Music composition for dummies /

Jarrett, Scott.

Music composition for dummies / by Scott Jarrett and Holly Day. - Hoboken, N.J. : Chichester : Wiley ; John Wiley [distributor], 2008. - xviii, 336 p. : ill., music ; - For dummies .

Includes index.

1. Thinking like a composer -- 2. Tools of the trade -- 3. Musical scrapbooks : writing on paper and screen -- 4. Rhythm and mood -- 5. Finding melodies where you least expect them -- 6. Scales and modes, moods and melodies -- 7. Building melodies using motifs and phrases -- 8. Developing your melodies -- 9. Harmonizing with melodies -- 10. Composing with chords -- 11. Composing from the void -- 12. Beginnings, middles, and endings -- 13. Musical forms -- 14. Composing for the standard orchestra -- 15. Composing for the nonstandard orchestra -- 16. Composing for multiple voices -- 17. Composing commercial music and songs -- 18. Composing electronic music -- 19. Composing for other musicians -- 20. Ten composers you should know about -- 21. Nine career opportunities for composers -- 22. Ten recommended books for composers -- 23. Ten periods of music history to explore.

Music Composition For Dummies explains how to use music theory to write music in a variety of forms. It introduces the basic chord construction and shows the reader how to compose music both with chords and melody, develop simple melodic motifs and themes into longer compositions, arrange compositions, create scores, and select the right instruments and voicing to express musical ideas. Music Composition For Dummies also tells how to create popular songs, classically structured pieces, film and television scores, videogame soundtracks, and more using both traditional and improvisational techniques.

9780470224212 (pbk.) 0470224215 (pbk.)


Composition (Music)

781.3