://youtu.be/EVEVJOOy14E
Document link: www.2b-intune.com/docs/compose/introduction

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Task 1 - Writing Melodies
Here you will learn the basics of how to write a good melody.

Video link: https://youtu.be/RD5oM49XXtg
Document link: www.2b-intune.com/docs/compose/task1.pdf

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Task 2 - Composing with Scales
In this task you will learn to write music by first making up your own scale.

Video link: https://youtu.be/RTz0Vwg1Sqk
Document link: www.2b-intune.com/docs/compose/task2.pdf

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Task 3 - Making Film Music
In this task, we will reveal the secrets of how to create good film music. We will also make a sound track for an existing film.

Begin by watching this YouTube film that shows how powerful film music can be. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn9V0cN4NWs
Video link: https://youtu.be/SfeFwkKHQys
Document link: www.2b-intune.com/docs/compose/task3.pdf
And here is the link to The Box. The film that needs a sound track. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtQdWL1Cli8

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Task 4 - Learning from the masters Part 1 - Amelie
First we will learn to play a beautiful piece of music from the film Amelie. We will then analyse the composition and write something based on the same ideas. The sheet music can be found here.

Video link: https://youtu.be/IjU_iXDrG4Y
Document link www.2b-intune.com/docs/compose/task4.pdf

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Task 5 - Learning from the masters Part 2 - Handel.
In this task, we will learn to play a "Passacaglia" written by G.F. Handel and, just like in the previous task, we will write our own piece inspired by the principles that Handel used. The sheet music can be found here.

Video link: https://youtu.be/YXLnIjXRx1g
Document link www.2b-intune.com/docs/compose/task5.pdf

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Task 6 - Rhythms
In this task, we will compose by first making up a rhythm.

Video link: https://youtu.be/FPICQT_ODHk
Document link www.2b-intune.com/docs/compose/task6.pdf

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Task 7 - Composing with Riffs
Here we will use, tweak and combine a series or really famous riffs.

Video link: https://youtu.be/C2emSS043y0
This task doesn't have a written version. However you can download the file shown in the video for Sibelius here. You can also download an xml file here which works for most other programs.

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Task 8 - Arranging
In this task, we will learn how to turn a simple melody and some chords into an impressive arrangement for keyboard.

Video link: https://youtu.be/lh2YjzZ3M5w
Document link www.2b-intune.com/docs/compose/task8.pdf

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Task 9 - Instrumentation
This tasks come in two parts. In the first part, we will learn more about how to use various instruments in a composition. You will be asked to use a music-notating software to create good orchestration of a Coldplay song. A Sibelius file can be found here and an xml file (used for most other programs) can be found here.
Here is the video link for the 1st part: https://youtu.be/Pxb3lZAi6P8

The second part is a longer video that walks you through the most common orchestral instruments and what we need to think about when writing for them: https://youtu.be/Bx-ltbX2mz4

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Task 10 - Putting it all together.
In this task, we will put everything together and produce a great final composition.

Video link: https://youtu.be/r5ysS5SD-3o
Document link www.2b-intune.com/docs/compose/task10.pdf

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Please don't hesitate to contact the Cumbria Music Hub or Fredrik if you have any questions.

The music at the beginning and the end of the videos is called Awakening. It was written by Fredrik and performed by the Haga Duo from Sweden. The photo is taken by Olle Holm.